Livestock Studies 2011, Vol 51, Num, 1     (Pages: 001-014)

Some Production Traits of Acıpayam Sheep under The Middle Anatolian Conditions

Fatma Tülin ÖZBAŞER 1 ,Halil AKÇAPINAR 2

1 Arı Farma Limited Şirketi, ANKARA
2 Ankara Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, ANKARA
- The aim of this study was to evaluate some yield traits of the Acıpayam ewes raised at the Bala State Farm, in Ankara, in Central Anatolia. A total 80 head of Acıpayam ewes, randomly selected and their 90 lambs have been used as an animal material in the study, in 2007. Udder types were determined as Type I, II, III and IVand their ratio were 8.86; 59.49; 26.58 and 5.07 %, respectively. Although the majority of the flock had udder type II, the highest milk yield was yieled from type IV. Mean daily milk yield was 906.2 g during entire lactation period, total milk yield and lactation period were 170.5 kg and 199.9±2.4 days. The average live weight of the lambs for 45, 90 and 180 days were 16.3; 22.5 and 28.0 kg, respectively. The wither height, chest girth and depth, body length, rump height, cannon bonne circumference of the lambs were 50.2; 53.4; 20.5; 47.4; 49.4 and 3.5 cm on the days of 45th; 57.1; 64.2; 23.9; 53.2; 55.6 and 4.0 cm, on the days of 90th; 61.4; 71.3; 26.6; 55.2; 59.9 and 4.2 cm, on the days of 180th, respectively. Survival rates of male and female lambs were determined as 98.03 and 97.43 % at weaning age (45 days), 82.35 and 92.30 % 180th days, respectively. In conclusion, the results of the study showed that Acıpayam ewes, which originated from Denizli, could be succesfully raised under the Central Anatolian conditions, however, selection programs should be implemented on the flock because of high variation in production traits. Keywords : Acıpayam Genotype, Growth, Lamb, Milk Yield, Livability