Evaluating breed and seasonal effects on milk yield, composition, and cheesemaking ability of 2 Italian dairy sheep breeds

This study aimed to characterize milk yield, composition, and cheesemaking traits of Comisana and Massese ewes managed under uniform conditions and to evaluate the effects of breed, season, and their interaction. Milk samples were collected from 161 ewes across 4 sampling periods, measuring productive, compositional, and cheesemaking traits. A linear mixed model was implemented, with fixed effects of breed, sampling period, stage of lactation, parity, and relevant interactions and random effects of animal and residual. Massese ewes showed higher milk yield, resulting in higher component yields and cheese output, whereas Comisana ewes showed higher protein and casein concentrations, leading to better cheesemaking ability. A significant interaction between breed and season revealed breed-specific responses to seasonal variation, with Massese exhibiting more consistent milk production and Comisana showing more pronounced seasonal fluctuations. These findings highlight the importance of considering both breed and season for optimizing milk production and cheesemaking efficiency in local Italian sheep breeds.