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Copyright of Journal of Animal Production / Hayvansal Üretim is the property of Hayvansal Uretim (Journal of Animal Production) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study was designed to investigate the effect of risk factors such as gender, birth type, parity, dam's health and lambing season associated with passive immunity and birth weight and to also determine interrelationship between passive immunity and birth weight. This study included 301 ewes and 347 lambs born to them on two local Akkaraman crossbred flocks in Kars. Lambs were blood sampled for serum IgG concentration at 24 hours after birth (SlgGC-24) and epidemiological parameters were recorded at birth. Parity, type of birth and gender were significantly associated with birth weight (R²=0.339, P<0.001) on multivariate stepwise regression analysis as single born lambs (PcO.OOl), male (P<0.001) and lambs born to dams previously lambed (P<0.001) were significantly heavier. There was a significant (P<0.001) and positive (R²=0.136) linear relationship between birth weight and passive immunity, but only in ill lambs during the neonatal period. In General Linear Model (GLM), lambs born with low birth weight (<3 kg) had significantly lower SlgGC-24 than those born with medium (>3 to < 4) (P<0.01) or high (>4 kg) (P<0.001) birth weight. Similarly lambs born as a twin and born to unhealthy dams had significantly lower SlgGC-24 (P<0.05). In conclusion, some farm management practices and animal characteristics were associated with birth weight and passive immunity and also birth weight had affect on passive immunity. For a productive and profitable farming, producers should take these variables into account and develop appropriate management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between passive immunity and growth performance in lambs in neonatal and post-neonatal periods. The study also evaluated the effect of gender, type of birth, birth weight and health of lambs, lambing season and dam's age on growth performance. This study included two crossbred Akkaraman flocks (n=301) in Kars, Turkey. The results disclosed that serum IgG concentration determined at 24th of birth (SlgG-24) was significantly associated with growth performance in both periods (P<0.001) but this relationship was poor (R2=0.148 to 0.198). Neonatal growth performance was influenced only by birth weight, health status, SlgG-24 and type of birth (P<0.001, R2=0.527 to 0.721) on multiple stepwise regression analyses. The study also disclosed that post-neonatal growth performance was affected by all variables (P<0.001, R2=0.471 to 0.472).Thisstudy suggested that passive transfer cause a significant amount of variation in growth performance for lambs from birth to 12 weeks of life, a conclusion that has not previously been identified. It also disclosed positive association among growth performance, birth weight, type of birth, gender, health status of lambs, dam's age and lambing season.The growth performance was rendered by dam's age (⩽2 years old), twin lambs, female lambs, winter lambing, illness, and birth weight of ⩽3 kg. These factors should be taken into consideration and dealt with in order to increase growth performance so that which farm productivity and profitability is maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to examine the effect of birth weight, gender, birth type, lambing season, and dam parity and health status on lamb morbidity and mortality during the neonatal (first four weeks of life) and post-neonatal (first 5-12 weeks of life) periods in lambs born in two flocks in the 2009 lambing season in Kars, Turkey. EPI INFO 6 was used to determine differences in morbidity or mortality rates and risk according to risk factors including birth weights, genders, type of birth, lambing seasons, and parity and health of dams. The significance level was set at P<0.05 for all comparisons. The neonatal morbidity and mortality rates (48% and 33.3%, respectively) and risk of the lambs in the low birth weight group were significantly higher than those of the lambs in the medium birth weight (18.9%, χ2=10.4, OR=3.9 for morbidity and 1.6%, χ2=32.5, OR=30, for mortality) and high birth weight (9.8%, χ2=26.9, OR=8.5 for morbidity and 1.2%, χ2=46.5, OR=42.7 for mortality) groups (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). The neonatal mortality rate and risk of lambs born in the winter season (9.2%) were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those of lambs born in the spring season (1.8%, χ2=9.6 and OR=5.5). Lambs born to primiparous ewes had a neonatal morbidity rate (29.6%) and risk significantly higher than those of ewes at second parity (13.9%, χ2=6.4, OR=2.6) and third parity (11.1%, χ2=7.8, OR=3.3) (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Similarly, lambs born to primiparous ewes had a neonatal mortality rate (14.8%) and risk significantly higher than those of ewes at second parity (2.9%, χ2=9.3, 0=5.7), third parity (0%, χ2=14.1) and >4 parity (2.4%, χ2=4.2, OR=6.9) (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Lambs born to ill ewes had a neonatal morbidity rate (64.7%) and risk significantly higher (P<0.001) than those of lambs bom to healthy ewes (13.8%, χ2=30.38, 0R=11.4). In the present study, it was concluded that the most significant risk factors for lamb morbidity and mortality were season of birth, parity, birth weight and health status of dams. Therefore, timely implemented health and management measures targeting these factors are required to reduce disease and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the litter size and growth performance of lambs in multiplier and base sheep flocks. This research was conducted between 2007 and 2009 on the Karacabey Merino sheep in multiplier flock of Balıkesir provinces and three base flocks in Balıkesir, Sındırgı and Bigadiç breeding region a total of 10209 head of ewes and their lambs 11390 head lamb. The effects of years and flocks were found significant (P

