Performance of ewes lambing at two different periods of the rainy season
1996
Solomon Abegaz (Bako Research Center (Ethiopia))
Performance of 228 ewes lambing a two different periods, period 1 during the beginning and period 2 during the middle of the rainy season, was compared. Period of lambing showed significant (p less than 0.05) effect on ewe weight gain in the last third to fifth month of pregnancy, and average daily gain and adjusted weaning weight (AWWT) of lambs. Ewes lambing in period 1 gained more weight in the fourth to fifth month of pregnancy than ewes lambing in period 2 (3.3 Vs 1.9). Ewe weight gain for the whole pregnancy period was similar in the two groups. Lambs born in period two had higher (p less than 0.05) ADG and AWWT than lambs born in period one (109 Vs 90 g and 12.6 Vs 10.8 kg respectively). Survival of lambs was not different (p greater than 0.05). Productivity parameters as measured by kg weight of lamb weaned per ewe (KGWL) and g weight weaned per kg metabolic body weight (KG 0.73) of ewe (GWKGM) were significantly different (p less than 0.05; 12.5 Vs 14.8 and 986 Vs 1169 g, respectively in period 1 and 2). There was no significant effect of period on average number of lambs weaned (NLW) and g weight of lamb weaned per kg body weight of ewe (GWKGM). Lambing towards mid rainy season seem more beneficial than lambing at the beginning of the main rainy season to improve production in natural pasture based system.
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