Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T03:55:20.174Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Oestrous activity of Egyptian fat-tailed Ossimi ewes raised at different locations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. M. Aboul-Naga  and
M. B. Aboul-Ela
A. M. Aboul-Naga
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
M. B. Aboul-Ela
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Oestrous activity of three flocks of Ossimi, subtropical fat-tailed ewes was detected by teaser rams over a calendar year. The flocks were raised at north Delta, mid-Delta and middle Egypt.

The two Delta flocks showed irregularity in percentage of ewes coming into oestrus monthly, with a marked decrease in March, April and May, April being the lowest. On the other hand, the mid-Egypt flock showed consistent oestrous activity throughout the year, with small fluctuations.

The three flocks showed month-to-month variation in incidence of oestrus per ewe, with lower activity in the spring months. Neither of the two Delta flocks showed real regular oestrous activity in any month throughout the year, with high ewe variation. Some ewes showed regular activity throughout the year (16–20 cycles), whereas some others showed only 4–7 cycles per year.

There were two periods of the year with high frequency of anoestrus. The more intense was March–May while fewer ewes had an anoestrous period in July–August. This was the case in the three flocks but with varying intensity.

A period of more than 1 year of detecting oestrus affected oestrous performance of the ewes and should be avoided.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 103 , Issue 3 , December 1984 , pp. 481 - 486
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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

Aboul-Naga, A. M. (1976). Location effect on the reproductive performance of three indigenous breeds of sheep under the subtropical conditions of Egypt. Indian Journal of Animal Science 46, 630–636.Google Scholar
Amir, D. & Volcani, R. (1965). The sexual season of the Awassi fat-tailed ewe. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 64, 83–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Badawy, A. A., El-Bashary, A. S. & Mohsen, M. K. M. (1973). A study of the sexual behaviour of the female Barki sheep. Alexandria Journal of Agricultural Research 21, 1–9.Google Scholar
El-Fouly, M. A., Shafie, M. M., Abdel-Aziz, A. S. & Kandeal, S. A. (1977). Seasonal variation in oestrous activity in Ossimi and Rahmani ewes. Egyptian Journal of Animal Production 17, 75–85.Google Scholar
Hafez, E. S. E. (1952). Studies on the breeding season and reproduction of the ewe. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 42, 189–265.Google Scholar
Hafez, E. S. E. (1953). Ovarian activity in Egyptian (fat-tailed) sheep. Research Bulletin No. 34. Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University.Google Scholar
Lees, J. L. (1971). Some aspects of reproductive efficiency in sheep. Veterinary Record 88, 86–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mounib, M. S., Ahmed, I. A. & Hamada, M. K. O. (1956). A study of the sexual behaviour of the female Rahmani sheep. Alexandria Journal of Agricultural Research 4, 85–107.Google Scholar
Sefidbakht, N., Mostafavi, M. S. & Farid, A. (1978). Annual reproductive rhythm and ovulation rate in four fat-tailed sheep breeds. Animal Production 26, 177–184.Google Scholar
Yeats, N. T. M. (1949). The breeding season of the sheep with particular reference to its modification by artificial means using sun light. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 39, 1–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar