Journal details
Reproductive and productive performance of sheep of Rajshahi, Bangladesh insight about effects of genotype and parity

Published Date: 30 Dec 2015

Keywords: Sheep, reproductive, productive performance, genotype and parity. 

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Md. Jalal Uddin Sarder*1, Md. Hamayetul Islam1, Mst. Israt Zerin Moni1, Syed Sarwar Jahan1, Sharmin Aktar2 and Jashim Uddin1

1Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science,  University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh; 2Department. of
Microbiology & Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abastract:

Context: The reproductive and productive parameters of sheep is very important to develop the sheep farming.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reproductive and productive performance (RPP) in relation to genotype and parity of 200 sheep.

Materials and Methods: The study was done at Poba and Mohonpur upazila’s of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh during the period from July, 2011 to June, 2012. The RPP were age at puberty (AP), age at first lambing (AFL), gestation length (GL), first heat after lambing (FHAL), birth weight of lamb (BWL), litter size(LS), weaning period (WP) and lambing interval (LI). The data collected from the owners using pre-tested questionnaires.

Results: The average values for the AP, AFL, GL, FHAL, BW, LS, WP and LI were found 252±7 days, 398±7 days, 147±.15 days, 16.26±1.45 days, 0.96±.32 kg, 1.85±.02, 95.9±1.7 days and 162±2.43 days, respectively have been studied. Genotype of sheep has divided into two groups on the basic on their genetic composition of ear size viz; Long ear (n=48) and Short ear (n=152). Genotype had significant effect (P<0.05) on FHAL, LS and LI but no effect on AP, AFL, GL, BW and WP. Long ear sheep had shown better performance of RPP than the short ear sheep. The minimum values of AP, AFL, GL, FHAL, BW, WP and LI except LS in Long ear sheep and maximum in Short ear sheep. 1st (n=47), 2nd (n=53), 3rd (n=43) , 4th(n=26),  5th (n=13) and  > 6th(n=18)  parity of sheep had significant effect (P<0.05) on all the RPP excluding FHAL, WP and LI. Significantly (P<0.05) highest liter size (2.17±0.1) was found in the >5th parity and lowest in 1st parity (1.52±0.4 ). The lowest time required for LI (8.64±2.3) in >6th parity and highest in 1st parity (176.50±23days).

Conclusion: It was concluded that the Long ear genotype and >6th parity group had shown excellent RPP under the conventional condition of sheep in Rajshahi region of Bangladesh.