Assessment of milk production and composition in Chilota sheep under two feeding systems in the Chiloé Archipelago, Chile

Considering the Chilota sheep as an important zoogenetic resource in the Chiloé Archipelago, with limited available data regarding its dairy potential, this exploratory study aimed to evaluate milk yield and milk composition under two feeding management systems. Forty multiparous Chilota ewes were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned at 60 days postpartum to two groups: CONTROL (grazing ryegrass-clover pastures) and SUPPL (grazing plus daily supplementation with 150 g DM whole corn grain and 150 g DM commercial soybean-based protein supplement). Ewes were milked once daily over a period of 30 days. Milk yield was recorded daily, and milk composition parameters (fat, protein, lactose, total solids, non-fat solids, urea) were analyzed at 70, 80, 90, and 100 days postpartum. No significant differences (P≥0.05) were observed in total milk production or in any of the milk composition parameters between the CONTROL and SUPPL groups. Under the conditions of the present study, results indicate that high-quality pasture alone sufficiently meets the nutritional requirements for milk production in Chilota sheep, rendering dietary supplementation unnecessary during periods of peak pasture availability. These findings provide valuable insights to diversify smallholder production systems in Chiloé through dairy sheep farming.