The effect of live weight and body condition score of ewe on growth of lamb at lambing period

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of birth and weaning weight of lamb of ewe body condition score (BCS) and ewe birth weight at lambing period on 115 Kivircik ewes at the 3-4 years of age. BCS was assessed 1 day after lambing, based on a scale of 1-5, by palpation of muscling and fat deposits over and around the vertebrae in the loin region. The data set was analyzed using a model that included body condition score, live weight of ewes, as well as other factors that affected productive traits. The results showed that the overall mean ewe BCS at lambing, ewe live weight, birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain (from birth to weaning) were 2.9, 57.1 kg, 4.5 kg, 23.6 kg and 0.249 kg, respectively. As a result of the analyses, the relationship between body condition score and ewe lambing weight, birth weight and daily live weight gain of lamb were found to be 0.440, 0.301, and 0.219, respectively (P< 0.01; P> 0.05). The effect of ewe BCS was only significant (P< 0.01) effect on lamb birth weight. According to the results, BCS at the end of the gestation period should be at least 3.0-3.5 and also this condition should be maintained during the period of gestation in Kivircik ewes.