Genetic Evaluation and Relationships Between Lams Weight and Body Weight in Kurdi Sheep

Abstract

This study was carried out at the private field Jezhnikan village, Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq, on (101) ewes (245) records and (5)rams of different ages and weights over the period April( 2018) until May(2020, in order to study the genetic evaluation and relationship between lams weight and ewe's weights at matting, birth and milking in Kurdi sheep. The results showed that the overall mean of birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) 4.243 kg and 23.231kg, respectively. It has been shown that the years of birth significantly affected (P≤0.05) on birth weight birth, the weight recorded in this study were, (4.207 kg and 4.318) kg ewes lambed during 2019 and 2020 respectively. The effect was significant (p ≤0.05) for the sex and type of birth in birth weight and weaning weight. However Month of birth and age of dam had non-significant effect on (BW) and (WW). The heritability estimate of (BW) and (WW) was found to be (0.21) and (0.13) respectively. The genetic correlation between (BW) and (WW) were 0.68 highly and significant (P≤0.05) however low and significant (P≤0.05) with ewes weight at (mating, birth and milking) were 0.15, 0.14 and 0.15 respectively, breeding value of rams ranged between-0.113to 0.065 and -0.048to 0.263for (BW) and (WW) respectively, we concluded that most of breeding value and non-genetic factors had important effect of (BW) and (WW).

Effect of Breed and some Non-Genetic Factors on Productive Performance in Two Sheep Breeds

“…(58.06, 61.76, and 62.39 cm) for male lambs compared to female lambs (56.75, 60.68, and 61.38 cm), respectively, and highly significant (P<0.01) at six months of age for male lambs compared to female lambs in all body measurements for both breeds. The results of the current study agree with [12], in the Egyptian Chios and Rahmani sheep, [13], in Awassi sheep in Turkey and [14], in the Iraqi Karadi breed as well as [15], in the Iranian Zandi sheep breed, and [16], in Karakul sheep breed in Turkey and [17], also for Iranian Baluchi breed and [18], in Corriedale sheep and Iraqi Hamdani sheep [19], as they indicated the presence of a significant effect of lambs sex on body weights from birth to six months of age, weight increases and most of the body measurements. Whereas, no significant effect of lamb sex on living weights.…”