The quality of 40 carcasses of light lambs of the synthetic population of Slovak Dairy sheep from (a) artificial rearing (AR) and (b) traditional rearing (TR) was assessed on the basis of fatty acids profile of intramuscular fat (IMF). Lambs from AR in comparison with TR were of lower quality as assessed on the basis of fatty acids (FAs) profile. The content of conjugated linolic acid (CLA) in the fat of TR lambs was severalfold higher (0.749 vs. 0.193 g.100g-1 FAME, P<0.001) than in AR lambs. Similarly, the content of trans-vaccenic (TVA), á-linolenic (ALA), rumenic (RA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was in TR lambs significantly higher (P<0.001) than in AR lambs (0.955 vs. 0.111; 0.715 vs. 0.251; 0.672 vs. 0.148; 0.352 vs. 0.061; 0.252 vs. 0.079 g.100g-1 FAME). In contrary, the content of linoleic acid (LA), the ratio of LA/ALA and n-6/n-3 in AR lambs was higher than in TR lambs (9.07 vs. 4.81 g.100 g-1 FAME; 39.11 vs. 6.80; 14.56 vs. 3.25, P<0.001). In TR lambs the content of n-3 PUFA and BCFA was significantly higher (P<0.001) than in AR lambs (2.08 vs. 0.84 and 1.95 vs. 0.45). The value of thrombogenic index was higher in AR lambs in comparison with TR lambs (1.44 vs. 1.31; P<0.05). Significant differences between FAs of IMF of ram lambs and ewe lambs were observed only in the case of arachidonic acid (P<0.05).

The chosen traits of production, composition and quality of milk (analysis of 255 milk samples) were evaluated in ewes on the 1st to 3rd lactation (n=64) during milking period (4 control measurements CM) and in the machine milking conditions. Udder health status of the ewes (UHS; n=255) was evaluated by means of 5 point linear scale subjectively at the same time. The ewes of three pure breeds (Tsigai T, Improved Valachian IV and Lacaune LC) and two crossbreds (TxLC and IVxLC) were involved in the experiment. The machine milked milk (milk production) at CM (0.462 kg), the proportion of machine stripped milk (25.19 %) and also UHS (1.65) were significantly affected by the genotype group (P<0.001). The basic components of milk, somatic cell count (SCC=452.2 thousands) and somatic cell score (SCS=2.32) were not significantly affected by the genotype group. UHS of the ewes was effected by the genotype group and lactation order (P<0.001). The content of fat (7.72 %; F), lactose (4.62 %; L) and protein (5.68 %; P) were significantly affected by the CM (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively). The significant phenotype and residual correlations we determined between L and SCS (r = -0.372 and -0.399 respectively; P<0.001). The ewes with the worst UHS had on the basis of phenotype and residual correlations significantly lower lactose content in the milk (r = -0.206 and -0.194 respectively; P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively). Between SCC and UHS and between SCS and UHS we found only weak phenotype and residual correlations (P<0.05 and P>0.05 respectively).

The objective of this study was to investigate the variation in milk yield and milk flow traits and to analyse the main factors influencing the milkability of ewes. Milk yield and milk flow traits were: milk yield to 10 s, milk yield to 30 s, milk yield to 60 s, machine milk yield, stripping yield, total milk yield, percentage milk yield to 30 s, percentage milk yield to 60 s, stripping percentage, machine milking time and average milk flow. Primiparous and multiparous Improved Valachian, Tsigai and Lacaune purebred and crossbred ewes were considered. Crossbred ewes were crosses of Improved Valachian or Tsigai ewes with Lacaune (genetic portion of Lacaune was 25, 50 and 75 %, respectively). A total of 359 to 370 ewes were measured depending on trait. Mixed model with fixed and random effects using the REML (restricted maximum likelihood) method was applied. All traits were significantly (P<0.01) influenced by genotype and year. Some traits were significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01) influenced by parity, stage of lactation and interactions considered between genotype and parity and between genotype and stage of lactation. The repeatability varied from 0.23 to 0.43. Regardless of breed, mean values of machine milk yield, total milk yield and of stripping percentage were 318.3 ml, 436.6 ml and 27.7 %, respectively. Stripping percentage varied extensively, from 0 % to 95 %. The highest stripping percentage (37.8 %), the highest total milk yield (523.1 ml) and the second highest machine milk yield (330.3 ml) were found in Lacaune purebred ewes. The crossbred ewes were better than Improved Valachian and Tsigai purebred ewes in all examined traits, except for milk yield to 10 s, percentage milk yield to 30 s, percentage milk yield to 60 s, stripping percentage and machine milking time. Obtained results suggest that crossbreeding of local dairy breeds with Lacaune may be a good strategy for improvement of milkability of dairy sheep population in Slovakia.

