Evaluation of genotype and nongenetic effects on some production traits: Comparison of Akkaraman and Bafra × Akkaraman B1 sheep genotypes

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to evaluate genotype and some environmental effects on the reproductive and milk yield traits of sheep, and vitality and growth traits of lambs, and to compare the difference between Akkaraman (AKK) and Bafra × AKK B1 (BA B1: Bafra sires crossed BA F1 ewes) genotypes in terms of these characters. Data were collected from 71 ewes for fertility traits and 37 ewes for milk yields in each genotype. Growth traits and survival rates of lambs were evaluated using 55 AKK and 56 BA B1 lambs. AKK and BA B1 ewes had 87.32% and 92.96% for lambing rate (p > 0.05), 125.35% and 161.97% for lamb production (p = 0.005), 1.45 and 1.74 for litter size (p = 0.072), respectively. Lactation milk yields and lactation lengths of those were determined as 109.46 ± 6.61 and 124.55 ± 7.26 kg (p > 0.05), and 155.76 ± 2.36 and 161.51 ± 2.43 days (p > 0.05), respectively. The survival rates and body weights of their lambs at weaning (90th day) were 87.27% and 87.50% (p > 0.05), and 27.77 ± 0.59 and 21.97 ± 0.59 kg (p = 0.000), respectively. In conclusion, the age of the dam affected the reproductive and milk yield traits, birth type affected the growth, and sex affected the survival rate and growth traits. Regarding the genotype effect, the BA B1 genotype had better reproductive and lactation milk yield, lower growth performance than those of the AKK genotype, and a similar survival rate to the AKK genotype.