Effect of live weight of ewes of Argunskiy type on growth and development of their offspring
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of live weight of ewes of Argunskiy type of Zabaikalskaya breed on their reproductive capacity as well as on growth, development and production performance of their offspring. Investigations were conducted under conditions of Transbaikal Territory. One hundred and eighty nine ewes differing in live weight were inseminated according to the instruction for artificial insemination of sheep and goats. The ewes were divided into three groups: 50.0-55.0; 56.0-60.0, and 61.0-65.0 kg of live weight. The experimental groups of the ewes and their offspring were under similar keeping and feeding conditions in accordance with the technology for raising sheep agreed upon in Transbaikalia. There was registered reproductive ability of ewes and livability of the offspring for the periods of insemination, lambing of ewes and weaning of offspring. It has been established that survival ability, livability and final lamb accretion in the offspring depend on live weight of ewes. A certain relationship between live weight of lambs at birth and their survival ability and livability has been found. It has been revealed that live weight of lambs at birth and their further development depend on live weight of ewes during the period of insemination. The lambs born from ewes with higher live weights (61.0-65.0 kg) had an advantage because of their live weight at birth and average daily liveweight gain for the period of raising from birth to the 4-month age.