The chosen traits of production, composition and quality of milk (analysis of 255 milk samples) were evaluated in ewes on the 1st to 3rd lactation (n=64) during milking period (4 control measurements – CM) and in the machine milking conditions. Udder health status of the ewes (UHS; n=255) was evaluated by means of 5 point linear scale subjectively at the same time. The ewes of three pure breeds (Tsigai – T, Improved Valachian – IV and Lacaune – LC) and two crossbreds (TxLC and IVxLC) were involved in the experiment. The machine milked milk (milk production) at CM (0.462 kg), the proportion of machine stripped milk (25.19 %) and also UHS (1.65) were significantly affected by the genotype group (P<0.001). The basic components of milk, somatic cell count (SCC=452.2 thousands) and somatic cell score (SCS=2.32) were not significantly affected by the genotype group. UHS of the ewes was effected by the genotype group and lactation order (P<0.001). The content of fat (7.72 %; F), lactose (4.62 %; L) and protein (5.68 %; P) were significantly affected by the CM (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively). The significant phenotype and residual correlations we determined between L and SCS (r = -0.372 and -0.399 respectively; P<0.001). The ewes with the worst UHS had on the basis of phenotype and residual correlations significantly lower lactose content in the milk (r = -0.206 and -0.194 respectively; P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively). Between SCC and UHS and between SCS and UHS we found only weak phenotype and residual correlations (P<0.05 and P>0.05 respectively).

Objective of this study was to determine the content of 70 C4-C24 fatty acids (FA) in bulk milk samples of Slovak grazed ewes at 4 farms during pasture and winter seasons. The effect of individuality, breed, lactation stage and parity of grazed ewes was investigated in 328 Tsigai, Valachian and Lacaune ewes, milk samples were taken on the same day. The content of individual FA in milk samples and pasture plants during entire pasture season was determined by GC. Unseparated isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were resoluted by chemometric deconvolution. The FA content in milk fat of grazed ewes was higher up to 4-fold for CLA, 3-fold for trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), and 2-fold for α-linolenic acid (ALA) compared to that during winter diet. The content of CLA (3.2%) and TVA (7.2%) in milk fat of grazed ewes was higher than that in milk of pasture grazed ewes or cows published previously. Both CLA and TVA contents in milk fat decreased from May to mid-summer and then increased until mid-September to the content as that in May. The variations in CLA content in milk fat during pasture season are primarily related to the ALA content in pasture. The FA milk profile of cows grazing on Alpine pastures is rather similar to that of Slovak grazed ewes despite different forage and altitude. The second most abundant CLA trans11,cis-13 isomer in cows’ milk proposed as an indicator of milk products of Alpine origin was found also in milk of Slovak ewes grazing the pastures in altitude of 250-800 m. Further improvement in quality of ewe milk can be achieved by selecting individual ewes with higher CLA milk fat content (up to 5-fold inter-individual variation) and milk yields (up to 12-fold) and by oversowing pastures.

The content of 70 C4-C24 fatty acids (FA) in bulk milk samples of dairy ewes at 4 farms during pasture season and at one farm during winter season was determined by gas chromatography. The FA content in milk fat of grazed ewes was higher up to 4-fold for rumenic acid (CLA), 3-fold for trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) and 2-fold for α-linolenic acid (ALA) compared to that during winter diet. The content of CLA (3.5 %) and TVA (7.9 %) in milk fat of grazed ewes from Tajov farm was higher than that in milk of pasture grazed ewes or cows published previously. Nevertheless, the farm at Trencianska Tepla because of lower altitude and corresponding climatic conditions in summer showed temporal variation up to 50 % lower content of CLA and TVA. The variations in CLA content during pasture season are primarily related to the seasonal changes of ALA content in pasture plants. These findings

