INVESTIGATION ON LIVE BODY WEIGHT, BODY CONDITION AND EXTERIOR TRAITS OF PLEVEN BLACKHEAD SHEEP

Dimitar Panayotov, Miroslav Simeonov

Abstract: The investigations were conducted on 311 Pleven Blackhead sheep born between 2004 and 2009. Immediately before the reproduction campaign (August 2010) all animals were submitted to an integrated evaluation of exterior traits, live body weight and body condition. Twelve exterior traits were measured on 207 sheep from four different age groups (at the age of 18 months; 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 years), using a small ruminant stick, Wilkens’ compasses and a centimetre measuring tape. Body condition of sheep was evaluated on a 5-score scale as per Todorov et al. (1994). The lowest live body weight of studied sheep was that of ewes – 52.78 kg, and the highest – in 4.5- and 5.5-year-old sheep, 67.32 and 67.88 kg respectively. The lowest body condition scores (BCS) were those of ewes again – 2.74, and the highest – in adult sheep aged 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 years: between 3.36–3.54. The exterior traits showed a tendency toward increase of dimensions with age. Average values of main exterior traits in the different groups of sheep varied as followed: wither height – from 73.74 to 76.08 cm; croup height – from 71.29 to 74.19 cm; body length – from 74.44 to 77.48 cm; chest perimeter – from 91.85 to 100.54 cm. The phenotypic correlation coefficient between live body weight and BCS at the age of 18 months was 0.401, while in adult sheep – over 0.700. The correlations between live body weight and chest width, chest depth, chest perimeter and body length were assessed as strongly beneficial.

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Date published: 2023-03-07