Effect Of Sex, Season And Month On Lambing Weight Of Yankasa X Balami Sheep In A Tropical High Altitude Environment

Abstract

The lambing records of a mixed flock of Yankasa x Balami ewes, managed semi-intensively at the National vertinary Research Institute (NVRI) farm Vom, were evaluated within a 2 year period (January 1985 – December, 1986. A total of 106 lamblings made up of 61 males and 45 females were investigated. The lambs were grouped by sex, months and seasons of birth. The results showed that the average weight of the male lambs (2.93 ± 0.09kg) was significantly more (P<0.05) than their female counterparts (2.73 x 0.13 kg). Rainy season lambs were more (59.4%) and superior in weight (2.95 ± 0.05 kg, P<0.05) than dry season lamb. Lambing was highest in the month of January (21.7%) within an average birth weight of 2.74 ± 011 kg. The heaviest and the smallest lambs were born in the months of July 93.91 + 0.kg) and February (1.70 ± 0.30 kg) respectively while the greatest number of male and females were also respectively recorded in the months of January (26.23%) and April (26.67%).

Journal of Applied Chemistry and Agricultural Research Vol. 7 2000-2001: pp. 80-86