Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24 ISSUE 3
Written by Iuliu-Gabriel MALOS, Gabriela MALOS

The present study aimed to analyze sheep milk production and its economic efficiency in terms of average production, total production, production costs, revenues, and financial outcomes during the 2022-2023 production year. The experiments were conducted on a flock of 35 sheep of the Karakul breed, white variety, raised at the Popauţi Research Development and Innovation Station, Botoșani County, Romania. The evaluation of results and calculation of indicators were performed at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest. These research endeavors are original and pursued two objectives: firstly, the analysis of production performance as aforementioned, and secondly, the improvement of this breed aiming to increase milk production, although the breed is known for its specialization in skin production, the marketing of which has become problematic both in Romania and in traditionally sheep-rearing countries. The method used to determine milk production was the "Bi-monthly coefficient control method, which allows for the determination of milk production both during the suckling period for ewes with lambs and after weaning the lambs". Applying this method to the studied animal population recorded a total production of 1954.12 liters of milk per year, an average monthly milk production of 79.38 liters, an average milk production per sheep of 56.00 liters, and an overall lactation average production of 0.266 liters of milk per sheep per day. Analyzing the productive performances, it can be concluded that this color variety within the Karakul breed can be improved towards increasing milk production without affecting the quality of the skins.

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