Sonographic images of the ewe left and right udder cisterns using 2 methods (1 – from side, 2 – from bottom) were taken by means of two devices: an ultrasonograph Aloka 250 (3,5 MHz linear probe) or ultrasonograph SonoVet2000 (L2-5/170 CD linear probe). Length, width and area of each udder cistern were measured during milking period in years 2002 to 2008. The ewes of 5 genotypes (purebred Tsigai, purebred Lacaune, crosses of Tsigai with Lacaune and East-Friesian with genetic portion of specialized dairy breeds 25 %, 50 % and 75 %) were evaluated. According to measured traits, 640 and 752 sonograms from 200 and 231 ewes were taken using the method 1, and 470 sonograms from 163 ewes were taken using the method 2. Data were evaluated using REML methodology and MIXED procedure (software SAS/STAT). The effect of genotype showed the highest influence (P<0.001) on the length and area of the left and right udder cisterns. In purebred Tsigai ewes, the average areas of the left and right udder cisterns determined using the method 1 were 1413.1 ± 78.56 mm

Udder morphology traits were measured and subjectively assessed by the use of linear scores in 266 ewes of Tsigai (T), Improved Walachian (IW) and Lacaune (LC) dairy breeds.Animals were recorded repeatedly within and between lactations, therefore 772 sets of measurements and linear scores were collected in total.Udder measurements included: udder length, udder width, rear udder depth, cistern depth, teat length, teat angle, sum of cistern cross-section areas scanned by the ultrasound technique from the side and from the bottom in a water bath.Linear scores were assessed for: udder depth, cistern depth, teat placement, teat length, udder attachment, udder cleft, and udder shape from the aspect of machine milking.Analysis of variance was conducted by the mixed procedure of SAS statistical package.The model included effects of experimental day, parity, days in milk, random effect of animal and residual error.Subsequently, correlations between random animal effects for udder measurements and linear scores were computed for individual examined breeds separately.Subjectively assessed linear scores for udder depth, cistern depth, teat position and teat size showed high correlations with actual measurements of the respective traits on udder in all examined breeds (r p = 0.65-0.80).Linear scores for cistern depth and teat position were highly correlated (r p = 0.84; 0.77 and 0.90 for T; IW and LC ewes), suggesting that they are nearly identical traits.Linear score for udder shape was significantly correlated with the linear score for udder attachment in all examined breeds (r p = 0.79; 0.80 and 0.78 for T; IW and LC).In T and IW assessments of the udder shape were also highly correlated with linear score for udder height (r p = 0.84 resp.r p = 0.79) while in LC this correlation was close to zero.In LC assessment of the udder shape was more dependent on teat position (r p = -0.37)and cistern depth (r p = -0.30).

139 Slovak White goats were included in an experiment that was conducted in 3 periods from July to September. The average age and lactation stage of goats at the beginning of the first period were 1 380 days (46 months) and 167 days. We used a parallel milking parlor for eight goats. Two observers recorded the order of goats at entering the milking parlor. The control measurement of milk production was performed on the following day after the observation period. After finishing the experiment, out of the total number of 139 animals 24 goats were selected that entered the parlor as the first (group F) in all observations and 24 goats that entered the parlor as the last (group L). We found significant differences in average daily milk production between the individual periods (1st period 1 209 ml; 2nd period 1 516 ml; 3rd period 1 061 ml). Significant correlations between the order of entry into the milking parlor and milk production were found in all three periods (r = 0.237**; 0.235**; 0.400**). The correlation between the order and age was significant only in the third period (r = 0.244*). Group F consisted of 52% horned goats, group L of 21% only. Group F had 63% of goats at the age of 4-5 years and only 8% animals at the age of 1-2 years. 42% goats of group L were at the age from 4 to 5 years, and 33% at the age from 1 to 2 years. Goats of group F produced more milk than the animals of group L. Significant differences between the groups were observed especially at the third lactation. The results indicate that the behavior of goats when entering the milking parlor is influenced by the age and level of milk production. The age and milk production of goats can have a significant impact on their order at machine milking.

0.222 0.701 0.890 0.944 0.661 0.718 0.833 Width of left cistern (WLC2) 0.121 0.890 0.554 0.672 0.713 0.831 Size of left cistern (SLC2) 0.182 0.851 0.852 0.910 0.982