The effects of shearing during milking were studied in 2 breeds of dairy ewes (Manchega, n = 24; Lacaune (n = 24). Ewes were penned indoors under mild-winter conditions and fed ad libitum. Treatments were: CO (control) and ES (shorn). Fleece was heavier in MN and rectal temperature only varied in MN-ES ewes (−0.37ºC). Lactational responses to shearing varied according to breed, the results in LC being most marked than in MN. Feed intake increased in LC-ES (5%; P = 0.002), compared to LC-CO, but did not vary in MN ewes. As a result, LC-ES ewes yielded 10% more milk (1.38 ± 0.06 vs. 1.52 ± 0.05 L/d; P = 0.049) than LC-CO ewes, but no differences were detected in MN ewes (0.74 ± 0.03 L/d; P = 0.261). Shearing did not change milk composition and plasma values, BW and BCS. In conclusion, shearing lactating ewes during winter, is a suitable management option for improving intake and milk production of high-yielding dairy ewes, without deleterious effects neither on physiological indicators nor milk composition

Proyecto AGL-2013-44061-R (Plan Nacional, MINECO, España) y al Instituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza (IAMZ) por la beca de M.Sci. a A. Elhadi

3 páginas, 1 figura, 1 tabla.--Trabajo presentado a las XVII Jornadas sobre Producción Animal AIDA (Zaragoza, 30 al 31 de mayo, 2017).

Peer reviewed