Reproductive performance, pre-weaning growth rate and pre-weaning lamb mortality of Djallonké sheep in Ghana

Abstract

Production records for a flock of Djallonké sheep kept in the forest belt of Ghana were analysed to determine the effects of some environmental factors on the performance of the breed. The period under study covered April 1969 to November 1979. The mean ages at first conception and first lambing and the mean lambing interval were 498, 638 and 264 days respectively. The overall twinning rate and prolificacy were 30.7 and 130.6% respectively. The season of birth and age of dam had significant (P less than 0.05) effects on prolificacy and twinning rate. The birth weights of the lambs were affected significantly (P less than 0.05) by age of dam, type of birth, sex and season of birth with the mean birth weight being 1.77 kg. Weaning weight (mean of 8.36 kg) and pre-weaning growth rate (mean of 0.076 kg/day) were affected significantly (P less than 0.05) by types of birth. Type of birth significantly (P less than 0.05) affected pre-weaning mortality of lambs (overall mean of 20.95%).