Abstract

Twenty five ewes were used in this study. They were born during the period from 1^st of March 2004 until 11 ^th of May 2004. The study was completed to 15^th of September, 2004. Animals were kept under the same management, housing and nutritional conditions. The parameters which were undertaken in this study included; milk production (recorded twice a day/ewe) and the time required for complete milking; size, length, width, depth and circumference of the udder; length and circumference of teats and the distance between them (measured biweekly); fat and protein percent; somatic cells count (biweekly). As far as the morphology of the udder is concerned. it was found that the size, length, width, depth, and circumference where as in those ewes were 1151.36 cm³, 28.16 cm, 11.22cm, 6.84 cm and 37.16 cm, respectively. Concerning the average of the length, diameter and distance between the teats for those ewes were 3.3 cm, 1.86 cm and 17.33 cm, respectively. Observations indicated that performance the average daily milking producing, fat and protein percentages, somatic cells count and the time required for the complement milk letdown for the those ewes were 480.2 gm. 5.58%, 4.9%, 314000 cell and 11.38 seconds for 100 gm. of milk, respectively. T – test showed that there was no significant difference in performance traits a result of average teats length, teats diameter and distance between them, the interaction between teats length, diameter and distance between them have no significant effect in performance traits, also the interaction between teats length and teats diameter, teats length and distance between them, teats diameter and distance between them have no significant effect in performance traits. It can be stated that the ewes characterized by having longest teats with more distance and diameter are best individuals for milk production and performance.