Productive and reproductive performances of Sheep at field level of Rajshahi and Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Farida Yeasmin Bari,Md Abdullah Al Mansur,Md Asaduzzaman Rimon,Md Golam Shahi Alam,Nazmun Naher,Pankaj Kumar Jha

doi:10.3329/ajmbr.v4i1.36823

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the reproductive performances of sheep at field level of Rajshahi and Mymensingh district of Bangladesh during January to December, 2016. A total of 52 farms (26 each in Rajshahi and Mymensingh) were selected for determining the reproductive parameters of ewes. Ewe lambs in Mymensingh reached puberty at significantly (P<0.03) younger age (186.9±18.4 days) than in Rajshihi (199.9±24.9 days). The average age at first pregnancy was 201.4±20.0 days in two regions. Similarly, the ewes in Mymensingh was lambing at significantly (P<0.002) early age than ewes in Rajshahi (356.0±6.8 days vs. 372.7±27.8 days). The observed duration of oestrus at Rajshahi and Mymensingh was 36.0±6.7 hrs and 36.0±7.3 hrs, respectively. The gestation length varied from 145 to 150 days. The average gestation length was 147.9±3.4 days in two regions. The gestation length was not significant (P˃0.05) in the ewes between Rajshahi and Mymensingh (148.7±3.4 and 147.1±3.2 days; respectively). The pooled over litter size was 1.6±0.2 in two regions. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in litter size of ewes in Rajshahi and Mymensingh region (1.7±0.2 vs. 1.6±0.2). The pooled lambing interval was 193.9±21.7 days in two regions. Mean birth weights of lambs, weaning weight and mature weight were 1.7±0.6 vs. 1.3±0.1 kg; 8.9±2.7 vs. 6.9±1.0 kg and 24.9±7.3 vs. 19.4±2.7 kg in Rajshahi and Mymensingh, respectively. These reproductive parameters were significantly higher (P<0.001) in Rajshahi compared with in Mymensingh. The reproductive parameters are almost similar between confined and the traditional management system if the farms are well managed.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2018, 4(1): 63-68

Highlights

Sheep is one of the important livestock species of mixed farming system in Bangladesh
3.1 Age at first heat, pregnancy and lambing Age at first heat, pregnancy and lambing in indigenous ewes under traditional management system is shown in the Table 1
In traditional management system both Rajshahi and Mymensingh division may have an positive effect which resulted no difference from the study of Zohara et al (2014); where the sheep were maintained in good management system in research station

Summary

Introduction

Sheep is one of the important livestock species of mixed farming system in Bangladesh. Sheep are the basic livelihood option for the poor farmers in developing countries like Bangladesh. The hot and humid climate of Bangladesh favors well adaptation for these indigenous sheep They reached in puberty at 5-11 months of age, estrus cycle length varied from 14 to 20 days (average 17 days), duration of estrus varied from 24 to 36 hours, gestation length varied from 141 to 145 days and litter size varied from 1.2 to 1.9 observed under close monitoring in research station (Zohara et al, 2014; Hassan and Talukder, 2011). Despite of these positive prosperities, farmers are not aware with modern

Methods

Results

Conclusion