The effects of breast features on milk production and milk quality in Eşme sheep

The current study was carried out in a private farm having a herd of different breeds of sheep within the scope of the Eşme (curly wool) sheep project in the city of Uşak. Eşme sheep in the farm were classified according to udder type and then udder type and udder characteristics, milk yield and milk quality characteristics were examined. In the study, 38 sheep were used in the examination of the udder characteristics, milk yield and quality, and measurements were made on the 30th and 60th days of lactation. Four udder types (Type 1, Type 2, Type 4 and Type 5) were determined in the study and their milk yield rates were found to be 10.5%, 34.2%, 39.5% and 15.8%, respectively. In the study, it was also found that 50% of Eşme sheep have two baby lambs, 31.6% have a single baby lamb and 18.4% have three baby lambs and the average number of lambs possessed by the sheep in the herd is 1.87. From among the udder characteristics, udder depth (UD), udder circumference (UC), udder width (UW), left teat length (TL\LEFT), right teat length (TL/RIGHT) were found to be as follows in the first and second measurements; 14.71-12.37, 40.49-30.63, 20.99-15.41, 2.46-2.25, 2.36-2.17 cm, respectively. Mean distance between the teats (MDBT), left teat circumference (TC\LEFT), right teat circumference (TC\RIGHT), distance from the ground to the udder (DGU) in the 1st and 2nd measurements were found to be as follows; 20.25-17.53, 4.98-4.73, 5.01-4.86, 35.58-39.16 cm, respectively. The daily mean milk yield was found to be 326.29 ml in the 1st measurement and 283.39 ml in the 2nd measurement. Fat, non-fat dry matter, protein, lactose and salt ratios in milk were found to be as follows in the 1st measurement and 2nd measurement; 7.74-7.18%, 12.63-11.23%, 4.59-4.18%, 6.92-6.32%, respectively. Density and freezing point values in milk were found to be 35.17-32.81 g/cm3, between -0.96 and -0.86 °C and conductivity values were determined as 4.11-4.79. As a result, the effect of measurement times on udder characteristics, milk yield and milk quality was found to be significant. The effects of udder characteristics, milk yield and milk quality on udder types were not found significant. Keywords: Eşme sheep, Udder Type, Milk Yield, Milk Quality