The purpose of the study was to investigate first age reproduction and growth characteristics of Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II crossbred lambs which have been keeping on Marmara Livestock Research Institute. Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II females were kept to gather in a single flock after 3 month of age. The oestrus detection was performed twice a day (per twelve hours) by using teaser rams. The materials of the study were used 21 head female for first age reproductive traits and for growth characteristics 99 head and 89 head Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II lamb. The results of live weight first oestrus for Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II lambs were 45.30 kg and 47.30 kg, age of first oestrus 317.73 day and 321.330 day, the duration of oestrus 19.42 hour and 21.23 hour the duration of the cycle 16.12 day and 17.07 day, the duration of gestation length 145.74 day and 145.87 day, birth weight (BW) 4.23 kg and 4.12 kg, weaning weight (WWLW) 35.45 kg and 34.27 kg, six mount live weight (SMLW) 46.03 kg and 44.17 kg, yearling live weight (YLW) 47.97 kg and 46.634 kg and average daily live weight gain (ADLG), 0.394 kg and 0.381 kg respectively. The effects of genotype on BW, WW, SMLW, YLW and DLWG were not significant statistically whereas the effects of age of dam, birth type, and sex on growth characteristic were significant (P<0.001). In conclusion, Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II crossbred lambs were similar first age reproduction and growth characteristic of lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to estimate (co) variance components for birth weights of Karacabey Merino lambs. The model fitted included direct genetic, maternal genetic, and direct-maternal genetic covariance and maternal permanent environmental effects. Data and pedigree information of the Karacabey Merino sheep used in this study were collected at the Marmara Animal Breeding Research Institute from 1998 to 2002. Variance components for birth weights were estimated by the MTDFREML. A direct heritability estimate of 0.08 and a maternal heritability estimate of 0.05 were obtained for birth weight. The maternal permanent environmental effect was significant. The estimate of the direct-maternal genetic correlation was found high and negative. In conclusion, maternal effects on birth weight of Karacabey Merino lambs were significant and need to be considered in any selection program undertaken in this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the growth characteristics of Kývýrcýk sheep and describe non-genetic factors influencing their expression. Data were collected from 6 flocks including a nucleus flock and 5 breeders’ flocks (2 in mountainous and 3 in lowland villages). Flocks raised in extensive conditions were kept in pastures throughout the year. The body weight of ewes at parturition and the birth and weaning weight of lambs were recorded during 2 lambing seasons (1999-2000 and 2000-2001). The least-squares mean of ewe body weight at parturition was 42.2 kg. Lambing season, flock and age of ewe were significant (P < 0.01) sources of variation for body weights of ewes at parturition. Mean birth weight of lambs was 3.56 kg. The means of flock, birth type and sex of lambs for birth weight were significantly different (P < 0.01); however, the effect of lambing season and age of dam on birth weight was not significant. Birth weight was also significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by dam body weight at parturition. Mean weaning weight of lambs weaned at an average age of 66.5 days was 18.5 kg. Weaning weight was influenced significantly by lambing season, flock, sex, birth weight and weaning age (P < 0.01) but not by birth type or age of dam. The results of this study indicated that Kývýrcýk lambs had a good growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of some factors on litter size fertility and pregnancy period in Morkaraman sheep as well as birth weight and survival rate in Morkaraman, Dorset Down x Morkaraman (F1) crossbreed lambs. In the present study, 151 Morkaraman sheep of different ages, and 110 purebred and 46 crossbreed (Dorset Down x Morkaraman F1) lambs were used as the research material. The effect of the genotype and birth weight on pregnancy period were significant (P < 0.01). However, the effects of birth type, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep were not. The effects of birth type, genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on birth weight were significant (P < 0.01). The effects of genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on the number of lambs per gestation were not significant. The effects of birth type on the survival rate of the lambs were significant (P < 0.01); on the other hand, the effects of genotype, sex of the lamb and age of the sheep on survival rate were not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]