Factors affecting growth and production traits in Sheep
Table 1. Least-squares means for different growth and production traits in Dorper crossbred sheep
No.
Particulars
of
BWT (Kg)
WWT (Kg)
6-BW (Kg)
12-BW (Kg)
MBW (Kg)
AWP (Kg)
obs.
15.269 ±
Overall mean
401 2.857±0.058
17.034±0.285
22.315±0.298
29.375±0.237
0.651±0.012
0.296
Period
NS
*
**
**
**
**
15.503b ±
Period-1(2001-2003)
166
16.696a±0.363 21.207a±0.380 29.041a±0.302
0.691b±0.015
2.932±0.735
0.393
15.718b ±
Period-2 (2004-2010)
61
16.021a±0.468 22.484b±0.489 28.912a±0.389
0.624a±0.020
2.748±0.945
0.476
14.584a ±
Period-3 (2011-2013)
174
18.386b±0.281 23.254c±0.294 30.173b±0.234
0.639a±0.012
2.891±0.581
0.287
Season
NS
*
NS
NS
**
NS
14.593 ±
Winter (Nov-Feb)
356
17.365±0.207
22.750±0.216
29.834±0.172
0.665±0.009
2.928±0.041
0.2086
15.944 ±
Others (Mar-October)
25
16.703±0.497
21.880±0.519
28.916±0.413
0.637±0.021
2.785±0.102
0.5312
Genetic group
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
15.658 ±
50%
151
17.380±0.323
22.621±0.337
29.418±0.268
0.648±0.014
2.904±0.656
0.3449
15.212 ±
75%
201
16.996±0.304
22.276±0.318
29.467±0.253
0.652±0.013
2.825±0.628
0.3226
14.936 ±
100%
49
16.726±0.501
22.048±0.522
29.241±0.415
0.653±0.021
2.841±0.106
0.5005
Sex
**
**
NS
NS
**
**
15.712 ±
Male
208
17.148±0.320
22.183±0.334
29.889±0.266
0.686±0.014
3.021±0.652
0.2968
14.825 ±
Female
193
16.920±0.328
22.447±0.343
28.861±0.272
0.616±0.014
2.693±0.065
0.3796
*P<0.05; ** P<0.01; NS-Non-significant
Means with different superscripts differ significantly
al., 2014). On the other hand, lower estimates for WWT,
(2014) in Muzaffarnagri sheep and Ekambaram et al.
6-BW and 12-BW were reported by Singh et al. (2006)
(2014) in Nellore sheep. There was no definite trend over
and Ganesan et al. (2013).
period of lambing, except for MBW, where increasing
The period of lambing had significant effect on all the
trend over period of was obtained. The highest values for
traits under study for Dorper except for BWT, where,
6-BW, 12-BW and MBW at period-3 in Dorper crossbred
non-significant effect was observed. Khan et al. (2013)
sheep indicate that the ongoing breeding/selection strategy
in Rambouillet crossbred sheep and Das et al. (2014) in
is fruitful and there was improvement for these traits over
Kashmir Merino reported significant effect of year of
the year.
lambing on BWT and WWT. Significant effect of year/
Season of lambing had significant effect only on WWT &
period of lambing on BWT, WWT, 6-BW and 12-BW
MBW and non-significant effect on BWT, 6-BW, 12-BW
were also reported by Singh et al. (2006) in crossbred
and AWP. Lambs born during winter season are excelled
sheep, Ganesan et al. (2013) in Madras Red, Dass et al.
for all traits barring exception for WWT. Non-significant
Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.2. June 2015
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