TY  - JOUR
T1  - Lactation Performance and Suckling Lamb Growth of Kermani Fat-Tailed Ewe
AU - , Reza Mangali Kahtuei AU - , Ahmad Zare Shahneh AU - , Mohammad Moradi Sharebabak 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 7
IS  - 12
SP  - 1575
EP  - 1578
PY  - 2008
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2008.1575.1578
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2008.1575.1578
KW  - Lactation performance
KW  -udder dimensions
KW  -suckling lambs growth
KW  -Kermani sheep
AB  - Lactation performance of 3, 5 and 6-year-old ewes from 55 Kermani fat-tailed sheep (a native breed in Iran);  giving  birth  to  single  lamb  and  their  suckling lamb growth was studied. Milk production during the suckling period (14 weeks) was determined by a combined lamb-suckling and hand milking and daily milking from weaning to end of lactation. Average lactation length was 15 weeks (103±1 days). Daily milk yield and total milk yield during the suckling and post-weaning periods averaged 610 g and 62 kg, respectively. Udder dimensions  were  measured  at  2 weeks parturition. The effect of ewe age, birth weight of lamb, sex, udder depth and width was significant on milk yield (p<0.01). Udder depth (r = 0.38) and udder circumference (r = 0.38) at 2 weeks postpartum had the highest correlation (p<0.01) with lactation yield. Effect of ewe age and sex of lamb  also  was  significant  on  daily  gain   and weaning weight. The lambs of 6-year-old ewes have the highest growth but the lambs of 3 year old ewes had the lowest growth. It was concluded that milk yield and lamb growth in this breed are somehow the same as the other Iranian breeds, that can be because of genetically and natural conditions.
ER  -