B-MODE ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF MAMMARY GLANDS IN DAIRY EWES DURING THE LACTATION PERIOD

Ultrasound is a powerful tool for the evaluation of morphological characteristics of the ewes udder and teats. It was studied the size of mammary cistern in ewes of nine genotypes (purebred Improved Valachian (IV), purebred Tsigai (T), purebred Lacaune (LC) and their crosses of IV and T with specialized dairy breeds Lacaune and East-Friesian (EF). Data were evaluated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) methodology and MIXED procedure (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 measurements. In purebred IV ewes, the average areas of the left and right udder cisterns size obtained using the method "from bottom" were (1078.81 +/- 78.9 mm(2) and 1033.68 +/- 79.63 mm(2)). In T ewes (813.56 +/- 71.06 mm(2) and 810.85 +/- 71.66 mm(2)). These were significantly smaller than in LC ewes (1941.64 +/- 74.73 mm(2) and 1989.46 +/- 75.39 mm(2)). The obtained analyses showed that crossbreeding of IV and T with specialized dairy breeds considerably increases ewe's cistern size. In conclusion, it was proposed to use the ultrasonographic scanning technique for determination of ewes udder cisterns size, and then use the obtained results in the selection of sheep with large cisterns, where it is a real potential for high milk production and fast milking speed.