Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands

Ewe lambs attain puberty at 10 months and 16.9 + 0.01 kg (56 percent of mature weight) and first lamb at 15 months. Postpartum anoestrus in 76 days, lambing interval is 8.4 months and 65 percent of ewes lamb three times in 2 years with a gestation period of 149 days. Ewes cycle year-round but oestru...

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Autores principales: Mukasa-Mugerwa, E., Lahlou-Kassi, A.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 1995
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29612
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author Mukasa-Mugerwa, E.
Lahlou-Kassi, A.
author_browse Lahlou-Kassi, A.
Mukasa-Mugerwa, E.
author_facet Mukasa-Mugerwa, E.
Lahlou-Kassi, A.
author_sort Mukasa-Mugerwa, E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Ewe lambs attain puberty at 10 months and 16.9 + 0.01 kg (56 percent of mature weight) and first lamb at 15 months. Postpartum anoestrus in 76 days, lambing interval is 8.4 months and 65 percent of ewes lamb three times in 2 years with a gestation period of 149 days. Ewes cycle year-round but oestrus activity declines from June to September due to increased silent ovulations. Fertilisation rates are high (greater or equal to 90 percent) but lambing rate is 72 percent, suggesting moderate embryonic mortality. Conception rates to first, second and third oestrus postpartum are 78 percent, 18 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Litter size (prolificacy) is 1.12 but can be increased by 10-40 percent through premating ewe nutrition management or treatment with gonadotropins. Ewe oestrus activity can be synchronised by ram introduction after a period of isolation and with progesterone sponges or prostaglandin F2 alpha therapy. Lambs average 2.0 + 0.1 kg at birth but preweaning mortality (15 percent) and slow growth, resulting in 8.6 kg weaning weight, still limit overall productivity index to 11.0 + 0.87 kg per ewe per year, and the annual reproductive rate to 1.4 lambs per ewe. In the traditional management system, where most animals are raised, further studies are required into better nutrition and control of diseases (endoparasitism) in young animals to increase reproductive efficiency, flock productivity and number of animals for finishing and slaughter. This could serve as a model for interventions in other ruminants in the agroecological zone.
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spelling CGSpace296122023-12-08T19:36:04Z Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands Mukasa-Mugerwa, E. Lahlou-Kassi, A. sheep reproductive performance productivity menz sheep highlands growth animal nutrition oestrous cycle Ewe lambs attain puberty at 10 months and 16.9 + 0.01 kg (56 percent of mature weight) and first lamb at 15 months. Postpartum anoestrus in 76 days, lambing interval is 8.4 months and 65 percent of ewes lamb three times in 2 years with a gestation period of 149 days. Ewes cycle year-round but oestrus activity declines from June to September due to increased silent ovulations. Fertilisation rates are high (greater or equal to 90 percent) but lambing rate is 72 percent, suggesting moderate embryonic mortality. Conception rates to first, second and third oestrus postpartum are 78 percent, 18 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Litter size (prolificacy) is 1.12 but can be increased by 10-40 percent through premating ewe nutrition management or treatment with gonadotropins. Ewe oestrus activity can be synchronised by ram introduction after a period of isolation and with progesterone sponges or prostaglandin F2 alpha therapy. Lambs average 2.0 + 0.1 kg at birth but preweaning mortality (15 percent) and slow growth, resulting in 8.6 kg weaning weight, still limit overall productivity index to 11.0 + 0.87 kg per ewe per year, and the annual reproductive rate to 1.4 lambs per ewe. In the traditional management system, where most animals are raised, further studies are required into better nutrition and control of diseases (endoparasitism) in young animals to increase reproductive efficiency, flock productivity and number of animals for finishing and slaughter. This could serve as a model for interventions in other ruminants in the agroecological zone. 1995-07 2013-06-11T09:24:12Z 2013-06-11T09:24:12Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29612 en Limited Access Elsevier Small Ruminant Research;17(2): 167-177
spellingShingle sheep
reproductive performance
productivity
menz sheep
highlands
growth
animal nutrition
oestrous cycle
Mukasa-Mugerwa, E.
Lahlou-Kassi, A.
Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands
title Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands
title_full Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands
title_fullStr Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands
title_short Reproductive performance and productivity of Menz sheep in the Ethiopian highlands
title_sort reproductive performance and productivity of menz sheep in the ethiopian highlands
topic sheep
reproductive performance
productivity
menz sheep
highlands
growth
animal nutrition
oestrous cycle
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29612
work_keys_str_mv AT mukasamugerwae reproductiveperformanceandproductivityofmenzsheepintheethiopianhighlands
AT lahloukassia reproductiveperformanceandproductivityofmenzsheepintheethiopianhighlands