Seasonal variations of milk production and quality of Mediterranean ewes in extremely warm weather conditions

Polazeći od pretpostavke kako klimatski uvjeti predodređuju količinu i kvalitetu raspoložive krme na pašnjacima koja je najveći izvor hranjivih sastojaka obroka ovaca uzgajanih u priobalnim i otočnim krajevima Hrvatske, cilj rada bio je utvrditi sezonske varijacije proizvodnje i kakvoće mlijeka paških i istarskih ovaca tijekom triju uzastopnih godina – laktacija (2012.-2014.) s ekstremno toplim vremenskim uvjetima. Redovitim mjesečnim kontrolama mliječnosti (primjenom AT4 metode) bilo je obuhvaćeno 30 stada paških ovaca i 19 stada istarskih ovaca. Ukupno su u paških ovaca prikupljena 29674 dnevna zapisa, a u istarskih ovaca 12304 dnevna zapisa koja su uključivala količinu dnevno proizvedenoga mlijeka, kemijski sastav mlijeka (sadržaj (%) mliječne masti, bjelančevina, laktoze i suhe tvari) i broj somatskih stanica u mlijeku. Utvrđen je značajan (P0,001) fenotipske korelacije.Starting from the assumption that the climatic conditions determine the quantity and quality of vailable forage on the pastures which is the largest source of nutrients of meal of sheep reared in coastal and island of Croatia, the aim of this research was to determine the seasonal variations of milk production and quality of Pag and Istrian sheep during three consecutive years–lactations (2012–2014) with extremely warm weather conditions. Regular monthly milking controls (using the AT4 method) included 30 flocks of Pag sheep and 19 flocks of Istrian sheep. In total, 29674 daily test records were collected in Pag sheep, and in Istrian sheep 12304 daily test records including the daily milk yield, the chemical composition of milk (content of milk fat, protein, lactose and dry matter) and number of somatic cells in milk. Significant (P0.05). Significant variations of the daily milk yield of Pag sheep (P<0.001) and Istrian sheep (P<0.01) due to the season were established, as well as significant (P<0.001) seasonal variations of the content of all analysed milk constituents of Pag and Istrian sheep. Significant (P