engleski

Changes in ewe milk composition depending on lactation stage and feeding season

Ewe milk contains relatively much total solids, fats and proteins but milk composition changes depending on breed, stage of lactation, climatic conditions, feeding, health and herd. The aim of these investigations was to find out impact of lactation stage and feeding season on ewe milk composition during lamb sucking period. Biological investigations were carried out with 15 ewes of Würtemberg breed till the 60th lactation day (all ewes were in the fourth and fifth lactation). The investigations comprised two feeding seasons (winter and summer). The winter feeding period started on 1 October whereas summer one started on 1 May i.e. in the third ewe pregnancy month. It finished by their dryness. The ewes were housing in the stable boxes and fed with grains mixture (300 gr. daily) containing 60% of oat, 30% of maize and 10% of soybean grits as well as with meadow hay (ad libitum). The ewes pastured in the summer feeding period. The stage of lactation and feeding season (winter and summer) considerably affected ewe milk composition in the lamb sucking period (2nd to 60th day). The highest concentrations of basic components of ewe milk (fats, proteins, total solids and solids non-fat) were in colostrum (2nd day), except lactose, followed by their decreasing on 10th and 30th lactation day and increasing on 60th lactation day. Content of macro (Ca, P, K, Na and Mg) and microelements (Fe, Zn and Cu) was also highest in the colostrum (2nd day) followed by their milk concentration decreasing and increasing on the 60th lactation day. Ca and Mg concentrations considerably differed depending on feeding season. In general, higher K and Fe concentrations were determined in the summer whereas P and Na in the winter feeding season. Significant variation was also determined for Zn and Cu concentrations.

ewe milk ; milk composition ; macroelements ; microelements ; colostrum ; stage of lactation ; feeding season

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