Milk recording results of cattle, goats and sheep - France 2023

CATTLE :

28,745 herds provided 1,878,620 qualified lactations in 2023. Decreasing respectively from 5.6% and 4.6% the herd number and the number of qualified lactations confirm the trend observed since several years. The three main French national breeds (Prim’Holstein, Montbéliarde and Normande) represent henceforth 89.8% of the total of qualified lactations (-0.4% compared to 2022). With 48.7 %, the percentage of herds of more than 60 qualified lactations increased again in 2023, confirming the upward trend observed for several years (48,2% in 2022, 46.8 in 2021 and 2020, 47.5 in 2019, 45.1% in 2018 and 40.1% in 2017). With an average milk production for complete lactations at 8,938Kg, the milk yield is increasing in 2023 (+60kg). In the same time the average lactation duration reach 346 days (+1 day). Mean fat and protein reaches respectivly 40.8 g/Kg (+0.2) and 32.8 g/Kg (+0.1). A noticeable improvement in somatic cell count situation is again observed. The proportion of lactations for which all the test-dates obtain cell counts lower than 300.000 cells and the proportion of lactations having at least 2 test-dates with cell counts higher than 800.000 reach respectively 58.7% et 10.2%.

GOAT :

With 226,442 the number of qualified lactations is decreasing in 2023 (-7,059 lactations -3%). At the same time, the number of flocks is slightly decreasing to reach 1,456 flocks (-0.7%). Flocks with more than 250 lactations represent 19.3% of herds and 48 % of lactations. The two main breeds (Alpine and Saanen) represent henceforth 96.7% of the total of qualified lactations. The proportion of primiparous dairy goats is slightly increasing and reaches 37.2 % (+0.6%), confirming the trend observed since 2018 (+0.8% in 2019, +1.7% in 2020, +0.5% in 2021, +0.6% in 2022). With an average at 1023 Kg the milk yield per goat passes the 1000 Kg mark for the second time (1002 Kg in 2022). Lactation duration increase significantly again and reach 332 days (+6) confirming the trend observed for a few years (298 days in 2014). Meanwhile true-protein is stable at 33.6 g/Kg and with 37.4 g/Kg fat rate is decreasing (-0.1). A simplified milk recording (CLS), not presented in this document, exists in addition to the Official Milk Recording (CLO) the results of which are presented in

this document. Simplified milk recording concerns 380 (+8%) herds and 75,863 (+7.9%) goats in 2023.

SHEEP :

739 flocks were submitted to Official Milk Recording in 2023, showing a significant decrease compared to the previous year. With 339,610 ewes, in 2023 the total number of ewes present at the lambing period is slightly decreasing by -1,371 ewes (-0,4%). At the same time the total number of ewes with lactation calculation decreased to 285,852 (-1,4%). This variation cancels the increase observed the previous year (+1,6%). Meanwhile, with 460 ewes, the average size of flock still progressed in 2023 (452 ewes in 2022 vs 447 ewes in 2021 and 441 ewes in 2020). In 2023, at the national level, with an average of 304.6 liters (+6.8 liters) in 172 days of lactation during the milking period the milk yield is increasing. This national average hides contrasting variations across breeds. Indeed, in 2023 while the Lacaune breed saw its production increase by 11 liters per lactation the production decreased for all other breeds: Manech Tête Rousse -0.9 liter, Basco Béarnaise -11.7 liters, Corse -8.9 liters et Manech Tête Noire -7.2 liters. A simplified milk recording, corresponding to the D recording method in the ICAR guidelines and not presented in this document, exists in addition to the Official Milk Recording AC design. It concerns commercial flocks out of the selection nucleus (while the Official Milk Recording is devoted only to breeders involved in the selection program). 1,110 flocks and 517,158 ewes present at the lambing period were submitted to D recording in 2023.