Determination of udder measurements and milk yield characteristics in kivircik sheep in breeder conditions

This study was carried out to determine the milk yield and quality, udder characteristics and linear udder scores of Kıvırcık sheep in breeder conditions. A total of 38 heads of Kıvırcık sheep were used in the study. The mean daily milk yield was 495,5 g in control milking at different periods of lactation and it was determined that it showed a very wide variation in terms of periods. The somatic cell count was similar and this value changed between 25231 - 8000000 units/ml. Fat, solids not fat, protein, lactose, density, conductivity and pH values of milk samples taken during the control periods were 7,7%, 11,2%, 5,8%, 4,51%, 1,033 g/cm3, 3,9. Udder morphology was assessed for: the traits measured were udder circumference, udder height, udder length, teat distance, teat width and teat length values are 37,2 cm, 17,1 cm, 22,8 cm, 16,5 cm, 18,8 mm and 27,3 mm respectively. Linear scores were assessed for: teat placement, udder depth, degree of separation and degree of suspension of the udder were scored as 4,6, 8,0, 3,4 and 6,9, respectively. The effect of control periods on daily milk yield, somatic cell count, fat, fat-free dry matter, density, protein, lactose, conductivity and pH values were found to be significant (P<0,01), live weight and the effect of the type of birth of the sheep were found insignificant. The effect of the control periods and live weight of the sheep were significant on the udder characteristics (P<0,05, P<0,01), and the effect of the type of birth was insignificant. The effects of the live weight and type of birth on the linear scores udder characteristics were insignificant.