RT Journal T1 NON-GENETIC FACTORS INFLUENCING REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS AND PRE-WEANING MORTALITY OF LAMBS AND KIDS UNDER SMALLHOLDER MANAGEMENT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA A1 G. Deribe A1 G. Abebe A1 A. Tegegne JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JO JAPS SN 1018-7081 VO 24 IS 2 SP 413 OP 417 YR 2014 FD 2014/04/01 DO DOI NA AB

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of non-genetic factors on litter size, age at first parturition (AFP), parturition interval (PI), seasonality of parturition, and pre-weaning mortality rate of sheep and goats flock with 587 kids and 467 lambs owned by 60 households. The litter size, AFP and PI (months) of lambs were 1.52+0.04, 12.43+0.1, 9.19+0.08, respectively, while the corresponding values were 1.47+0.04, 11.95+0.13 and 9.05+0.08 for kids. The average pre-weaning mortality rate was 14.84 and 12.59% for lambs and kids, respectively. Ewes of parity three had (p <0.05) higher litter size than parity one. Does having parity four and five had (p <0.05) higher litter size than parity three while does and ewes having parity three had (p <0.05) higher litter size than parity one. Site and season influenced litter size (p <0.5) and pre-weaning mortality of (p <0.01) lambs and kids. Birth weight (p <0.05) and parity influenced (p <0.01) pre-weaning kid mortality. To exploit reproductive potential of dams and enhance rural income from small ruminants, improved management measures have to be warranted.

K1 Litter size, Kids, Lambs, Non-genetic factors,Parturition, Southern Ethiopia PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2014-JAPS-58