Reproductive and productive characteristics of hair sheep raised in the tropical region grassland of Brazil

Jardeson De Souza Pinheiro,Saulo Carneiro Cardoso,Gabrimar Araújo Martins,Artur Bruno Da Silva Barbosa,Paloma Eleutério,Ana Cláudia Nascimento Campos,Samuel Pinho Silva,Judite Antunes Cipriano,Carla Renata Figueiredo Gadelha,Dhones Rodrigues De Andrade,Elzânia Sales Pereira,Caio Júlio Lima Herbster,Vitória Vasconcelos De Oliveira

doi:10.33448/rsd-v9i9.7287

Jardeson De Souza Pinheiro, Saulo Carneiro Cardoso + Show 11 more

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https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i9.7287

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Abstract

We aimed to characterize the energetic profile of hair sheep (Ovis aries) raised on pasture in a tropical climate country and verify it is influence on productive and reproductive parameters. A total of 68 non-pregnant adult ewes were randomly distributed into four genetic groups (GGs) according to coat color (Red-coated Santa Inês GG – 17, Black-coated Santa Inês GG – 13, White-coated Morada Nova GG – 28 and Red-coated Morada Nova GG – 10). We collected blood samples at the beginning and at the end of the breeding season. The reproductive efficiency of the ewes was evaluated by fertility, prolificacy, lamb survival rate, and lamb body weight at birth and weaning. We performed statistical analyses using the package PROC GLM and the chi-square (χ2) test from SAS software. The genetic group influenced serum glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, prolificacy, and lamb body weight. Male lambs were heavier than female lambs at birth and weaning. Twin lambs were lighter at birth and at weaning than were single lambs. The genetic group, lamb birth rank, and sex influenced the lamb body weight at birth and weaning. This study presents important information on the reproductive efficiency of these hair sheep that are relevant to tropical climate countries. The blood parameters found in this research show that there are important metabolic differences between hair sheep in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil. Morada Nova sheep with independent white coat color, higher reproductive performance in tropical conditions.

Highlights

The hair sheep flocks raised in the semi-arid region of north-eastern Brazil are exploited for the production of meat and skin, but they present low productive and reproductive performance due to poor management practices and nutrition imposed by the climatic conditions (Silva et al, 2010)
This study presents important information on the reproductive efficiency of these hair sheep that are relevant to tropical climate countries
Total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were influenced by the genetic groups (GGs) and the collection period (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The hair sheep flocks raised in the semi-arid region of north-eastern Brazil are exploited for the production of meat and skin, but they present low productive and reproductive performance due to poor management practices and nutrition imposed by the climatic conditions (Silva et al, 2010). It is difficult to obtain good productivity and quality sheep meat, which demands the use of cultivated pastures, Research, Society and Development, v. The experiment was conducted on the Lavoura Seca Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Ceara (Quixadá, Ceara, Brazil), which is located in a hot semi-arid region at 4o59’S; 39o01’W and is 190 m above sea level. The climate of the region is hot and semi-arid (BSh) with an air temperature ranging from 24 to 28 °C, the relative humidity of 70%, and average annual precipitation of 838.1 mm (IPECE, 2018). The predominant vegetation is dense or open shrub caatinga, characterized by the presence of cacti and undergrowth with low trees and thorns

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