A Comparison of milk yield and lamb performance in awassi sheep with different feeding strategies

Abstract

Awassi sheep is a breed that stands out with its milk yield. It is the most common dairy sheep in Turkey. The purpose of the study was to compare two feeding strategies (pasture and intensive) on lam performance and milk yields of Awassi sheep. This study was conducted on a private farm in Ereğli (Konya) region. A total of 2182 ewes and 2554 lambs were examined. The ewes were divided into two groups also lambs birn: pasture (P) and intensive (I). The pasture group was grazed in the pasture until birth (between April and November), raised intensively from birth until weaning, and then grazed in the pasture after weaning. No additional feed was given while in the pasture. The intensive group was cared for and fed under intensive conditions. For this purpose, it was fed with corn silage, alfalfa hay, wheat straw, and concentrated feed. ). Birth and weaning live weights of lambs from pasture and intensively fed ewes were determined. The effect of pasture and intensive feeding on lactation milk yield was insignificant (p > 0.05), while the effect of birth type and lactation number was significant (p<0.05). In the pasture group (175.64 days), the lactation period was higher (p<0.05). The daily milk yield of ewes was higher in the intensive group (p<0.05 While the birth weights of lambs whose dams were fed on pasture and intensive feed were similar (p>0.05), weaning weights were higher in the intensive group (p<0.05). In the study, it was observed that feeding ewes on pasture extended the lactation period but did not affect lactation milk yield. The study also determined that intensive feeding enhances the daily milk yield. The weight at birth of lambs that received the same care and nutrition and whose mothers were fed intensely on pasture was found to be similar; however, the weight at the weaning of the lambs was greater when the dams received intensive feeding.