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Factors affecting the lactation curves of intensively managed sheep based on a clustering approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2013

Laura Elvira ,
Fernando Hernandez ,
Pedro Cuesta ,
Santiago Cano ,
Juan-Vicente Gonzalez-Martin  and
Susana Astiz
Laura Elvira
Affiliation:
TRIALVET S.L., C/Encina, 22, 28721 Cabanillas de la Sierra, Madrid, Spain
Fernando Hernandez
Affiliation:
Granja Cerromonte S.L., San Juan de la Encinilla, 05358 Ávila, Spain
Pedro Cuesta
Affiliation:
Informatics Department for Research Support, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda de la Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Santiago Cano
Affiliation:
Informatics Department for Research Support, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda de la Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Juan-Vicente Gonzalez-Martin
Affiliation:
TRIALVET S.L., C/Encina, 22, 28721 Cabanillas de la Sierra, Madrid, Spain Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Avda Pta. de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
Susana Astiz*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Avda Pta. de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: astiz.susana@inia.es
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Abstract

This study investigated factors affecting milk production and lactation curves from complete lactations of Lacaune dairy sheep. Animals were part of a single flock under intensive management and were milked twice daily starting at lambing. The results of the analyses of 7788 complete lactations showed an average total milk yield of 434±183 l from lactations 234±63 d long, with an average lambing interval of 302±65 d. A Pollott additive mathematical model was used to estimate complete lactation curves. Clustering analysis identified four lactation types among Lacaune dairy sheep differing mainly in productivity i.e. milk yield per lactation (MY) and length of lactation (DIM). The so-called SL type involved short, less productive lactations (n=2137; 27·4%; MY=222±75·5 l and DIM=182±52·9 d). The SN type involved short lactations of normal productivity (n=2039; 26·2%; MY=396±73·7 l and DIM=205±33·1 d). The LP type involved long and productive lactations (n=2169; 27·9%; MY=487±70·5 l and DIM=265±40·7 d), while the LVP type included long and extremely productive lactations (n=1443; 18·5%; MY=694±114·0 l and DIM=295±54·7 d). Sheep showing the best lactation curves were usually younger than other sheep, and they had higher yield during the previous lactation, a shorter previous dry period (55±50·4 for LP and 61±55·0 d for LVP types) and longer lambing intervals. In addition, they tended to be born in September and to lamb in March, October and December. Sheep were remarkably stable in their lactation curve behaviour: the curve type observed for the first lactation was highly likely to persist in subsequent lactations (P<0·0001). These results suggest that farmers can use the shape of the first lactation curve to guide their selection of ewes for breeding and retention on the farm, thereby improving flock productivity.

Keywords

Lacaunedairy sheeplactation curveintensive managementfactorstypes
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 80 , Issue 4 , November 2013 , pp. 439 - 447
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2013 

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