Effect of FecB status on the allometric measurements and reproductive performance of Garole X Malpura ewes under hot semi-arid environment

Abstract

The study was conducted with the primary objective to establish the influence of FecB gene mutation on the growth and reproductive performance of Garole × Malpura ewes. The duration of the study was for 5 months involving 97 adult Garole × Malpura (GM) ewes. These 97 animals were segregated based on FecB genotype and the animals were divided into three groups as group I (FecB BB ; n = 13), group II (FecB B+; n = 65), and group III (FecB ++; n = 19). 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 treatments of different FecB genotype, the ewe’s growth and reproductive parameters were assessed. FecB genotype significantly (P < 0.05) influenced body weight, heart girth, pin shoulder length, height at wither, lambing percentage, litter size, twinning percentage, and birth weight of lambs. From this study, it can be concluded that breeding Galore and Malpura breed shall help insure an economically viable production system.