Effect of Breed and Live Weight on Milk Fat Depression in Sheep

Abstract

This research was aimed to investigate the effect of breed and live weight on milk fat depression in early lactation. In the experiment, 12 Karayaka (K) and 12 Gicik (G) ewes and 12 light (L) and 12 heavy (H) ewes (6 K and 6 G for both live weight groups) were used. Ewes were fed high-energy concentrate diet (139 g crude protein and 10.1 metabolizable energy MJ/d). No differences were found in the milk fat levels between the two non-dairy breeds during experiment. The severity of milk fat depression was similar for both non-dairy breed throughout the experiment. The milk fat rate was lower for light ewes in first (p < 0.04) and second weeks (p < 0.02). L sheep were shown to be more sensitive to milk fat depression than H ones for these weeks. H and L sheep had similar results for levels of milk fat depression for last two weeks. There were statistically no significant differences between the genotypes or live weight groups for protein rates during weeks.