The effect of body weight and litter size on some productive parameters and milk components of sheep under semi – intensive breeding

Abstract EN

In the current study, 28 Awassi ewes (2-3 aged) years aged were used with theirlambs for 12 weeks, to evaluate the effect of ewes body weight (BW) and Litter size(LS) on Body weight BW, Body gain (BG) of lambs, Milk yield (MY) and milkcomponents of ewes.

After lambing, ewes were weighted directly.

Ewes distributed to 4groups depending on it's body weight, the groups were: 1st and 2nd groups: ewes withhigh body weight and single lambing (HS), and twin lambing (HT) respectively, 3rd and4th groups: ewes with low body weight and single lambing LS, and twin lambing LTrespectively.

The results showed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in BW and BG in HSlambs groups compared with LT lambs most weeks of study.

MY was highersignificantly (p≤0.05) in Heavy ewes group that have twin lambs at most weeks ofstudy, milk fat% recorded a significant increase in milk fat% in Heavy ewes group withsingle lamb.

In conclusion, single lambs born and reared by heavy ewes were becameheavier at the end of lactation period (at weaning), also ewes with twin lambs regardlessif it was heavy or light will have more milk yield.