In this study phenotypic and genetic factors affecting the reproductive efficiency of Lori-Bakhtiari ewes were determined using 8202 reproductive records of 2478 ewes collected at Shooli research station in the southwestern part of Iran (Shahrekord) during 1989 to 2012. Reproductive efficiency over all consecutive lambing opportunities were calculated by adding the total reproductive efficiency...

Thirty six male Chall lambs (four-month old and 26  ±1.5 kg body weight) were randomly assigned into four treatments (nine lambs per treatment) to study the effect of Powerfeed® (a commercial mixture made from wheat processing by-product and wheat bran) on weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, serum sodium and potassium concentration and urine pH. Lambs in control group were fed with...

The differences of fertility and prolificacy traits for Rahmani and Chios ewes were studied in this investigation. The study was conducted during two consecutive years that included three lambing season with a total of 273 ewes (162 Rahmani and 111 Chios) bred, 230 ewes lambing, 280 lambs born and 237 lambs weaned. Breed of ewes had a significant effect on fecundity, lambing rate and weaning ra...

Growth and carcass traits of St. Croix White (STX; n = 22) and Dorper X St. Croix White (DRP; n = 18) lambs fed a concentrate ration were evaluated. Starting two weeks after weaning (63 d of age) lambs were fed a commercial diet at 4 percent BW•hd-1•d-1. Lambs were slaughtered at a BW of 30 kg. Carcass weight, fat thickness over the 12th rib, rib eye area (REA), percent KPH and leg circumferenc...

The onset of puberty in prenatally growth-restricted versus normally grown lambs of both sexes, born in April and housed under natural photoperiod, was examined. Singleton pregnancies were established and adolescent ewes were offered a high or moderate nutrient intake throughout gestation. Placental mass was reduced (P < 0.001) in high compared with moderate intake dams and resulted in the birt...

Thirty-two Suffolk wether lambs were fed for 84 d in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment using two levels of dietary protein (9.0 to 12.1% CP, low protein, LP; or 12.8 to 14.4% CP, high protein, HP) and supplemental Cr (none, C; or 400 ppb Cr as chromium tripicolinate, Cr). At 14- to 21-d intervals, lambs were weighed, and jugular blood samples were collected. Mean ADG and carcass weight (P > .10) did...

This experiment investigates the effects of maternal nutrient restriction in late gestation on the offsprings' postnatal metabolism and performance. Forty purebred Shropshire twin lambs born to ewes fed either a high-nutrition diet (H) (according to standard) or a low-nutrition (L) diet (50% during the last 6 weeks of gestation) were studied from birth until 145 days of age. In each feeding gro...

a crossbreeding experiment involving four iranian fat-tailed sheep breeds, namely kurdi (k), chaal (c), afshari (a) and sanjabi (s) was carried out to determine the ram breed effects on productivity of kurdi fat-tailed ewes (k) under extensive production system. a total of 475 kurdi ewes were mated to 24 rams from four breeds producing 454 lambs including pure kurdi, kk, (116 lambs), afshari × ...

Aim: The objective of the study was to find out the effect of fenbendazole on the growth promotion in stunted mecheri lambs. Materials and methods: The study was conducted with three groups of ten mecheri lambs each. Group I served as untreated control and group II and III were treated with fenbendazole @ 5 mg/kg body weight and 7.5 mg/kg body weight, respectively. All the lambs were subjected ...

Sexual activity, body size and testis growth in the prepubertal period (120-210days of age) were studied in five male lambs of each of four dairy sheep breeds. Sexual responses developed earlier in Friesland than in Chios and Karagouniki and latest in Serres ram lambs. Friesland lambs expressed interest in females at 127days of age and 34kg live weight 18-36days younger and 3.4-6.3kg lighter th...