Postpartum Body Condition Score (BCS) and Lactation Stage (30 and 60 Days) Affecting Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) and Milk Quality of Najdi Sheep

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Through agricultural management, with appropriate knowledge and application, it is possible to identify the best conditions for the production of high-quality dairy products. The physical deterioration of ewes in the first week after birth is not due solely to the onset of milk production but also to a rapid increase in milk production. However, milk production in sheep peaks four weeks after parturition. In this study, both the composition and fatty acid profile of milk were analyzed to determine the correlation and effects of the body condition of Najdi ewes after parturition and their lactation stage at days 30 and 60. The BCS after parturition was positively correlated with milk fat (0.049) and margaric acid C17:0 (0.023), while it was negatively correlated with linoleic acid(AL-C18:2) (−0.002), conjugated linoleic acids (CLA-C18:2) (−0.03), and arachidonic acid C20:4 (−0.01). Milk from ewes with a BCS of 2.5 had high levels of UFA and MUFA at day 60 of lactation compared to other ewes. ABSTRACT: Body condition scoring (BCS) can be used to assess the energy reserves of sheep during feeding, production, and weaning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of BCS after parturition in stages of lactation (30 and 60 days) on the milk quality of Najdi ewes. The ewes were milked in the morning after their lambs had been isolated. Milk composition and fatty acid profiles (FA) were analyzed at 30 and 60 days of lactation after assessment of the sheep’s body condition. The sheep were classified into the following body conditions: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0. Sheep milk contained significant (p < 0.05) levels of protein at a BCS of 3.5 and on day 60 of lactation. The ewes with a BCS of 2.5 had a high milk content (p < 0.05) of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), oleic acid (OA), vaccenic acid (VA), and LA at day 60 of lactation. This result shows that the ewes with a BCS of 2.5 were able to produce high-quality milk, and 60 days of lactation was the preferred time for producing good milk and tasty and healthy dairy products.