Growth traits and survival rates of Akkaraman lambs in breeder flocks in Konya Province

Authors: AHMET HAMDİ AKTAŞ, BEKİR ANKARALI, İBRAHİM HALICI, UĞUR DEMİRCİ, ALİ ATİK, ERCAN YAYLACI

Abstract: This trial was carried out to determine the growth traits and survival rates of Akkaraman (‘White Karaman’ in Turkish, WK) lambs in breeder flocks in Konya Province. In this study, the effects of birth year, lamb’s sex, birth type, dam’s age, and farm on the birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) at day 75, live weight (LW) at day 120, and average daily weight gain (ADWG) of lambs were investigated. Survival rates of lambs up to weaning were determined based on years. Data were collected from 19,207 lambs born between the years of 2007 and 2010 in 2 different villages of Konya Province in Turkey. The overall BW, WW, LW at day 120, ADWG, and survival rate of lambs were found as 4.05 kg, 19.5 kg, 31.7 kg, 231 g, and 91.4%, respectively. All of the investigated factors had significant effects on the BW, WW, and LW at day 120 and ADWG of lambs (P < 0.01). Differences between the survival rates of lambs were significant (P < 0.01). These results showed that birth year, sex of lamb, birth type, dam’s age, and farm have important effects on the growth of WK lambs. It can also be said that the genetic capacity for rapid growth and ADWG of WK lambs is not low.

Keywords: Akkaraman (White Karaman), growth, survival rate, environmental factor, live weight, daily weight gain

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