THE RELATIONSHIP OF UDDER MEASUREMENTS TO MILK YIELD IN SHEEP UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Productions, Biotechnology and Health, University of Souk Ahras, Algeria

2 2 Research Laboratory (Management of Animal Health and Productions, University of Constantine 1, Algeria, Algeria 3 Faculty of Sciences, University 20 August, Skikda, Algeria

3 Faculty of Sciences, University 20 August, Skikda, Algeria

Abstract

The present study aimed to describe the main measurements of the udder and to establish their possible relationships with daily milk yield in two breeds of sheep (Ouled Djellal and Rembi). This study was carried out on a group of 113 multiparous ewes of the Ouled Djellal breed (n=65) and the Rembi breed (n=48); aged from two to five years, with udder clinically healthy, during the lactation period (February-May 2023), which allowed us to evaluate the udder traits on one hand. On the other hand, the assessment of milk yield and quality. The estimation of milk yield was carried out at (10 and 30 and 60) days: by the weighing lambs’ method before and after suckling. The milk yield did not differ between Ouled Djellal and Rembi ewes until day 30 after lambing (P>0.05). The study showed that breed affected the morphological characteristics of the sheep’s udder. Teat length, teat diameter, teat distance and udder width were affected by breed (P<0.05). In conclusion, the study provided us that the Ouled Djellal breed had a good daily milk yield and showed adequate udder morphology for milk-ability, which justifies the interest in the genetic analysis of ewes.

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Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal
Volume 71, Issue 187
October 2025
Pages 425-435

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