Reproductive performance of sheep and goats in the tropics with reference to Trinidad and Tobago
1986
Harricharan, H. (Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Inst., St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago)) | Ramlal, H. | Keens-Douglas, M.J.
Data obtained from two lamb crops produced by ewes on the Blenheim Sheep Station in Tobago and 173 goat litters collected over a 5 year period from the does on the St. Joseph Farm in Trinidad were used to assess the reproductive performance of the animals. Of the 4 varieties of sheep, the Barbados black belly ewes had the highest number of live lambs, 1.96, the Persian blackhead 1.22 compared to an average of 1.60 in the flock. Among goats the average was 1.62, the British Alpine having the lowest average of 1.42. Between birth and weaning 12 % of the lambs were lost, 21 % for the Barbados black belly compared with 6 % for the West African. For kids the mortality rate was 32 %, ranging from 21 % for the Saamen up to 50 % for the British Alpine. Other parameters compared were age at 1st conception, age at 1st parturition, length of gestation and parturition interval.
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