Evaluation of Some Management and Biological Factors Affecting Growth Performance of Sohagi Sheep..

Document Type : Research and Review Papers

Authors

1 Animal Production Department Faculty of Agriculture Sohag University Sohag Egypt

2 Animal Production Department Faculty of Agriculture Cairo University Cairo Egypt

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Upper Egypt to evaluate the factors affecting productivity and growth of Sohagi sheep, which is a unique local breed. This study was conducted at the Experimental Sheep Farm of Sohag University over a one-year period. Involving a total of 28 male lambs12 individually raised and 16 raised in a group feeding system. Key factors evaluated include growth rate, feeding systems, birth type (single vs. twin), parity, and the age of the dam. The results indicate significant differences in final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), and total body gain between the fast-growing and slow-growing groups, with the fast-growing lambs exhibiting superior performance (P < 0.0001). Lambs born as singles also demonstrated significantly higher initial and final body weights compared to twins (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.0194, respectively). While the parity and the age of the dam did not significantly affect growth performance. However, the feeding system had a significant impact, where individually fed lambs achieved higher final body weights and ADG than those in group feeding (P < 0.0001). These findings highlight the importance of optimizing management practices, including feeding strategies and understanding the influences of non-genetic factors on growth performance, to enhance the productivity of the Sohagi breed. The study emphasizes the need for targeted breeding programs and effective feeding systems to support the sustainability and profitability of sheep farming in Upper Egypt.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Journal of Sohag Agriscience (JSAS)
Volume 9, Issue 2
December 2024
Pages 163-171

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics