FACTORS AFFECTING BIRTH AND WEANING WEIGHTS IN LAMBS OF YANKASA, WEST AFRICAN DWARF BREEDS AND THEIR CROSSES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51406/jagse.v12i2.1397Keywords:
Birth weight, weaning weight, Yankasa, West African Dwarf, Sex, Birth type.Abstract
Data on birth weights (BW) and weaning weights (WW) in lambs of Yankasa, West African dwarf (WAD) breeds and their crosses were analyzed. The effects of breed, parity, sex, type of birth, management system and season were determined. Yankasa lambs had the highest mean BW (2.57kg) which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of WAD (1.68kg) and their crosses (2.05kg). Breed, parity, sex, type of birth and season had significant (P< 0.05) effect BW and WW. Male lambs in comparison with female lambs had higher (P < 0.05) BW and WW while single-born lambs in comparison with multiple-born lambs had higher (P < 0.05) WW. A highly significant positive correlation (0.719) was estimated between BW and WW of lambs across breed. It was concluded that the differences in factors influencing BW and WW at early phases might have risen from the variation among breeds and factors monitored. Therefore, BW and WW could provide useful information for early selection criteria in breeding programmes, serving as an important role in expression of genetic potential in lambs.
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Adu, I. F., Brinckman W.L. Kuteyi I.S. 1979. Reproductive performance of indigenous sheep and their crosses. Nigerian Journal for Animal Production 6:38-40.
Afolayan, R. A. Abubakar B.Y., Dim N.I., Osinowo O.A. 2001. Inheritance of growth and lactation parameters in Yankasa sheep. Nigerian Journal for Animal Production, 28, 9–13.
Babar, M.E., Ahmad, Z A. Nadeem A. and Yaqoob M. 2004. Environmental factors affecting birth weight in Lohi sheep. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 24 (1):5-8.
Brown, M. A., Jackson W. G. 1995. Ewe productivity and subsequent pre-weaning lamb performance in St. Croix sheep bred at different times during the year. Journal of Animal Science 73: 1258-1263
Fasae, O.A., Adu I.F., Aina A.B.J. and Dipeolu M.A. 2011. Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat sensory evaluation of West African dwarf sheep fed varying levels of maize and cassava hay. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 43: 503-510.
FDLPCS (Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services). 1991. Nigerian National Livestock Survey. Vol. 2. FDLPCS, Abuja, Nigeria. 289 pp.
Gardner, D.S., Buttery P.J., Daniel Z., Symonds M.E. 2007. Factors affecting birth weight in sheep: maternal environment. Reproduction 133 297-307.
Gatenby, R. M., 2006. Sheep Production in the tropics Longman Publisher. London and New York.
Hafez, E.S.E. 1962. Reproduction in Farm Animals. (2nd edition). Lea and Feibiger, Philadelphia.
Hanford K.J., Van Vleck L.D., Snowder G.D. 2003. Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight, and wool characteristics of Targhee sheep. Animal Science 81:630-640.
Iyeghe, G.T., Osinowo O.A., Abubakar B.Y., Nwagu B.I., Dennar F.O. 1996. Growth rates of Yankasa sheep under semi-intensive management system. Indian Journal of Animal Science, 66, 619–623.
Josephina, D.C., Martinez N., Gonzalez, E. 1980. A Study of Factors Which Influence Birth and Weaning Weight in Lambs. Tropical of Animal Production, 5: 3.
Laes-Fettback, C., Peters, K.J. 1995. A comparative study of performance of Egyptian goat breeds. II. Growth performance and productivity. Arch. Tierz., Dummerstorf., 38 (5): 563-575.
Mandal A, Pant K.P., Nandy D.K., Rout P.K., Roy, R. 2003. Genetic analysis of growth traits in Muzaffarnagari sheep. Tropical Animal Health and Production 35:271-28.
Mandal A., Nesser F.W.C., Rout P.K., Roy R., Notter D.R. 2006. Genetic parameters fpr direct and maternal effects on body weights of Muzaffarnagari kids. Journal of Livestock Science 99: 79-89.
McFee, L. G., 1985. Factors affecting birth weight, weaning weight and post-weaning average daily gain in ram lambs. M.Sc.. Thesis, Dept. Animal Science, Iowa State University Ames Iowa, USA.
Osinowo O A. 1992. Problems and prospects for the development of small ruminants in Nigeria. In: The Nigerian livestock industry: Problems and prospects. Proceedings of a workshop held at Abuja, Nigeria, 26-27 February 1992, FDLPCS (Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services), Abuja, Nigeria.
Rashidi A., Mokhtar M.S., Jahannshahi A.S., Abadi M.R.M. 2008. Genetic parameter estimates of pre-weaning growth traits in Kermani sheep. Small Ruminant Research, 74: 165-171.
Saghi, D.A., Khadivi, H., Navidzadeh M., Nikbakht, M. 2007. Study on Influence of Environmental Effect on Birth Weight, Weaning Weight and Daily Growth of Baluchi Sheep. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 6 (5): 436-437.
SAS (Statistical Analysis system) 1999. SAS User’s guide: SAS Institute Inc., Cary North Carolina, USA.
Sivakumar, T., Soundararajan C., Palanidorai R., Ganeshkumar K., Mahendran M., Malathi G. 2006. Factors affecting birth weight in Madras Red lambs. Indian Journal of Small Ruminants 12: 115-116.
Thiruvenkadan A.K., Chinnamani K., Muralidharan J., Karunanithi, K.K. 2008. Effect of non-genetic factors on birth weight of Mecheri sheep of India. Livestock Research for Rural Development 20 (6).
Thiruvenkadan A.K., Murugun, M., Karunanithi, K.K., Muralidharan J., Chinnamani, K. 2009. Genetic and non – genetic factors affecting body weight in Tellichery goats. South African Journal of Animal Science 39: (Suppl.) 107-113.
Yaqoob, M., Merrell B. G., Sultan, J. I. 2005. Comparison of three terminal sire breeds for weaning weight of lambs kept under upland grassland and conditions in the Northeast of England.
