Yearly changing of body condition score of karya type sheep

The aim of this research was to define the yearly change of body condition score for Karya Type sheep in Aydın and to determine the relationship between body condition score and lamb production. Sheep were weighted and body condition score was estimated at mating, third month of pregnancy, lambing and the second month of the lactation. In this study, 81 sheep were used as animal material from the Karya elite flock. Mean body condition score of Karya type sheep and mean live weight at breeding season were determined as 1.85±0.06 and 42.95±0.66 kg respectively. Mean body condition score and mean body weight at pregnancy of 3rd month were determined as 1.94±0.66 and 44.32±0.70 kg respectively. Body condition score was not affected by the age of the sheep but the relationship between the body weight of the ewes and the age was significant at the third month of pregnancy. Mean body condition score and mean body weight at the end of pregnancy were determined as 1.75±0.06 and 47.74±1.00 kg respectively. And also mean body condition score and mean body weight at the birth were determined as 1.62±0.05 and 41.30±0.90 kg respectively.Body weights of the lambs were determined as 2.90±0.05kg at the birth and lamb survival was found as 0.73±0.05 at the second month of birth. The effect of sex and the birth type was significant on lamb body weight but the effect of sex and birth type was not found significant on lamb survival.Keywords: Karya, body condition score, body weight