A note on the estimation of milk production in sheep

Abstract

The two most widely adopted methods for measurement of milk production in sheep suckling lambs, the lamb-weight increment technique and milking-out following administration of oxytocin, give estimates which differ proportionately between 0·05 and 0·28 especially in early lactation (Doney, Peart, Smith and Louda, 1979). It is not easy to determine which method gives the most accurate estimate of milk production in suckling ewes. It is important, however, to understand the circumstances in which discrepancies between methods may occur and their magnitude. This note provides evidence that such discrepancies may vary with nutritional status of the ewe.