EVALUATION OF LAMB PRODUCTION IN RAHMANI SHEEP UNDER TWO REGIMES FOR SUPER-OVULATION

2006 Egyptian Journal of Animal Production  
The aim of this study was to calculate the net return of two farms each of 500 ewes applying two protocols for superovulation (PMSG treatment and flushing) compared to a control farm. The study included two parts; the first was an experimental study to extract some technical coefficients, while the second was an empirical simulation study. In the first part, 94 Rahmani ewes were divided into three groups. Ewes in all groups were estrous synchronized by two doses (0.5 ml each) of PGF 2α
more » ... e) at 11-day interval. Ewes in the 1 st (G1) and the 2 nd (G2) groups were fed during the pre-mating period (3 weeks) on maintenance requirements, while those of the 3 rd one (G3) were flushed by feeding 160% of G1 and G2 requirements during the same period. Ewes of G2 were treated with 750 IU PMSG immediately after the 2 nd dose of Estrumate, while the 1 st group was kept without treatment as control. Ovulation rate (OR) measured as number of corpora lutea per ewe mated increased (P<0.05) from 1.54 in G1 to 3.38 and 2.10 in G2 and G3, respectively. The highest average of litter size (LS) and LS alive were observed in G2 (1.73 and 1.59, respectively), while the lowest were recorded in G1 (1.21) for both traits. Lambs weaned per ewe mated were 0. 56, 0.83 and 0.89 in G1, G2 and G3, respectively. In the second part, the annual gross margin per head was LE 11.58, 67.60 and 100.79 in G1, G2 and G3, respectively. Treatment of ewes with superovulation or flushing increased the value added by 44.4 % and 53.9 %, respectively, while the additional cost increased as compared to untreated ones respectively by 14.9 % and 5.7 % only. It was concluded that, flushing increases the annual profitability of local Rahmani sheep as compared to PMSG treatment and untreated ewes.
doi:10.21608/ejap.2006.93089 fatcat:tu6ueucimnd4dcbw4kvym72ioy