Milk Production of Lacaune Sheep with Different Degrees of Crossing with Manchega Sheep in a Commercial Flock in Spain

• Main Authors: Lizbeth E. Robles Jimenez, Juan C. Angeles Hernandez, Carlos Palacios, José A. Abecia, Anna Naranjo, Jorge Osorio Avalos, Manuel Gonzalez-Ronquillo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: lacaune; manchega; milk yield; heterosis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/3/520

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the grade of crossbreeding (Lacaune x Manchega) and environmental factors on milk production in a commercial flock in Spain. A total of 5769 milk production records of sheep with different degrees of purity of the Lacaune breed crossed with Manchega were used as follows: 100% Lacaune (<i>n</i> = 2960), 7/8 Lacaune (<i>n</i> = 502), 13/16 Lacaune (<i>n</i> = 306), 3/4 (<i>n</i> = 1288), 5/8 Lacaune (<i>n</i> = 441) and 1/2 Lacaune: Manchega (<i>n</i> = 272). Additional available information included the number of parity (1 to 8), litter size (single or multiple), and the season of the year of lambing (spring, summer, autumn and winter). A mixed model was used to evaluate the level of crossbreeding and environmental factors on milk production. The 100% Lacaune sheep presented the highest milk production with respect to the F1 Lacaune x Manchega sheep (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), showing that as the degree of gene absorption increases with the Manchega breed, it presents lower milk yield. The 100%, 13/16, and 3/4 Lacaune genotypes had the highest milk yields with respect to the 1/2 Lacaune/Manchega breed (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The Lacaune registered on average 181.1 L in a period adjusted to 160 days of lactation (1.13 L/ day). Likewise, the parity number, litter size, and season of lambing effects showed significant differences (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). It was concluded that 13/16 and 3/4 Lacaune/Manchega ewes presented the highest milk yields with respect to the other crosses.