Assessment of own productivity of young male breeders of the Ile de France breed in Bulgaria

Evgeniya Achkakanova

Abstract: In the present study, an assessment is made of the own productivity of young male breeders of the
Ile de France breed in Bulgaria. The assessed animals are offspring of ewes and rams, controlled by
the Ile de France Breeding Association in Bulgaria (ILFBA) and entered in the Electronic Pedigree
Book (EPB) for the breed. The data set for the controlled animals in 2019 included in the development
covers 5900 ewes, 250 male breeders for natural breeding and 30 male breeders prepared for artificial
insemination or natural breeding „by hand”.
The main activities have been identified and the main stages have been defined, including determining
the requirements for the lambs that will enter the landfill; period of entry, actual assessment,
ranking of young male breeders and leaving the landfill. A methodology for assessing the own productivity
of young male breeders of the Ile de France breed bred in Bulgaria has been developed. The
methodology makes it possible to objectify the selection process by growth intensity. Of the male
lambs admitted to the landfill for assessment of own productivity – up to 25% are approved for assessment
by their offspring and can be classified as „high-end” male breeders. The assessed young
male breeders, classified by individual quality characteristics, are determined for selection in different
categories of farms, by application of artificial insemination or by natural insemination. The proposed
methodology is in the process of application and is part of a selection scheme for the implementation
of the breeding process for the breed Ile de France in Bulgaria.

Keywords: assessment of own productivity; Ile de France breed sheep; methodology; young male breeders

Date published: 2021-06-29