Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:12:18.123Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Lactation performance of ewes and the growth of lambs, in Awassi sheep, under two different suckling regimes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. A. Guirgis ,
M. M. Kassem ,
N. T. Kazzal  and
R. K. Abdallah
R. A. Guirgis
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University, Iraq
M. M. Kassem
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University, Iraq
N. T. Kazzal
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University, Iraq
R. K. Abdallah
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University, Iraq
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The present study was carried out on 39 local Awassi ewes. After parturition, lambs were left to suckle their dams for the first month of age, after which they were separated into two suckling regimes, restricted and continuous.

The average milk yield of ewes in the continuous system was 155·7 kg during the lactation period of 167±6·1 days whereas that of the restricted system was 139·8 kg during a lactation period of 183 ± 5·7 days. However, differences were not significant. Significant differences (P < 0·01), in favour of the continuous system, occurred in the amount of milk suckled by lambs in the different suckling systems from the 8th week onwards till weaning. Measured hand milk showed no significant differences between the two regimes.

Averages of butter fat percentages were 5·63 and 6·69 in the continuous and restricted systems respectively. The total percentage suckled milk, regardless of suckling regime, was 36·7 ± 1·99; averages were 41·6 ± 0·89 and 31·7 ± 3·52 in the continuous and restricted systems respectively.

The averages of commercial milk production from the 9th week after lambing until the end of lactation were 45·9 and 61·7 kg in the continuous and restricted systems respectively (P < 0·01). Averages of butter fat quantities in the commercial milk yield were 3·25 and 5·03 kg in the continuous and restricted systems respectively (P < 0·01).

The weights of lambs in the two suckling regimes started to differ significantly from the 14th to the 46th week of age; lambs reared under the continuous system were 4 kg heavier at the yearling age than those of the restricted system.

It might be worth considering weaning and selling extra lambs at 3 months of age to make full use of the high growth rate encountered in this period. The breeder could also obtain 11·4 kg more milk from ewes from 9 to 17 weeks after lambing in the restricted system than those in the continuous one. It might be advisable to use the restricted system and wean the lambs at 12 weeks of age; the excess milk obtained will outweigh the extra gain in body weight of 1·52 kg encountered in the continuous system.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 94 , Issue 3 , June 1980 , pp. 607 - 616
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Eliya, J. & Juma, K. H. (1970). Birth weight, weaning weight and milk production in Awassi sheep. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 47, 321–324.Google Scholar
Folman, Y., Volcani, R. & Eyal, E. (1966). Mother–offspring relationships in Awassi sheep. I. The effect of different suckling regimes and time of weaning on the lactation curve and milk yield in dairy flocks. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 67, 359–368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hadjipanayiotou, M. & Louca, A. (1976). The effects of partial suckling on the lactation performance of Chios sheep and Damascus goats and the growth rate of the lambs and kids. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 87, 15–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, W. R. (1960). Least-squares analysis of data with unequal subclass numbers. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Bulletin 20–8.Google Scholar
Lawlor, M. J., Louca, A. & Mavrogenis, A. (1974). The effect of three suckling regimes on the lactation performance of Cyprus-fat-tailed, Chios and Awassi sheep and the growth rate of the lambs. Animal Production 18, 293–299.Google Scholar
Louca, A. (1972). The effect of suckling regime on growth rate and lactation performance of the Cyprus-fat-tailed and Chios sheep. Animal Production 15, 53–59.Google Scholar
Louca, A., Mavrogenis, A. & Lawlor, M. J. (1975). The effect of early weaning on the laotation performance of Damascus goats and the growth rate of the kids. Animal Production 20, 213–218.Google Scholar
Moore, R. W. (1966). Milk quality in Merino and Corriedale ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 17, 201–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morag, M., Raz, A. & Eyal, E. (1970). Mother-offspring relationships in Awassi sheep. IV. The effect of weaning at birth, or after 15 weeks, on lactational performance in the dairy ewe. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 75, 183–187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spedding, C. R. W. (1970). Sheep Production and Grazing Management, 2nd ed.London: Baillière, Tindall & Cassell.Google Scholar
Steel, R. G. D. & Torrie, J. H. (1960). Principles and Procedures of Statistics. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar