Comparative studies of sheep and goats: milk yield and composition and growth rate of lambs and kids

Abstract

Summary Two trials were carried out to compare the milk yield, milk composition and the rate of growth of naturally or artificially reared kids and lambs of Damascus goats and Chios sheep. Milk yield until weaning was similar in sheep and goats, but goats produced significantly more milk after weaning. Sheep milk was higher in total solids, fat, protein, lactose, ash and calorific value. Lambs and kids grew similarly during the ad libitum milk feeding period but lambs grew faster during the restricted milk feeding period. Solid feed intake of lambs until weaning was higher than that of kids and the results indicated that the rumen develops later in kids than in lambs. During the post-weaning period lambs consumed more feed, grew faster and utilized feed more efficiently than kids. Lambs were more sensitive to high copper supply than kids.