The Effects of Some Factors on Birth Weight, Survival Rate and Litter Size Pregnancy Period in Redkaraman and Redkaraman x Dorset Down Cross-Breed Lambs (F_1)

Authors: CAFER TAYYAR ATEŞ, MİKAİL ARSLAN, ORHAN YILMAZ

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of some factors on litter size fertility and pregnancy period in Morkaraman sheep as well as birth weight and survival rate in Morkaraman, Dorset Down x Morkaraman (F_1) crossbreed lambs. In the present study, 151 Morkaraman sheep of different ages, and 110 purebred and 46 crossbreed (Dorset Down x Morkaraman F_1) lambs were used as the research material. The effect of the genotype and birth weight on pregnancy period were significant (P < 0.01). However, the effects of birth type, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep were not. The effects of birth type, genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on birth weight were significant (P < 0.01). The effects of genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on the number of lambs per gestation were not significant. The effects of birth type on the survival rate of the lambs were significant (P < 0.01); on the other hand, the effects of genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on survival rate were not.

Keywords: Lambs, Morkaraman, Dorset Down, crossbreeding, birth weight, survival rate, pregnancy period

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