![]() | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract This study was carried out in Animal Production Department Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, AL – Azhar University Assiut branch under the environmental condition of Upper Egypt. It was carried out during the period from May 2008 to October, 2010. The objective of the present study was to study some productive and reproductive traits of Rahmani and Chios sheep and their reciprocal crosses [(½ C ½ R) and (½ R ½ C)]. A total number of 32 ewes and one ram of Rahmani ® and 30 ewes and one ram of Chios © sheep were used as parent animals during the experimental period. Crosses and reciprocal crossing were made between the two breeds of sheep. The results obtained can be summarized as follows 1. Reproductive performance of ewes The differences between breeds and age of ewe had no significant effect on fertility. Breed of ewes had a significant (p<0.05) effect on litter size and litter weight from birth to weaning. Chios ewes had a higher litter size and litter weight than Rahmani ewes. 2. Productive performance of ewes 2. 1.Milk yield and composition Breed of ewes and type of birth had significant (p < 0.01 or p<0.05) effect on average daily milk yield, total milk yield and lactation length. Chios ewes produced more milk than Rahmani ewes (88.19 vs. 61.33 kg). Breed groups and age of ewe had no significant effect on milk constituents, except the percentage of fat, where this effect was highly significant (P > 0.01). |