Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-23T02:38:56.612Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Using Suffolk sheep for improving lamb production from sub-tropical Egyptian sheep:1. Reproductive performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

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

Summary

The present study deals with the reproductive performance of an imported Suffolk flock and the cross-bred ewes resulting from upgrading the local Ossimi sheep with the Suffolk. A total of 1738 ewe records were available for the study.

No significant difference was found between Suffolk and Ossimi ewes in conception rate or proportion of multiple births. However, the Ossimi ewes (mated to Suffolk rams) weaned 25 more lambs per 100 ewes lambing than the imported ewes. The cross-bred ewes were of better reproductive performance than both pure-breds. The best Suffolk cross-bred ewes were those of 40–49 % Suffolk breeding. They weaned 21 more lambs per 100 ewes run with the rams than the local ewes. Reproductive performance of the cross-bred ewes declined with increasing Suffolk genotype above this proportion.

Under the prevailing sub-tropical conditions, the Suffolk ewes have an anoestrous period of 200 days from late January to late July or August; the local ewes showed oestrous activity throughout the year, but with some irregularity.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 90 , Issue 1 , February 1978 , pp. 125 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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

REFERENCES

Aboul-Naga, A. M. (1974). Reproductive performance of Merino sub-tropical Egyptian sheep and their crosses. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 84, 383–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aboul-Naga, A.M. (1977). Location effect on the reproductive performance of three indigenous breeds of sheep under the sub-tropical conditions of Egypt. Indian Journal of Animal Science 46, 630–6.Google Scholar
Anderson, J. (1965). Reproduction in imported British breeds of sheep on a tropical plateau. 5th International Congress of Animal Reproduction and A.I., Toronto 3, 465–9.Google Scholar
Bellinger, L. L.Mendel, V. E. (1974). A note on the reproductive activity of Hampshire and Suffolk ewes outside the breeding season. Animal Production 19, 123–6.Google Scholar
Ducker, M. J.Bowman, J. G. (1972). Photoperiodism in the ewe. 5. An attempt to induce sheep of three breeds to lamb every eight months by artificial daylength changes in a non-light-proofed building. Animal Production 14, 323–34.Google Scholar
Hafez, E. S. E. (1952). Studies on the breeding season and reproduction of the ewe. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 52, 189–265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Land, R. B., Russell, W. S.Donald, H. P. (1974). The litter size and fertility of Finish-Landrace and Tasmanian Merino sheep and their reciprocal crosses. Animal Production 18, 265–72.Google Scholar
McGrick, J. D. (1970). Hybrid vigour in sheep production. M.Sc. thesis, University of New South Wales.Google Scholar
Sidky, A. R. (1948). The Egyptian sheep: an attempt to improve quality and quantity. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture 16, 79–89.Google Scholar
Vesely, J. A. (1975). Induction of lambing every eight months in two breeds of sheep by light control with or without hormonal treatment. Animal Production 21, 165–74.Google Scholar
Wodzicka-Tomazewska, M., Hutchinson, J. C. B.Bennett, J. W. (1967). Control of breeding in ewes; effect of the equatorial daylength with reversed thermal seasons. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 68, 61–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar