Reproductive characteristics of Awassi ewes under Cornell alternate month accelerated lambing system

Abstract

We investigated the reproductive responses of Awassi ewes under Cornell alternate month accelerated lambing (CAMAL) system. Ewes were randomly allocated to two experimental groups. The first group (control group) consists of 20 ewes exposed to rams in September under conventional management system while the second group (CAMAL) were divided into four sub-flocks contain 20 head of ewes each one were exposed to rams to obtain three lambing in two years with different breeding and lambing months. In CAMAL ewes, oestrus was synchronized using intra-vaginal sponges with progesterone and PMSG administration. Results revealed that within CAMAL group, the percentage of animals in heat, onset of oestrus, litter size, birth weight and weaning weight were affected by mating months. September and November were the most appropriate months for oestrus ratio (97.5 %) and litter size (1.18 and 0.98, respectively). Lambs of control group were heavier at birth and weaning than those of CAMAL group. On the other hand lamb yield was not affected statistically by the CAMAL administration.

Keywords

• Accelerated lambing, CAMAL, Awassi, Litter size.