Produção e composição do leite de ovelhas Santa Inês e mestiças Lacaune e Santa Inês e desenvolvimento de seus cordeiros / Milk production and composition of Santa Inês and Lacaune x Santa Inês crossbred ewes and performance of their lambs

ABSTRACT

The effects of three maternal genotypes were evaluated on sheep milk production and composition, and on performance of their lambs during the first four months of age. The work was developed with Santa Inês and Lacaune x Santa Inês crossbred ewes. The average milk production was ½ Lacaune, 1,550.8mL/day; ¾ Lacaune, 1,337.6mL/day; and Santa Inês, 1,005.8mL/day. There was an effect of genotype on some constituents of milk (fat and protein). For the performance of the lambs, there was an effect of maternal genotype (P<0.05) on the following biometric measurements chest circumference, width of chest, width of rump, length of the shoulder length of leg, and perimeter of shank.