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Accurate mathematical models to describe the lactation curve of Lacaune dairy sheep under intensive management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2012

L. Elvira ,
F. Hernandez ,
P. Cuesta ,
S. Cano ,
J.-V. Gonzalez-Martin  and
S. Astiz
L. Elvira
Affiliation:
TRIALVET S.L., C/ Encina, 22, 28721 Cabanillas de la Sierra, Madrid, Spain
F. Hernandez
Affiliation:
Granja Cerromonte S.L., San Juan de la Encinilla, 05358 Ávila, Spain
P. Cuesta
Affiliation:
Informatics Department for Research Support, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda de la Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
S. Cano
Affiliation:
Informatics Department for Research Support, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda de la Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
J.-V. Gonzalez-Martin
Affiliation:
TRIALVET S.L., C/ Encina, 22, 28721 Cabanillas de la Sierra, Madrid, Spain Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Avda Pta. de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
S. Astiz*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Avda Pta. de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
*
†E-mail: astiz.susana@inia.es
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Abstract

Although the intensive production system of Lacaune dairy sheep is the only profitable method for producers outside of the French Roquefort area, little is known about this type of systems. This study evaluated yield records of 3677 Lacaune sheep under intensive management between 2005 and 2010 in order to describe the lactation curve of this breed and to investigate the suitability of different mathematical functions for modeling this curve. A total of 7873 complete lactations during a 40-week lactation period corresponding to 201 281 pieces of weekly yield data were used. First, five mathematical functions were evaluated on the basis of the residual mean square, determination coefficient, Durbin Watson and Runs Test values. The two better models were found to be Pollott Additive and fractional polynomial (FP). In the second part of the study, the milk yield, peak of milk yield, day of peak and persistency of the lactations were calculated with Pollot Additive and FP models and compared with the real data. The results indicate that both models gave an extremely accurate fit to Lacaune lactation curves in order to predict milk yields (P = 0.871), with the FP model being the best choice to provide a good fit to an extensive amount of real data and applicable on farm without specific statistical software. On the other hand, the interpretation of the parameters of the Pollott Additive function helps to understand the biology of the udder of the Lacaune sheep. The characteristics of the Lacaune lactation curve and milk yield are affected by lactation number and length. The lactation curves obtained in the present study allow the early identification of ewes with low milk yield potential, which will help to optimize farm profitability.

Keywords

Lacaunedairy sheeplactation curvecurve fittingfractional polynomial
Type
Farming systems and environment
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue 6 , June 2013 , pp. 1044 - 1052
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2012

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