RESEARCH ON BODY DEVELOPMENT DYNAMIC OF CARABASH LAMBS IN SUCKLING PERIOD

Cristina Lazar, Rodica Pelmus, Elena Ghita

Abstract
Our research conducted in the experimental farm of INCDBNA Balotesti monitored the evolution of Carabash lambs body weight from lambing to weaning, with the purpose to determine the performance of this breed to produce milk lambs, compared to other sheep breeds reared in Romania. The average live weight of the lambs from simple lambing was 5.40 kg for the male lambs and 5.08 kg for the female lambs. The average live weight of the lambs from twin lambing was 4.88 kg for the male lambs and 4.65 kg for the female lambs. At the age of one month, the male lambs from simple lambing weighed in average 15.65 kg, while the male lambs from twin lambing weighed in average 12.33 kg. At the same age, the female lambs from simple lambing weighed in average 14.51 kg, while the female lambs from twin lambing weighed in average 10.94 kg. At weaning (2 months) the male lambs from simple lambing weighed in average 23.15 kg, while the male lambs from twin lambing weighed in average 18.031 kg. The female lambs from simple lambing weighed in average 22.32 kg, while the female lambs from twin lambing weighed in average 17.38 kg. The average daily weight gain was 296 g for the male lambs from simple lambing and 219 g for male lambs from twin lambing. Prolificacy of Carabash sheep was 152%. The analysed parameters recommend this breed mainly for meat production, but also for milk production.

Key words: suckling period, body weight, average daily gain, prolificacy