Variations in the yield, composition and somatic cell count of ewe's milk during lactation

Variations in the yield, composition and somatic cell count of milk were studied in 30 grazing ewes, representing the Pleven F1 x East-Friesian Blackface, Pleven F1 and Merino genotypes, during five months of lactation. The somatic cell count (SCC) correlated negatively with milk yield and lactose whilst positively with milk protein and milk fat, except for Pleven F1 ewes which showed these correlations with reversed values. The highest milk yield with the lowest SCC was shown by the Pleven F1 x East-Friesian Blackface genotype. Lactose concentration varied in a significant negative correlation with the neutral detergent fibre content of the grass.