Growth and Survival Traits of Central Anatolian Merino Lambs Under Breeder Conditions
2 Aksaray Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Klinik Bilimler Bölümü, Aksaray
3 Eskişehir İli Damızlık Koyun Keçi Yetiştiricileri Birliği, Eskişehir
4 Çifteler İlçe Gıda Tarım ve Hayvancılık Müdürlüğü, Eskişehir - This trial was conducted to investigate the growth and survival traits of Orta Anadolu Merinosu (Central Anatolian Merino) lambs under breeder conditions.
This study was carried out in 33 Central Anatolian Merino sheep farms in Eskişehir Province. The data of 23430 lambs (born between the years of 2007 and 2010) was used to calculate the survival rate until weaning. The data of 18824 lambs (weighed for breeding stock selection) were analysed to determine the effects of birth year, sex, birth type, dam`s age and farm on the birth weight, weaning weight (at day 75), live weight at day 120, and average daily gain.
The overall birth weight, weaning weight, live weight at day 120, average daily gain and survival rate of lambs were found as 4.26 kg, 18.6 kg, 28.3 kg, 200.1 g and 90.8%, respectively. All of the investigated factors had significant effects on the birth weight, weaning weight, live weight at day 120, and average daily gain of lambs (P<0.01). The effect of year on the survival rates of lambs was significant (P<0.01).
It can be said that the growth performance and survival rate of Central Anatolian Merino lambs conducted improvement study under breeder conditions in Eskişehir province were in sufficient level and these traits were also improved in subsequent years.
Keywords : Central Anatolian Merino, growth, survival rate, environmental factor