Adult Malpura and Kheri ewes in their late gestation were randomly selected from farmer's sheep flock and divided into 2 groups (G1 and G2). Ewes in both the groups were grazed on natural rangeland from 07.00 to 18.00 h followed by night shelter in improvised animal shed. The ewes in G2 were maintained on sole grazing while those in G1, in addition to grazing received concentrate mixture at the rate of 400 g/ewe/day during 43 days of late gestation. Birth weights of the lambs and fortnightly changes in lambs’ body weight up to 90 days were also recorded. The birth weight of lambs in G1 (4.04 kg) was higher (P<0.05) than that in G2 (3.47 kg). The body weights of lambs at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days of age, body weight gain and average daily gain (g) of lambs at 90 days of age were also higher in G1 than that in G2 but the differences were non-significant. Milk yield of ewes increased up to 150 g per day due to concentrate supplementation in comparison to that of without concentrate supplementation. The concentrate supplementation at the rate of 400 g/ewe/day during these critical stages enhanced the production performance and birth weight of lambs.
Community Rangeland, Ewes, Gestation, Production Performance, Supplementary Feeding
