ABSTRACT
Milk production of 1/4 Finn x 3/4 Merino Precoce ewes, rearing singles and twins

Christian Crempien L.1, Andrés Castillo M.2 y Fernando Squella N.1
 

Milk production of 1/4 Finn x 3/4 Merino Precoce ewes, grazing subterraneum clover and phalaris pasture was investigated. Seven ewes rearing twins and 7 with singles were stocked at 8 ewes/ha. Average milk estimates were: 242 kg in the twin rearing group and 182 kg on ewes with singles (P < 0.01). During the pick, daily productions were 2.14 and 3.47 (P < 0.001) for group with singles and twins, respectively but after 56 days of lactation both groups were similar (P < 0.05). Milk production curves were well adapted to Wood's mathematical model, with regretion coeficients of 0.939 and 0.976 both regresions were highly significants (P < 0.0002). Pasture data with dry matter availability, botanical composition, crude protein and digestible energy were determined.

Keywords: ewe, milk, production, grazing.
1 Estación Experimental La Platina (INIA). Casilla 439, Correo 3, Santiago, Chile.
2 Atividad privada. Inglaterra 79, La Florida. Santiago, Chile. Casilla 971, Temuco, Chile.