Abstract:
One hundred Lohi sheep out of the existing flock at Bahadurnagar were studied for their fertility rate, birth weights of their lambs, oestrus synchronization, economics of twice a year versus once a year lambing, effects of early weaning (at the age of 30-40 days) on the growth of lambs and development of feeding and management techniques for rearing of early-weaned lambs. Early weaning and removal of suckling stimulus helps early resumption of cyclic activity of sheep. The lamb production was increased from 1.06 to 1.89 lambs per ewe per year with the introduction of early weaning of oestrus synchronization. The birth weight and weaning weight (at 30 days) of lambs were not decreased. Significant increase was found in the weaning weight (at 120 days) produced per ewe per year from 26.80 to 39.46 kg. The live-weight and wool yield of adult ewes was not reduced. Under twice a year lambing system, on an average, 12, 66 kg more mutton can be produced per ewe per year (at the age of 120 days of lambs), and each ewe gave net extra income of Rs.104.31 per year in the form of meat, skin and wool from their lambs.
Page(s):
97-105
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Volume: 4, Issue: 2, Year: 1983