scholarly journals The effects of breed, sire and environmental factors on the birth and weaning weight of lambs

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 70-78
Author(s):  
S. Kramarenko ◽  
◽  
A. Kramarenko ◽  
S. Lugovoy ◽  
D. Balan ◽  
...  

The effects of breed, sire and environmental factors on the birth and weaning weight of lambs The aim of this study was to determine the effect of some important factors influencing on the birth and weaning weight variability in lambs. Data from 2603 ewes was included in the analysis, where 3961 lambs were obtained during the five years of the research. Data was tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the GLM procedure of Minitab Release 13.1. Our results presented significant influence on the year of lambing, breed, ram genotype, age of a dam, type of a birth (litter size), sex of a lamb and on the birth weight and weaning weight of lambs. Keywords: birth and weaning weight of lambs; ram genotype; year of lambing; age of ewes; litter size (type of birth); sex of a lamb; the Ascanian fine-fleece breed.

Author(s):  
A. S. Kramarenko ◽  
S. S. Kramarenko ◽  
S. I. Lugovoy ◽  
O. I. Yulevich

The main aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of genetic and non-genetic factors on the birth weight and weaning weight of lambs. The study was carried out on the basis of the Institute of Animal Husbandry of Steppe Regions named by M. F. Ivanov “Askania-Nova” – the National Scientific Agricultural Center in Sheep Breeding of NAAS. Birth and weaning weights data collected during a 5-vear period from 3961 lambs were used. The reproductive traits of the Ascanian fine-fleece (AC) ewes were evaluated in combination with the rams of different genotypes: Ascanian fine-fleece, Australian merino (AM) and half-bred animals (1/2AC+1/2AM). The main effect of the ram genotype and the year of lambing, the age of the ewes, the litter size, the sex of lamb and the sex ratio in twins on the birth weight and weaning weight of lambs was analysed using one-way ANOVA. Differences between years of the 5-year period were highly significantly (P < 0.001) for all lamb traits studied. The effects of the environmental factor (year of lambing) on the birth weight and weaning weight of lambs represented 27.2 and 15.2 per cent of the total variance, respectively. The ram-group effects, which are mainly genetic differences, were highly significant (P < 0.001) in all traits. Age of dam had significant effect on the birth weight of lambs (P = 0.048) and was relatively unimportant as a source of variation. Two-year-old ewes bore lighter lambs than older ewes. There were no significant differences in the weaning weight of lambs from the ewes of different age classes. Survival rate was related to birth weight of lambs. Lamb survival increased up to a birth weight of 4.0 kg and only declined when they weighed more than 5.0 kg at birth. Our results showed that singles were 0.61 kg heavier than twins at birth and were 2.42 kg heavier than twins at weaning. Litter size (type of birth) was responsible for 42.5 and 10.0 % of total variability in birth and weaning weights of lambs, respectively (in both cases: P < 0.001). Average birth and weaning weights of male lambs were higher than the females (in both cases: P < 0.001).


Author(s):  
Erdal Yaylak ◽  
Hikmet Orhan ◽  
Alim Daşkaya

The present study was conducted to determine some environmental factors affecting birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain of Holstein calves of a livestock facility in Izmir, Turkey. The data on 2091 calves born between the years 2005-2010 were used to assess the relevant parameters. Effects of calving year, calving month, calf gender and the interaction between calving year and calving month on calves’ birth weights were highly significant. The overall mean of birth weights was 39.6±0.15 kg. In addition, effects of calving year, calving month, gender, birth weight, weaning age, calving year x calving month, calving year x gender and calving year x calving month x gender interactions on weaning weight (WW) and daily live weight gain (DLWG) were highly significant. The overall means of WW and DLWG were respectively found to be 79.7±0.20 kg and 525±2.5 g. A one kilogram increase in birth weight resulted in an increase of 0.89 kg in weaning weight and a decrease of 1.26 g in daily live weight gain. Prenatal temperature-humidity index (THI) affected birth weight of calves (R2=0.67). Increasing THI from 50 to 80 resulted in 3.8 kg decrease in birth weight.


