Growth, survival ability and body measures in awassi lambs weaned at different periods

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various ages of weaning on growth rate, survival ability and body measurements of Awassi lambs. Also, present study aims to determine advantages and disadvantages of weaning in early ages in terms of observed parameters and offer a direction to the growers.The material of this research was composed of 90 Awassi lambs which separated into three groups including 30 lambs in each group. It was paid attention to the closeness averages of birth weights among groups, and equable of male and female specimens in each group when the groups created. During the research, every fifteen days, various body sizes and live weights of lambs were determined in same day and time. Lambs of first, second and third groups were weaned on 30th, 60th and 90th days of ages, respectively.Average birth weights were 4.59, 4.37 and 4.42 kg; average live weights of 30th day were 10.93, 10.35 and 9.82 kg (P<0.05); average live weights of 60th day were 17.82, 14.35 and 17.40 kg (P<0.01); average live body weights of 90th day were 25.97, 22.17 and 23.59 kg (P<0.01); and survival ability rates of 90th day were 100%, 90% and 86.67% in lambs of first, second and third groups, respectively.At the end of the research (90th day), withers height were 55.25, 53.71 and 58.89 cm (P<0.01); body lengths were 51.47, 50.26 and 54.08 cm (P<0.01); chest widths were 15.39, 14.49 and 16.34 cm (P<0.01); chest depths were 22.11, 21.18 and 22.81 cm (P<0.01); and chest girths were 69.33, 66.56 and 72.09 cm (P<0.01) in lambs of first, second and third groups, respectively.When the results examined; some body measurements of weaning group in 90th day were higher values than other groups while the first weaning group in 30th day had got higher live body weight and survival ability rate.According to the results of this research, can say that; through early weaning, will increased through the production of marketable milk in sheep and early weaning, investigated terms of features can be said to outweigh the positive aspects of Awassi lambs.