Some factors influencing growth of Awassi lambs and their crosses from birth till weaning and weight at the age of 6 months

Abstract

The records of sheep experimental station belonging to IPA were analyzed, these records consisted of local Awassi and 4- breed cross (ALDH and TLDH). The study was conducted on 357 records for lambs body weight at birth, weaning and average daily gain, 277 records for body weight at the age of 6 months. The method of Least- Square was used for analyzing the data. The purpose of the study was to indicate the genetic and non- genetic influence on weight at birth, weaning and at 6 month of age and on the average daily gain.The genetic group was superior (P‹0.01) to TLDH lamb weight at birth and (P‹0.05) to local Awassi lamb at the age of 6 months with an average of (4.10, 32.66,) respectively. The lambs which were single and born in November were superior (P‹0.01) in most traits. The regression coefficients of body weight at birth and weaning on maternal weight at parturition were significant (P‹0.01). The phenotypic correlation between body weight in different age and average daily gain were positive and highly coefficient was observed between weaning weight and weight at the age of 6 months with average daily gain in body weight (0.809, 0.988) respectively.