Livestock Studies 2005, Vol 45, Num, 1     (Pages: 019-024)

A Study on Improving of Lamb Yield by Three Lambing in Two Years in Awassi Sheep

Mahmut KESKİN 1 ,Osman BİÇER 1 ,Sabri GÜL 1 ,Ayhan SARI 1

1 Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi, Zootekni Bölümü, 31034, HATAY - This study was carried out at Animal Production Unit of Mustafa Kemal University Agriculture Faculty Research and Training Farm aiming to investigate the effects of three lambing in two years on reproductive characteristics. Awassi sheep of three years old were assigned into two groups as three lambing in two years (TLTY) and once lambing in one year (OLOY). Ewes of TLTY were mated on January, September and May. Progesterone-sponges were applied for 14 days intravaginally on the mating periods in TLTY group. After withdrawing of the sponges 500 iu/head of PMSG was injected to ewes except the September mating. For September mating ewes were applied the sponges only for oestrus synchronisation. It is known that September is the natural mating season for Awassi sheep. On the other hand, the OLOY group were mated from the beginning of August to the end September without any hormone treatment. It was found that litter size of TLTY was 39.4% of higher than that of OLOY group. The highest fertility and litter size were obtained for TLTY group in September mating while the birth weight was lowest in this period among the groups. Keywords : Awassi, accelerated lambing, litter size, lamb growth