INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS WITH BODY CONDITION SCORE AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE IN SHEEP OF TRACIAN FINE-FLEECE BREED

Petya Slavova, Nedka Dimova, Zhana Peeva, Stayka Laleva, Iovka Popova

Abstract: The body condition score is express and easily applicable method for determining the physiological condition of the sheep and its application is relevant to management of sheep herd. The purpose of this study was to establish a link between some body measurements, body condition score and production performance sheep of Tracian fine-fleece breed. The trial included 68 animals aged 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 years from the herd of Tracian fine-fleece breed from Agricultural Institute - Stara Zagora. Body condition score and body measurements were made and productivity was reported. As a result of this study was found: Animals from the herd of Thracian tankorunna breed are aligned by type, exterior and productivity. There is no established a significant difference in the BCS - from 3.000 to 3.312 and its level is an indicator of good physiological condition of animals. It is not influenced by the body measurements of the sheep, because they can not serve as a criterion for its determination. There was significant correlation between body size with hip width (rp = 0.72), chest depth (rp = 0.66) and body length (rp = 0.55).

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Date published: 2023-03-06