Milk Yield Characteristics of Karaka Sheep

Abstract

Milk yield and composition were determined in a total of 85 Karakas ewes (Akkaraman breed). The data were collected from Yuzuncu Yil University, Agriculture Faculty's Practice Farm and a rural farm near the University. Lactation length, average daily milk yield and total milk yield were 155.9 +/- 4.3 days, 529.6 +/- 31.6 ml and 84.7 +/- 5.1 1, respectively. Milk fat, total solid and mineral percentages were 7.09 +/- 0.25%, 19.75 +/- 0.66% and 0.93 +/- 0.03%, respectively. The differences between farms were significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) for lactation length, average daily milk yield, total milk yield and milk fat percentage. The milk yields of ewes reared in rural farms were lower. In addition, the correlations between a number of characteristics were significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).