THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DRY SEASON SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING ON THE REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF YANKASA SHEEP IN A TWICE-YEARLY LAMBING PROGRAMME

Ninety-four pregnant Yankasa ewes were divided into 3 groups and fed;(1) 0, (2) 200 or (3) 400 g/head/day of a concentrate supplement in addition to 6 h grazing daily, from 35.9±2.0 days before, 98. 122.0 after lambing the dry season between 2 Jan vary 15 May 1984 Zaria, Northern Nigeria. There no significant differences (P>0.05) bet den litter size adjusted birth weight initial experiment although latter showed consistent increase with level supplementation. Adjusted 90-day Weaning weights increased significantly (P<0.05) each supplementation: 5:5, 7.1 8.6kg for 1, respectively. Correspondingly, percentage lambs weaned (48.6, 56.4 90.7%) while ewe mortality declined (12.9, 10.0 3.0%) increasing supplementation, The exhibiting oestrus within 98.1±2.0 postpartum 77,8,91.3 96.8% However, showing oestrus, there post-partum intervals conception. Litter matings during non-significant It is concluded that supplementary feeding essential optimum reproductive performance sheep twice-yearly programme.