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Effect of Milk Intake, Its Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile Distribution on Live Weight of Suckling Wallachian Lambs until Their Weaning

Simple Summary

Maternal milk represents a crucial source of nutrients provided to suckling lambs. We analyzed the properties of maternal milk relative to the live weight of suckling lambs, and confirmed positive impact of milk production, milk protein, and milk lactose on lambs growth intensity in general. Further analyses identified specific fatty acids contained in milk fat with positive effect to lambs live weight. Results highlighted important components of mother’s milk for optimizing lambs’ growth potential till their weaning.

Abstract

This study determined effects of milk production, milk components, or fatty acids (FA) profile on live weight of suckling lambs till their weaning. Live weight (LW, kg) of 42 purebred Wallachian lambs (from 33 ewes) was recorded during four control days with approximately 30-day intervals during rearing. At the same time, their mothers were examined for milk production (kg), milk fat (g), proteins (g), lactose (g), and fatty acids (%) contents. Results investigated using linear regression analysis showed 5.93 kg (p < 0.05) increase of lambs LW corresponded with 1 kg of ewe’s daily milk production increase during the observed period. Similarly, significant 0.13 kg or 0.11 kg increases of lambs live weight corresponded with 1 g increase of milk protein or milk lactose at this time. Milk with higher prevalence of trans-palmitoleic acid, trans-vaccenic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, linolelaidic acid, linoleic acid, or conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) significantly improved lambs LW. Moreover, significantly positive Pearson partial correlation between LW and trans-vaccenic acid (r = 0.305) or CLA (r = 0.347) indicated on genetic correlation between these traits. Therefore, milk (natural or artificially supplied) with higher distribution of these specified FAs could improve lambs’ LW.