A note on seasonal changes in litter size of Finn × Awassi ewes

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe twinning rate of Finn × Awassi ewes in a breeding management system which included three breeding periods a year, namely, June, September and December-January, was studied in animals mated at their natural or induced oestrus.A similar number of lambs per ewe lambing was obtained from the ewes mated either at the induced oestrus in June or September, or at their natural oestrus in December. A significant decrease was found in the twinning rate of the ewes mated in January after hormone treatment. The conception rate was highest in the ewes mated in December-January.