Division of animal genetics and breeding, Central sheep & Wool research institute, Avikanagar, (Via:Jaipur), Rajasthan. Pin - 304 501
Least-squares analysis of the 2652 records of adult body weights obtained during 1991 and 1992 for dry ewes of Malpura, Avimaans and Avikalin revealed that breed of sheep, year and month of weighent and age of ewe were significant (P<0.01) sources of variation for monthly body weights. The overall population mean for adult body weight was 31.10±0.067 kg. The Avimaans ewes had the highest (31.93±0.112 kg) weight whereas the Malpura ewes had the lowest (30.47±0.118 kg) among the three breed groups included in this study. The highest body weight (34.49±0.217 kg) was observed in the month of october while the lowest (27.84±0.218 kg) was observed in the month of April. The ewes between 4 and 5 years of age had the highest (33.77±0.141 kg) body weight whereas young ewes upto 2 years of age had the lowest (25.77±0.147 kg) body weight among ewes of different age groups.
Age of ewe, month and year of weighment contributed 31.83, 23.03 and 0.38 percent variation respectively to the total variation in adult body weight. These findings highlighted the influence of these factors on adult body weights of ewes, knowledge of which is essential to take corrective measures at an appropriate time through supplementary feeding to minimize the loss in body weights during lean months and also to plan disposal of surplus stock in a particular month so that maximum returns can be harvested.
