BODY MEASUREMENTS OF EWES FROM SYNTHETIC POPULATION BULGARIAN MILK

Tania Ivanova, Emilia Raicheva

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to research the effect of age on the live weight and the body measurements of ewes from Synthetic population Bulgarian milk. The study was carried out with 77 ewes from Synthetic population Bulgarian milk at the age of 18 months, 2.5 and 3.5 years. The live weight was measured with accuracy 0.1 kg. Body measurements were made on fixed animal on level surface with accuracy 0.5 cm and include: wither height, rump height, chest depth, chest width, athwart body length, flank eminences width, posterior bones width and canon circumference. It was calculated indexes of body constitution. The data was calculated by the methods of variation statistic, using EXCEL (2003). The age of ewes effected significant on variation of live weight and body measurements (P<0.05; P<0.01 и P<0.001). On 18 months and 3.5 years the live weight (53,56 kg and 63,86 kg) was higher from requirements of the breed and the live weight was significant the highest at ewes on 3.5 years (P<0.001). It were established significant the lowest values of body measurements at ewes on 18 months age (P<0.05; P<0.01 and P<0.001). The indexes of body constitution showed the proportional growth of ewes typical of dairy type sheep (P<0.05; P<0.01 and P<0.001).

Keywords: body indexes; body measurements; dairy sheep; live weight

Date published: 2023-01-31