Determining the influence of roughage on the quantity and quality of milk

Ina Stoycheva

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to establish the influence of four types of roughage: hay from natural
and sown pastures, as well as corn and sorghum silage on the milk productivity of sheep included
in the ration as the main roughage. To achieve this goal, dairy sheep of the Pleven Blackface sheep
breed are used, divided into four groups. The sheep received the same composition of concentrated
feed, and as roughage, respectively, those described in the study. The lowest feed consumption per
liter of milk is observed in the group of sheep fed hay from sown pasture (2.042 kg DM). The average
consumption of forage per liter of milk using hay from sown pasture as roughage is 5.50%, 7.36%
and 5.00% lower, respectively, than that used for meadow hay, corn silage and sorghum silage. The
average daily milk yield of sheep fed with sorghum silage was 15.50% higher (1.142 l) than that fed to
corn silage (0.989 l). The average fat content of milk during the winter period of sheep with an average
daily milk yield of 1.065 l is 6.43% and the protein content is 5.72%. The content of fat, dry non-fat
residue and dry matter is inversely correlated with the amount of milk, with higher values observed
throughout the period in the two groups with lower milk productivity (meadow hay and corn silage).

Keywords: quantity and quality of milk; roughage; sheep

Date published: 2022-08-29