The Impact of Age at First Lambing on Milk Yield and Lactation Length in a Population of Istrian Sheep under Semi-Intensive Management

摘要

The impact of age at first lambing on dairy traits has been poorly investigated in sheep, especially in semi-intensive husbandry systems. Insufficient information on this issue, especially scientifically proven, leads to many speculations among breeders. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of age at first lambing on days in milk, daily milk yield, and total milk yield. The study was conducted on field data routinely collected in a population of Istrian sheep bred under selection. It was determined that the prolongation of the first mating of lamb ewes to the second year of life is not beneficial to milk production. In conclusion, ewes reared under semi-intensive dairy orientated systems could be successfully bred in their first year of life in order to reduce their unproductive non-milking phase.