Factors affecting body weight and growth rate of Awassi lambs

Abstract

SummaryAn experiment was carried out to study the effect of early weaning on body weight and growth rate of Awassi lambs raised at Abu-Ghurib Experiment Station, Baghdad, Iraq. Sex, type of birth and weaning age significantly influenced the body weight and growth rate of lambs at all the ages studied. Dam's age and weight at lambing, however, did not affect the growth rate of the lambs. The average body weights of lambs at 4 and 6 months of age were 23·8±0·28 and 32·3 ± 0·36 kg. The average daily gain in weight up to 120 and 180 days of age was 162·3 ±2·57 and 153·7 ±1·94 g/day respectively. Males were heavier than females and singles were heavier than twins at all the ages. Lambs weaned at 60 days of age were heavier and had a faster growth rate than those weaned at 90 or 120 days of age. Males born to 2-year-old dams grew fastest while the females born to them had the lowest body weights and growth rate.