Lactation curve, milk production of Pelibuey ewes and preweaning growth rate of the lambs

Abstract

Objective: to estimate the lactation curve and milk production of Pelibuey ewes and the relationship with preweaning growth rate of the lambs.

Methodology: forty five Pelibuey ewes were milked during 70 days in Montecillo, México, in 2018, to estimate daily and total milk production. The lactation curve was fitted with the incomplete gamma function. In addition, the effects of type of birth and ewe weight at milking on milk production were analyzed, and correlations were calculated between ewe milk production and growth rate of the lambs, per week and for the entire lactation.

Results: a “typical” lactation curve was found, average ewe milk production for the entire lactation, weighted for the number of lambs suckling, was 131±8 liters, with 444±24 g d^-1. Ewe weight at milking had an effect (p<0.01) on milk production. Positive correlations were found (p<0.05) between ewe milk production and preweaning growth rate of the lambs.      

Implications of study: there is a strong dependency of the lambs for the milk production of the Pelibuey ewe, a factor of great relevance so that lambs can gain body weight and survive during lactation.     

Conclusions: Pelibuey ewes produce less milk than dairy ewes. Therefore, lambs should be weaned at a maximum of 10 weeks of lactation.