Impact of heat stress on milk production, immunity and udder health in sheep: A critical review

The effect of heat stress on sheep milk production and on milk quality, in terms of fatty acid composition and coagulation properties, were discussed. The changes in sheep milk production in relation to some nutritional and management strategies, as feed supplementation, time of feeding and ventilation regimen, provision of shade and housing system were analyzed. The role of heat stress and nutritional and management strategies in immune response and mammary gland health were also discussed. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.