MACHINE MILK-YIELD AND COMPOSITION OF NONDAIRY CORRIEDALE SHEEP IN URUGUAY

Milk production after total weaning was 71.05 l per lactation of 100 d ays. Total milk yield obtained by machine, including once a day milkin g during partial weaning and twice a day milking after total weaning t o a level of 0.4 l per day (120 days), was 90 l per ewe. Average milk composition was: fat, 7.16%; protein, 6.32%; lactose, 5.27%; solid non -fat, 12.68%. Fat content during partial weaning ranged from 1.77 to 3 .13%. Correlation between one recording during partial weaning and tot al milk yield was 0.64 and between first recording after weaning and t otal milk yield was 0.79. It was concluded that the Corriedale breed a dapted well to milk production and the animals appeared to be producin g close to their genetic potential. Lamb growth was not a good indicat or of dairy milk production; however, a single milking record taken ea rly during lactation had a high correlation with total milk yield.