Relationship of the udder and teats morphological traits with the milk yield and somatic cells count of unimproved Awassi ewes reared in the middle of Iraq

Abstract

Data were made available on 240 unimproved Awassi breed ewes reared in private farm in AL-Diwanya province (middle of Iraq) in the year 2016 to determine the effect of some udder traits milk yield traits. Results showed that udder shape affected significantly (P≤ 0.05) on total and daily milk yield (TMY and DMY), yield before and after 60 days from lactation period (YB60D and YA60D). The highest milk yield related with the too flat udder shape was 60.4kg, 501g, 29.66kg and 30.73kg respectively. TMY and YA60 days from lactation were affected significantly (P≤ 0.05) by udder length, the highest values were found in udders more than 25 cm namely, 60.23 and 32.03 kg respectively. The circumference before and after milking was affected significantly on milk traits. The results also showed a significant effect of udder quality on milk traits. Average teats length was affected significantly on TM, DMY, YB60D and YA60D.The higher values with the teats more than 2.5cm of length were 61kg, 480gm, 31.5kg and 29.5kg respectively. Teat width more than 10 mm affected significantly on DMY and YA60D. Significant effects were shown of the average teats diameter and angle of teat on milk traits. Result also showed significant correlations among udder and teats morphological traits with some of milk traits.