ÉVALUATION DES CONDITIONS ET DES CADENCES DE TRAITE DANS DES FERMES OVINES LAITIÈRES EN TUNISIE

Abstract

Milking of Sicilo-Sarde dairy sheep breed in Tunisia remains always manual by calling qualified milkers who have become more and more rare. Some flocks using mechanical milking, but its use is still inefficient or inadequate. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and hygienic milking conditions in two dairy sheep areas in the North of Tunisia. Technical and hygienic milking conditions were evaluated on seven flocks of dairy sheep farming (four public farms, three of which use machine milking in pot, and three private farms). The diagnosis of the milking equipment had revealed a relatively satisfactory situation of the milking machines functioning. The pulsation rate had varied between 80 and 105 cpm. Also, the average milking cadence observed for mechanical milking was relatively low (65 ewes/hour/ milker), but it was acceptable for manual milking (50 ewes/hour/ milker). However, farms with mechanical milking did not have a milking hallway that disturbed ewe circulation and contention during milking. For hygienic milking practices, udder preparation and teat disinfection after milking were not carried out in all farms. These results indicate that a great improvement in hygienic practices should be made in dairy sheep farms. The study of the comparative impacts of mechanical milking of Sicilo-Sarda ewe on mammary health, teat integrity and milking comfort is needed to identify the appropriate settings for a best development of this system in Tunisia.