1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Lee ◽  
C. S. Haley

AbstractGrowth and survival from birth to weaning were monitored during three generations of crossbreeding between British Large White (LW) and Chinese Meishan (MS) pigs. The design allowed comparisons between sow genotypes ranging from zero to all MS genes, which were mated toLWor MS boars, to produce progeny with proportions of 0·0 to 0·5 or 0·5 to 1·0 MS genes, respectively. Crossbreeding parameters of both maternal and direct piglet performance were estimated for the first two parities using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) methods for litter traits (litter weight at birth, litter mean and within litter standard deviation of piglet weight at birth, proportion surviving to weaning, litter size and weight at weaning and litter mean piglet weight at weaning) and for traits of the piglet (birth weight, probability of survival and weaning weight). For litter traits, the estimated contribution of the additive maternal effect to the breed differences (MS-LW) was significant for litter mean piglet birth weight (–0·46 (s.e. 0·04) kg), survival to weaning (0·15 (s.e. 0·02)), litter size at weaning (1·6 (s.e. 0·16) piglets), litter weaning weight (–11·2 (s.e. 3·8) kg) and litter mean piglet weaning weight (2·54 (s.e. 0·24) kg). Adding litter size and litter mean piglet birth weight to the model removed the additive maternal contribution to the breed differences in survival, and litter size and reduced that for litter mean piglet weaning weight. The contribution of the direct additive effect to the breed difference (MS-LW) was significant for the within litter standard deviation in birth weight (0·018 (s.e. 0·006)), survival to weaning (0·12 (s.e. 0·02)) and litter size (1·12 (s.e. 0·64)) and weight (11·6 (s.e. 4·0) kg) at weaning, but not for piglet weight at birth or weaning. Fitting litter size and litter mean birth weight had comparatively little impact on the direct additive effects. There were significant maternal heterosis effects for litter weight at birth and litter size and weight at weaning, the estimated deviation of the F1 from the midpoint of the two purebreds 3·22 (s.e. 0·55) kg, 2·20 (s.e. 0·47) piglets, and 20·1 (s.e. 3·3) kg respectively, but none for survival or piglet weights. There were direct heterosis effects for litter weight and litter mean piglet weights, the estimated deviation of the Fjfrom the mid point of the two purebreds being 1·16 (s.e. 0·41) kg and 0·14 (s.e. 0·02) kg, for survival to weaning (0·04 (s.e. 0·02)) and for litter weight (11·2 (s.e. 2·5) kg) and litter mean piglet weight (0·96 (s.e. 0·17) kg) at weaning. Fitting litter size and litter mean piglet birth weight removed or reduced both maternal and direct heterosis effects. Individual piglet analyses gave similar results to analyses of the equivalent sow trait. It was concluded that in litters born to MS cows, the lower piglet survival and lower weaning weights were related to the larger litter sizes and lower piglet birth weights. For their birth weight, however, MS piglets have a greater ability to survive and thrive. The large direct and maternal heterosis effects observed for litter and mean piglet weight at weaning werepartly associated with the heavier birth weight of the crossbred piglet.


1964 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Vesely ◽  
H. F. Peters

Data collected during a 4-year period from 830 lambs of the Rambouillet, Romnelet, Canadian Corriedale, and Romeldale breeds were used to estimate the effects of breed and certain environmental factors on birth weight, weaning weight, face cover, conformation, and condition score.Rambouillets ranked first in birth weight and weaning weight, had most wool on the face, and scored poorest in conformation. Romnelets ranked second in weaning weight, had least wool-covering on the face, and were judged superior to the other breeds in conformation and condition. Canadian Corriedales had heavier lambs at birth than Romeldales; however, the Romeldales were more open in the face and scored better in conformation and condition.Year was one of the major sources of variation in weaning weight and conformation. Breed and sex contributed largely to variation in face-cover score. Effects of birth and rearing type (single, twin, or twin raised singly) on birth weight, weaning weight, conformation, and condition were significant (P < 0.01) and accounted for a large part of the total variation in birth weight, weaning weight, and condition score. Age of dam had significant effects on birth weight (P < 0.01) and weaning weight (P < 0.05) but was relatively unimportant as a source of variation. Birth weight increased with advancing date of birth, and weaning weight, body conformation score, and condition score improved with age at weaning.The percentage of total variability (sum of squares) due to the fitting of constants for the factors studied was: birth weight, 47; weaning weight, 47; face cover, 19; conformation, 37; and condition, 24.


