Authors : R. Sadraoui, M. Jaouad, B. Rekik and G. Khaldi
Abstract: Milk production and its impact on lamb growth performance were studied in the Tunisian Noire de Thibar and Queue Fine de l’Ouest meat sheep breeds. A total of twenty ewes with single lambs were used. There were 10 ewes of each breed. Mean age and mean body weight in both of ewe groups were 4.5 years (STD = 1.5 years) and 47.7 kg (STD = 4.9 kg). Ewes were maintained on natural pastures and harvest left over and complemented with vetch oat hey in addition to concentrate during gestation and the suckling period. Milk yield (using the hormonal method) and milk fat content were recorded weekly. The shapes of lactation curves were comparable for NT and QFO ewes and showed two distinct phases although the QFO ewes had their pick at the 2nd week of lactation, 1 week earlier than that of the NT ewes. Mean total milk yields were 152.70 (STD = 38.89) and 164.73 kg (STD = 51.72 kg) for the QFO and NT ewes, respectively. As for milk production, lamb growth was also comparable in both ewe groups. The sex of the lamb seemed not to affect growth performances in both breeds. Mean weights of lambs increased by 200 g on a daily basis during the 1st 40 days of age. This increase was then reduced to only 150 g at later ages. Meanwhile mean weight losses of ewes following parturition were on the average 5.0 (STD = 2.3) and 4.2 kg (STD = 2.9) for the QFO and NT ewes, respectively. The QFO and NT ewes have a good potential for milk production that allow acceptable growth of lambs.
R. Sadraoui, M. Jaouad, B. Rekik and G. Khaldi, 2012. Milk Yield Estimated by the Hormonal Method in the Queue Fine de l’Ouest and Noire de Thibar Ewes. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 6: 26-29.