A comparison of alternatives of milk recording schemes for dairy sheep

A total of 307 lactations of ewes from synthetic line (13/16 East Friesian Milk sheep, 3/16 Polish sheep breeds) were investigated. Ewes were milked a fter weaning, starting on the 60(th) day of lactation, for the period of fo ur months. Milk recording was conducted using the A30 scheme during the mor ning and afternoon milkings. Twenty one simplified milk recording schemes w ere investigated, taking into account the data from 4 or 6 control milkings , and estimating the differences between milk production, protein and fat c ontents on the basis of the simplified and the A30 methods. The accuracy of the methods to estimate milk (protein, fat) yields was verified using the pairwise test. among the tested 4-measurement methods, the most useful - in terms of the accuracy of milk, protein and fat yield estimations - were mo dels, in which milk recording is conducted once a month, only in the mornin g or afternoon. The application of such methods does not result in the dete rioration of accuracy of milk recording for sheep and makes it possible to lower the costs connected with recording by approximately 50%.