The Effects of Body Condition Score and Age of Ewes on the Reproductive Performance in Kivircik, Sakiz and Gokceada Sheep

摘要

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of body condition score (BCS) and age of ewes on the reproductive performance of Turkish native Kivircik, Sakiz, and Gokceada ewes in the breeding season. The animal materials comprised of 156 ewes of different ages and breeds that were raised at Bandyrma Sheep Research Station, Turkey. The fertility rates of Kivircik, Sakiz, and Gokceada ewes were 0.83, 0.87, and 0.74, and the litter sizes were 1.44, 1.70, and 1.79 lamb/ewe, respectively. The effect of breed on fertility rate was not significant (P>0.05), however it was significant on litter size (P<0.01). Gokceada ewes had the lowest fertility (0.743), and Sakiz ewes had the highest fertility (0.870). On the other hand, litter size was the lowest with Kivircik sheep breed (1.43), and it was the highest with Gokceada breed (1.78). According to the BCS categories at 1 unit intervals, significant differences were observed only for the fertility rates (P<0.05), which gave highest values between 3 and 5 for the BCS. The age of the ewes was significant on the fertility rate (P<0.05) and the litter size (P<0.01). Also, the effect of ewe age at breeding season on the fertility and the litter size was the lowest with the ages of 3 (0.62) and 2 (1.39), while it was the highest with the ages of 6 (0.907), and 6 (1.906). In conclusion, the BCS at breeding, age of ewes, and their breeds was observed to affect fertility and litter size.