title: Effect of body condition score at mating on the reproductive performance of Kivircik sheep under an extensive production system.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the body condition score (BCS) of ewes before and during the mating season on their reproductive performance under an extensive production system. In this study, 240 Kivircik sheep from the flocks of two breeders were used for over a 2-year period. The flocks were fed under extensive conditions on natural pastures throughout the year. The ewes were synchronized in two different periods, one of which was 45 days before the other. Before the introduction of rams to the ewes, the ewes were weighed after measuring their BCS. Detailed records were kept for every flock in each year. We found significant effects of BCS on pregnancy rate, lambing rate (P < 0.05) and fecundity (P < 0.05). The BCS for the highest pregnancy, lambing rate, and fecundity was determined between 2.01 and 3.00, while the lowest rates for these traits were ≤ 1.50. The highest rates of the pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and fecundity and gestation productivity were 75.9%, 70.9%, 1.11 and 3.34 kg, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. myilmaz@adu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Tufan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Altin
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cemal
authors.forename: Husnu Erbay
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Bardakcioglu
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Turgay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taskin
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006358:Hot Temperature; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000502:physiology; D014421:Turkey