Vol. 10, Issue 11, Part B (2025)

Author(s): Oktay Pulat, Murat Turan and Ferda Karakuş

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of sheep colostrum using a digital Brix refractometer and a colostrometer. The study material consisted of 30 pregnant Norduz ewes. Within the first six hours after birth, approximately 250 ml of colostrum was collected from each ewe's udder by hand milking. The birth weight, birth type, gender of the lambs, and dam age were recorded. The average Brix value of Norduz ewe colostrum samples was found to be 21.31%, with values ranging from 15.40% to 29.70%. Birth type, gender of the lamb, and dam age did not statistically affect the Brix value of the colostrum. The average specific gravity of Norduz ewe colostrum was found to be 1.049. The effects of dam age and gender on specific gravity were not significant. On the other hand, the specific gravity of the colostrum was found to be 1.051 and 1.028 for ewes with single and twin lambs, respectively (p<0.001). The quality of the colostrum in the Norduz ewes was rated as high by the colostrometer, but it was slightly below the threshold of 22% by the digital Brix refractometer.

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2025.v10.i11b.2698