EFFECTS OF FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ON BODY WEIGHT AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BALOCHI EWES

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the performance of Balochi ewes under three management systems i.e. T1-Extensive (grazing only), T2-Semi-extensive (grazing plus daily feed supplementation for nine months @ 0.625 kg/ewe/day) and T3-Intensive (experimental ration only @ 1.5625 kg/ewe/day). Animals under T1 lost as high as 7.9 kg body weight during winter. T2 flock maintained their body weights and T3 achieved significantly higher body weight (i.e. 15.1 kg). Highest conception and lambing percentages (93.8%) were attained under T3 group, followed by T2 (87.5%) and T1 (75%). These results strongly recommend appropriate feed supplementation to small ruminants on Balochistan ranges for sustainable pastoral livelihood.

Keywords

• Ewes
• grazing systems
• weight gains
• breeding performance
• Balochistan