Observational study on a novel management system involving 10 lambings per year in one high-yield dairy ewe farm

Objectives: In order to reduce non-productive days in dairy ewe production, the “accelerated sheep mating systems” can be used. One example is the STAR system, which involves up to 5 lambings/ewe in 3 years (1.2 to 1.4 lambing/ewe/year) through 5 successive annual breeding and lambing seasons (5LY). Despite its feasibility, a major disadvantage to this system is an irregular distribution of the workload throughout the year. For instance, the farm staff capacity is easily overwhelmed during the lambings periods, resulting in a deficient care of the newborns. In an attempt to distribute the workload more evenly, a high-yielding Lacaune farm transitioned from the 5LY system to a novel one consisting on 10 lambing periods per year (10LY). The present study examines the efficiency, productivity and workload concentration in this farm under both systems. Its goal was to determine the effects of a more intensive management system on the farm’s productivity, animal welfare and workload distribution. Material and methods: This observational study was performed in a high-yielding Lacaune dairy ewe farm (“Granja Cerromonte”, Spain). The 5LY system was performed from 2010 to 2012, and the 10LY system from 2014 to 2015. Years 2009 and 2013 were considered transition years. During this period, 27,415 lactations were recorded from an average of 3,746 ewes/year. Results: Daily production (1.70 ± 0.62 l/d vs 1.73 ± 1.66; P = 0.038), interlambing period (302 ± 44 vs 283 ± 50 d; P < 0.0001) and lambings/ewe/year (1.30 ± 0.01 vs1.42 ± 0.01; P < 0.05) slightly worsened in the 10LY system compared to the 5LY one. In contrast, milk yield/lactation (370 ± 156 vs. 349 ± 185 L), lactation length (218±75 vs 192 ± 75 d) and dry period length (53.5 ± 38.3 vs 69.1 ± 34.8 d) (all P < 0.0001) were better in the 10LY system. Most importantly, the workload distribution improved by the 10LY system implementation. During 2010–2012, an average of 889.19 ± 158.47 lambings/lambing period (range, 664 to 1