Effect of the sequence of lambing in Ile de France ewes on the weight performance of the lambs

Tanya Ivanova

Abstract: The aim of the study is to determine the influence of the sequence of lambing of the Ile de France
ewes on the weight performance of the lambs. The study was carried out with 531 lambs (271 females
and 260 males) with different types of birth (singles and twins) from Ile de France breed from the herd
of IAS – Kostinbrod, born in the period 2016–2020. Live weights were measured at birth, at 10 days,
at 30 days and at 70 days of age, with a deviation of ± 2 days. The average daily gain between 10–30
days and between 30–70 days was calculated. The effect of the sequence of lambing on the studied
indicators was assessed by one way ANOVA, the significance of the influence of the factors was
determined by the values of Fisher’s F-test, and the significance of the differences between the studied
groups – using Student’s t-test, with Data Analysis statistical package of Excel 2021, Microsoft. There
was a significant effect (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) of lambing sequence of ewes on variation in live weight at
70 days of age and gain between 30–70 days in twins of both sexes, as well as live weight at birth in
male lambs (P < 0.05). The average values of the weight indicators show a tendency to increase from
the first to the fourth lambing of the ewes.

Keywords: ewes; Ile de France; live weight; sequence of lambing; weight gain

Date published: 2022-11-02