Effects of weaning at different ages on the growth of lambs and milk production of  dams in the awassi breed of sheep

B. Cahit YALÇIN; Gültekin AKTAŞ; Mehmet SANDIKÇIOĞLU

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Effects of weaning at different ages on the growth of lambs and milk production of dams in the awassi breed of sheep

B. Cahit YALÇIN ,Gültekin AKTAŞ ,Mehmet SANDIKÇIOĞLU

- 51 single lambs of either sex born in the Awassi flock at Ereğli Animal Breeding Research Station, Konya, in the beginning of 1967 were assigned into three balanced groups according to age of dame and sire to study the effects of weaning at 45, 60 and 75 days on the growth, first year fleece weight and body weight (at 16 months) of lambs and milk production characteristics of their dams. During the first 3 months, all lambs had free access to dry alfaalfa and concentrate feed. Groups were semilar in respect of dam`s age and spread of birth date.

Significant differences were found between the groups in respect of weaning weight and 75 day weight but not for 6 month, 12 month and 16 month weights and fleece weight. Mean weaning weight in the group weaned at 45 days was 4.1 and 6.2 kg less than those in the groups weaned at 60 and 75 days, the same differences being 2.9 and 3.4 kg for mean 75 day weihgt. Retarded growth in the 45 day group became increasingly apparent as the lambs grew older, although group diferences were not significant at the later ages. The groups weaned at 60 and 75 days had similar mean weights throughout the experiment.

Mean total milk production and lactation length in the groups of ewes suckling their lambs for 45, 60 and 75 days were not significantly affected by the length of suckling period but significiant diferences for the amount of marketable milk were found between the groups. Mean values were; 131.5, 132.3 and 125.9 kg for total milk production; 81.4, 72.2 and 54.0 kg for the amount of marketable milk and 194.8, 191.7 and 197.0 days for lactation length in there groups, respectively.

These results indicate that the amount of marketable milk can be increased by reducing the length of suckling period but weaning at or earlier then 45 days may cause retarded growth in lambs. There does not seem to be much advantage to be gained by weaning lambs later than 60 days under the conditions of this experiment. Keywords :