Some managemental aspects affecting lamb crops

الملخص EN

This work was carried out on 90 adult Rahmani ewes (Their age varied from 1 to 4 years and their body weight ranged from 30 to 50 Kg) and three adult Rahmani rams (Their average age and body weight were 4 years and 60 kg,respectively).

These animals were raised at Mehallet- Mousa, Animal Production Research Station; Kafr El-Sheikh Province, Egypt .The animals were divided into four groups (time of feed supplementation during gestation, age of dames at first use, body weight of dams at first use and stocking density groups) to investigate the effect of these managemental aspects on their lambs production.

The ewes supplemented at late stage of pregnancy had high conception rate as well as high lambs production with high body weight and low lambs mortality than those supplemented at early or mid pregnancy.

The ewes mated at an average body weight 40 kg and at an age of 18 months had high conception rate with high lambs crop and low mortalities.

Also, the ewes reared in stocking density with an average floor area 2 m2 / head had higher conception rate and lambs crop with higher lambs body weight at birth and weaning.

From this work, We concluded that it is possible to save more than 50% of lambs mortality by applying modern methods of husbandry such as feed supplementation of pregnant ewes at late stage of gestation, good selection of ewes before breeding for higher body weight at mating (not less than 40 kg) with age not less than 18 months and the stocking density of the pregnant ewes must be with an average floor area of 2, m2 / head