Evaluation of Some Reproductive Performance of Ewes, Livability and Growth Traits of Lambs of Akkaraman in Breeder Flocks in Niğde/Bor Province

Abstract

Conducted within the National Sheep and Goat Breeding “subproject: Akkaraman Sheep Breeding Project under farmer conditions in Nigde’s Bor district” between 2018 and 2022, the current study evaluated the reproductive characteristics of ewes as well as the livability and growth traits of lambs. This study investigated some ‘reproductive traits’ of an average of 6000 ewes per year and ‘growth performance and ‘survival traits’ of a total of 30051 head lambs. The birth weight (LBW), 60th-day body weight (BW60), 120th-day body weight (BW120), and 120th-day body weight gain (BWG120) of Akkaraman lambs during the study periods were 4.14±0.19 kg, 18.58±0.03 kg, 31.31±0.02 kg, and 246±2.23 g/lamb/day, respectively. In the study, among the factors affecting the growth characteristics of Akkaraman lambs, only the effect of gender on BWG120 and birth type on BW120 was found to be insignificant. In contrast, the other factors were found to be found to be statistically significant. In the study, it was determined that the number of lambs per Akkaraman ewe giving birth between 2018-2022 varied between 1.03-1.10. The highest livability in Akkaraman lambs was determined in 2018 (96.61%) and the lowest in 2020 (83.21%). As a result, it was found that liveability in Akkaraman lambs was dependent on birth year, the age of the ewe, gender, and birth type.