Effect of body condition score on the allometric measurements and reproductive performance of Garole X Malpura ewes under hot semi-arid environment

Abstract

A study was conducted with the primary objective to establish the influence of body condition scoring on the growth and reproductive performance of Garole x Malpura ewes. The duration of the study was for five months involving 97 adult Garole X Malpura (GM) ewes. The animals were allocated in three groups by body condition score (2.5 BCS; n= 11, BCS 3.0; n=59 and BCS 3.5; n=27). All the animals were kept under semi-intensive management system by subjecting the animals to grazing during day time and housing them in the night. Apart from grazing, ewes were provided with concentrate mixture at the rate of 150 g/day/ewe. The ewes in estrus after 12 h of onset of estrus were hand mated twice at 12 h intervals with a ram of proven fertility in the morning and evening. The pregnancy was confirmed by real time B-mode transabdominal ultrasonography. The experiment was continued until lambing. Under the different BCS, the ewe’s growth and reproductive parameters were assessed. Results: BCS significantly (P<0.05) influenced body weight, heart girth, lambing %, and birth weight of lambs. The highest (P<0.05) body weight was recorded in 3.5 BCS group while the lowest (P<0.05) being in 2.5 BCS group (Table 1). The highest (P<0.05) heart girth was recorded in 3.5 BCS group while the lowest (P<0.05) being in 2.5 BCS group. The highest (P<0.05) lambing rate recorded in 3.0 BCS group while the lowest (P<0.05) was in 2.5 BCS group. Further the highest (P<0.05) birth weight recorded being in 2.5 BCS group. Conclusion: Thus it can be concluded from the study that active management of Garole X Malpura sheep flock to maintain optimum BCS will help to ensure an economically viable production system.