Effect of Shearing Wool and the Hot Months of the Year on some Production Characteristics in Turkish Awassi Ewes

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of wool shearing and the environmental factors represented by some hot months of the year (July August and September) on some production characteristics in Turkish Awassi ewes. 18 ewes, aged 3-5 years, with an average weight of about 55±1.43 kg, were used. The ewes divided into three treatments. The first group control (T1) were not shorned the wool, the second group (T2) wool of ewes were sheared at a distance of 1 cm from skin, while third group (T3) wool of ewes were sheared at level of the skin. The value of the weekly Temperature-humidity index THI in this study (32.33, 31.08, 31.70, 32.53, 33.45, 33.83, 34.60, 33.91, 31.90, 31.10, 31.84, 32.74) weeks respectively, while the monthly THI was (31.63, 33.48, 31.82) months of the study in July August and September in a respectively. The results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between the treatments in body weight that were recorded at the tenth week where the THI reached. While the Second group recorded (2.16 ± 0.802) kg compared to T1, T3 (0.916 ± 0.723) (0.583 ± 0.490) kg respectively. While the total body weight of ewes and birth weight showed non-significant differences between different treated groups. From another hand the result showed non-significant differences feed and significant differences in water consumption between different treated groups. From the current study concluded that the level of shearing wool in Turkish Awassi ewes in conjunction with high temperature has an effect in production characteristics by reducing the effect of heat stress on the ewes.