Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-5nwft Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-18T01:39:18.476Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An assessment of the variation in milk yield of ewes determined by the lamb-suckling technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. J. Robinson ,
W. H. Foster  and
T. J. Forbes
J. J. Robinson
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, The Queen's University of Belfast
W. H. Foster
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, The Queen's University of Belfast
T. J. Forbes
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, The Queen's University of Belfast
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Ewo milk yield data obtained by the lamb suckling technique from nutritional experiments were analysed statistically to obtain estimates of the several components of variation. Diurnal variation was studied. The fitting of a sinusoidal curve removed a significant amount of variation.

There was a highly significant correlation between successive milk yields obtained at 4 h intervals. Number of lambs suckled and body weight of ewe at parturition had a significant effect on total daily milk yield.

The variation within ewes after the removal of diurnal variation and between ewes after the removal of the effects of number of lambs suckled and body weight at parturition were computed. These sources of variation were combined in a general equation which enabled the prediction of the standard errors associated with daily milk production for a given sampling technique. The practical application of the predicted standard errors is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 70 , Issue 2 , April 1968 , pp. 187 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barnicoat, C. R., Logan, A. G. & Grant, A. I. (1949). Milk secretion studies with New Zealand Romney ewes. J. agric. Sri., Camb. 39, 44–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnicoat, C. R., Murray, P. F., Roberts, E. M. & Wilson, G. S. (1956). Milk secretion studies with New Zealand Romney ewes. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 48, 9–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burris, M. J. & Baugus, C. A. (1955). Milk consumption and growth of suckling lambs. J. Anirn. Sci. 14, 186–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coombe, J. B., Wardrop, I. D. & Tribe, D. E. (1960). A study of milk production of the grazing ewe, with emphasis on the experimental technique employed. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 54, 353–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hadjipieris, G., Jones, J. G. W., Wimble, R. H. & Holmes, W. (1966). Studies on feed intake and feed utilization by sheep. II. The utilization of feed by ewes. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 66, 341–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mccance, I. (1959). The determination of milk yield in the Merino ewe. Aust. J. agric. Res. 10, 839—53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
munro Joan, Inkson R. H. E. (1957). The effects of different suckling frequencies on the quantity of milk consumed by young lambs. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 49, 169–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Owen, J. B. (1957). A study of the lactation and growth of hill sheep in their native environment and under lowland conditions. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 48, 387—412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, J. J. (1966). A study of the feed requirements of the breeding ewe with particular reference to protein utilization. Ph.D. Thesis, the Queen's University of Belfast.Google Scholar
Wallace, L. R. (1948). The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 38, 93–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar