The Lacaune breed
The Lacaune breed was created in the 19th century, and its creation was caused by the need to provide sufficient quantities of sheep milk for the existing dairy industry in the region of Roquefort.Organised work with the Lacaune breed started far back in 1902 and the first Flockbook was registered in 1942. Currently, the selection activity with the breed is performed by the UPRA LACAUNE organization – established in 1947.Over the last years, the number of sheep from the Lacaune breed in France has gone down from 1.2-1.3 million to 890 000. These sheep are raised in 2500 flocks. About 20% of them are bred in the best (selection) flocks, where А control is exercised on the production characteristics (using the АС method), 65% are in the second category flocks, where simplified D control is exercised, and the rest – in the third category flocks, where no control is exercised.
While in 1960 the average milk yield of sheep from the Lacaune breed was about 70 litres per milking period, the latest results of the milk yield control in the breed (2016) show average milk yield of 317.9 l for a 170-day milking period.
Milk yield of sheep in the main selection flocks for the year 2017
Verde Foods EOOD Farm, City of Saedinenie, Region of Plovdiv
Maximum milk yield – 463,2 litres
Average daily milk yield – 2,994 litres
Maximum daily milk yield – 5,449 litres
Dried Dairy Ingredients:
- Fat – 7,5%
- Protein – 6,8%
- Lactose – 3,9%
- Dry matter – 13,5%
- Dry non-fat residue – 10,12
Grata Commerce EOOD Farm, Village of Pastrogor, Region of Haskovo
Maximum milk yield – 495,4 litres
Average daily milk yield – 2,753 litres
Maximum daily milk yield – 4,082 litres
Dried Dairy Ingredients:
- Fat – 7,1%
- Protein – 6,0%
- Lactose – 4,0%
- Dry matter – 18,2%
- Dry non-fat residue – 10,6
ET M and B – Yanko Mitev Farm, Village of Vodenichane, Region of Yambol
Maximum milk yield – 495,4 litres
Average daily milk yield – 2,753 litres
Maximum daily milk yield – 4,082 litres
Dried Dairy Ingredients:
- Fat – 7,1%
- Protein – 6,0%
- Lactose – 4,0%
- Dry matter – 18,2%
- Dry non-fat residue – 10,6