Improvement of Fertility Performance of Farahani Ewes Raised on Supplementary Feeding
الموضوعات :آ. میرشمسالهی 1 , ر.ع. عزیزی 2
1 - Markazi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Arak, Iran
2 - Markazi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Arak, Iran
الکلمات المفتاحية: Fertility, Farahani ewes, lamb’s weight, supplementary feeding,
ملخص المقالة :
This study deals with effects of supplementary feeding on fertility performance of Farahani ewes. The study was conducted using three local flocks in Arak city, Iran. Half ewes in each flock (50 ewes from each flock) were used as control group and fed according to traditional method without supplementary feed. The other half per flock was fed on supplementary feed throughout the experiment that included three stages of breeding, late Pregnancy, and lactation. Weight and body condition score was measured in all ewes before supplementary feeding at breeding and at the end of the experiment. Average weight and body condition score at the measuring period were 39.4 ± 1.3 kg and 2.09 ± 0.26 for the control group; and 42.34 ± 1.26 kg and 2.56 ± 0.34 for the experimental group, respectively. The difference between two groups was significant (P<0.01). Implementation of supplementary feeding had significant effect on the birth and weaning weights of lambs. Average birth weight of lambs in control and experimental groups was 3.38 ± 0.14 and 4.09 ± 0.14 kg, respectively. Lambs weights at one, two and three months of ages for the control group were 9.16 ± 1.4, 12.99 ± 2.03 and 22.65 ± 2.3 kg and for the experimental group were 11.23 ± 1.4, 16.55 ± 2.03 and 27.21 ± 2.3 kg, respectively (significant difference (P<0.01)). Pregnancy rates for the control and experimental group were 85.29% and 94.4%, respectively (P<0.01) and lamb mortality rates were 10.34% and 3.48%, respectively (P<0.01). These findings showed that supplementary feeding improved fertility and lambing performance. Moreover, the birth weight and weaning weight of lambs showed significant improvement as well. The overall, increasing of lambing ewes (of about 14 percent) and increase in lamb birth and weaning weights were the obtained economic benefit from this research.
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