Gestation and lambing of barki ewes in relation to plane of nutrition

ABSTRACT

The present investigation aimed to improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of Barki ewes managed under different planes of nutrition. The experiment was carried out on 3 groups of Barki ewes fed on maintenance ration, maintenance beside nitrogenous supplement and maintenance beside carbonesious supplement for 3 months premating. The results revealed that the level of supplementation had a non significant effect on both the gestation length and the sex of the off spring. On the contrary, progesterone concentration showed significant decrease in the supplemented 2 groups [2.36 +/- 0.95 and 2.59 +/- 0.76 ng/ml]. Lambing rates averaged 90, 100 and 100% in the 3 groups, respectively, without twinning. Sex ratio of newly born averaged 1.5, 0.67 and 0.67, respectively, and lamb birth weight was significantly heavier in nitrogenous supplemented ewes [3.50 +/- 10.17 kg] than in carbonesious supplemented ones [3.20 +/- 0.17 kg] or in control group [2.95 +/- 0.21 kg]