Milk production, dynamic weight, body condition, parasite infection and economic analysis of Bergamasca ewes maintained on pasture and feedlot

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of feeding on milk production, body weight and corporal condition dynamics, parasitic infection and economic analysis between production systems. Two groups of Bergamácia sheep were used. 14 animals were grazed and 17 were penned during the final end of pregnancy, and 60 days period of lactation, fed with corn silage and concentrate diet at 85:15% ratio at the third end of gestation an 65:35% ratio. Lambs were separated from mothers 48 hours after parturition. Sheep were mechanical milked and milk production was measured twice a day, at 4:00 and 14:00 hours. There was no difference between treatments for milk production and feedlot ewes presented higher live weight than that kept at pasture during the whole lactation. It was not observed difference for body condition at lambing. Ewes kept at pasture presented higher values of eggs per gram of faeces than feedlot ewes from pre-lambing to end lantation.