Livestock Studies 2014, Vol 54, Num, 1     (Pages: 015-020)

Determination of growth and some body measurements of Hemşin Lambs

Mehmet SARI 1 ,Kadir ÖNK 2 ,Ali Rıza AKSOY 1 ,Muammer TİLK 1 ,Serpil ADIGÜZEL IŞIK 1

1 Kafkas Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Kars
2 Kafkas Üniversitesi, Kars Meslek Yüksek Okulu, Bitkisel ve Hayvansal Üretim Bölümü, Kars
- The study was conducted to investigate growth and some body measurements of Hemşin lambs. This study was conducted at the Application and Research Farm of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University. The animals of the study were Hemşin lambs were purchased from a breeder in Ardanuç district of Artvin province. The above mentioned traits were measured from 77 head Hemşin lambs in 30 day intervals from birth to 180 day of age. The least squares means of birth, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 day weights in Hemşin lambs were found as 4.10, 14.45, 23.49, 27.44, 29.97, 34.39 and 38.97 kg, respectively. The effect of the sex on the live weight at birth, 150 and 180 days were significant (P<0.01, P<0.001). The effect of the birth type on the live weight at 30 day was significant (P<0.05). The effect of the age of dam on the 120th day weight was also found to be significant (P<0.05). As a result, Hemşin lambs had a generally higher or similar growth characteristics compared to other sheep breeds. Keywords : Body measurements, Growth, Hemşin lamb