Effects of Various Ages of Weaning on Growth Performance of Morkaraman Lambs

Abstract

This study was conducted on 46 Redkaraman lambs born at the Ataturk University, Agricultural Faculty Sheep Research Farm. The lambs were weaned at different ages such as 45, 60 and 75 days. After weaning, the lambs were sent to the pasture and fed on concentrate including 15.3% crude protein in a ratio of 1.5% of live body weight for the first 6 weeks thereafter, amount of feed was increased to 2% of the live body weight in addition to pasture at the evenings. Live body weights and daily weight gaing of lambs were determined from 45 days to end of the grazing period within 14 days intervals. Live weights at 45 days for the lambs weaned at 45, 60 and 75 days were 12.20, 11.58 and 12.47 kg and at 60 days were 14.38, 14.79 and 15.40 kg and 75 days were 15.30, 16.06 and 17.28 kg. Live weights at the end of the grazing period were 34.86, 35.11 and 38.93 kg for the lambs weaned at 45, 60 and 75 days of age, respectively. The differences among the group were found significant (p<0.05) for live weights at the end of the grazing period. Daily weight gains of lambs in the groups were found as 144.5, 145.7 and 164.0 g for the end of the grazing period; 137.3, 142.6 and 160.5 g for the 46 days of age and 136.5, 135.5 and 157.0 g for 61 days of age. The differences among the group were found significant (p<0.05). The results of this research indicated that there were significant (p<0.05) differences for the live weights at the end of the grazing period in Redkaraman lambs weaned at various ages, also there were significant (p<0.05) differences for daily weight gains at the end of the grazing period, 46 and 61 days of age.