Friday, 30 June 2017

The Relationship among Dams Milk Parameters, Weight, Udder Parameters and Linear Body Measurements in West African Dwarf Sheep at First Lambing

Sheep are known to provide meat and milk for human consumption and it is perceived by some consumers in Nigeria that sheep milk have a better and natural taste than cow’s milk.

West African Dwarf Sheep
Local sheep breeds in Nigeria have the potential to supply a significant portion of the milk deficit in the country because sheep numbers far exceed cattle numbers in both rural and urban communities. The effective prolificacy of West African Dwarf ewes gives it an advantage of milk production in a large quantity, as neonatal suckling is known to enhance effective tactile teat stimulation causing the release of Oxytocin from the neurohypophysis of the pituitary gland. Sheep milk has been found to be richer in critical nutrients, except lactose, than milk of humans, cattle and goats. The interest in the dairy sheep udder has increased in the last few years in which anatomy has been explored in depth, linear evaluation of udder traits has been proposed and genetic parameters evaluated.



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