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A note on the effect of live weight at mating on fertility of Awassi ewes in semi-arid north-west Syria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. F. Thomson  and
F. A. Bahhady
E. F. Thomson
Affiliation:
International Center of Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
F. A. Bahhady
Affiliation:
International Center of Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
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Abstract

Ninety Awassi ewes managed at different levels were used to study the effect of live weight mating on fertility over 3 years in semi-arid north-west Syria. During the 56-day pre-mating period fertile ewes had higher daily live-weight gains than infertile ewes (P < 0·01), frequency of oestrous cycles increased as live weight increased (P < 0·001) and fertile ewes tended to have more frequent oestruses than infertile ewes (P > 0·05). Ewe fertility was related (r = 0·87) to live weight at mating and twinning reached a maximum (four per 100 ewes lambing) in 51· to 56-kg ewes then decreased fP > 0·05). Maximum fertility can be expected in Awassi ewes weighing over 48 kg at mating in north-west Syria.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , December 1988 , pp. 505 - 508
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

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References

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