ZOOTEC ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Marfiane M. Nangoy ◽  
M. T. Lapian ◽  
M. Najoan ◽  
J. E. M. Soputan

THE EFFECT OF BIRTH WEIGHT WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE PIGLETS UNTIL WEANING. The purpose of this research is to determine the corellation of birth weight with the appearance of the piglets until weaning. This research used the method of observation. Results or data obtained in this research, piglets from each parent is divided into 3 categories: high, medium, low. Retrieval of data held on a new born piglets, piglets aged 1 week until the time of weaning. Parameters observed in this research is the birth weight of piglets per head, body weight gain, the weight of piglets, and mortality (MRTA) piglets before weaned (%). Data were analyzed and presented descriptively, which is describing and explaining the general picture of direct observation. Based on the results of this research we concluded that litter size piglets, determines how high the birth weight, weaning weight, body weight gain, and mortality. The greater the birth weight more likely to obtain a high weaning weight as in this research the highest birth weight is 1.64 kg after weaning reached 7.54 kg. Keywords: Birth Weight, Piglets, Weaning


1970 ◽  
Vol 38 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Pervage ◽  
M Ershaduzzaman ◽  
MAI Talukder ◽  
MN Hasan ◽  
MAMY Khandoker

This experiment was undertaken to know the phenotypic characteristics of native sheep. The study was conducted to investigate morphometric characters of sheep in three different field sites (Naogaon, Noakhali and Tangail) and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) nucleus flock through close observation, measuring and record keeping. Characteristics of body weight, body length, heart girth, wither height, fore leg length, hind leg length, head length, ear length, ear width, horn length etc were collected from mature sheep. The results indicate that the average litter size, birth weight, weaning weight and body weight gain were comparatively higher in sheep of BLRI nucleus flock than those of other three regions. The average numbers of service/conception, post partum heat period (days), age at first heat (days), age at first lambing (days), lambing interval (days) were 1.30, 34.13, 266.50, 432.72, 192.17 respectively in BLRI nucleus flock which were comparatively better than the other three regions. The average litter size, birth weight (kg), weaning weight (kg) and body weight gain (g) in nucleus flock were 1.80, 1.19, 6.74 and 60.70 consequently. The overall performance of the sheep of BLRI nucleus flock were comparatively better than the others which may be due to the result of selective breeding, improve feeding, housing, health management etc. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v38i1-2.9906 BJAS 2009; 38(1-2): 1-6


1964 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Lawson ◽  
H. F. Peters

Birth and weaning data were collected from 1957 to 1960 on 219 calves of the Highland and Hereford breeds and their reciprocal crosses. Significant (P < 0.01) effects of breed of calf, age of dam, sex of calf, and date of birth on birth weight, and significant (P < 0.01) effects of breed of calf, year of birth, age of dam, sex of calf, and age of calf on weaning weight, demonstrated the importance of considering both genetic and environmental factors when undertaking comparative tests of breeds and crosses.Breed means and standard errors for birth weight were Hereford, 70.7 ± 0.9; Highland, 63.6 ± 1.0; Highland (sire) × Hereford (dam), 73.6 ± 0.9; and Hereford (sire) × Highland (dam), 70.1 ± 1.1 lb. Weaning weight means and standard errors were: Hereford, 360 ± 5.6; Highland, 339 ± 6.7; Highland × Hereford, 378 ± 6.0; and Hereford × Highland, 385 ± 7.0 lb.The average of the reciprocal crosses exceeded the average of the parental breeds by 7.0% in birth weight and 9.2% in weaning weight.Variability (sum of squares) in birth weight accounted for by breed of calf was about twice that accounted for by age of dam or sex of calf, and about 6 times that contributed by year of birth or date of birth within years. The influence of age of dam on the variability in weaning weight was about twice that accounted for by breed of calf, year of birth, or age of calf, and about 7 times that due to sex of calf.


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