Productivity of ewes obtained from crossing Karakul sheep with imported stud rams

The research was conducted in 2023–2024 at the sheep farm of the Peasant Household "Tsurkan Andrey Ivanovich" on crossbred sheep in two groups of ♀ (♀Karakul 18.75% × ♂Awassi 31.25%) × ♂Assaf 50% upon the second lactation. The study aimed to carry out crossbreeding of local Karakul sheep with imported rams selected for dairy and dairy-meat productivity to increase milk and meat productivity. Milk productivity was evaluated during the first 20 days of lactation, specifically during the suckling and milking periods, as well as overall for the entire lactation. In the first 20 days of 2023, the ewes from the first and second groups produced 32.90 kg and 28.25 kg of milk, respectively. In 2024, the figures were 43.34 kg and 31.50 kg. During the suckling period, milk production in the first group in 2023 was 181.97 kg, and in 2024, it increased to 222.44 kg. In the second group, milk production in 2023 was 156.27 kg, and in 2024, it reached 193.0 kg. After the suckling period, the milking period followed, during which, in 2023, the first group yielded 116.87 kg and the second 111.43 kg of milk. In 2024, these figures increased to 157.98 kg and 167.40 kg, respectively. The average daily milk yield in 2024 was 1731.19 grams for the first group and 1567.60 grams for the second group. The udder volume of the ewes, calculated in 2024, was significantly higher for both groups compared to 2023. The chemical composition indicators of the milk in 2024 were also higher, with the fat and protein yields per kilogram of milk obtained over the entire lactation in 2024 exceeding those in 2023.