Production characteristics of akkaraman sheep and growth performance of lamb in malatya province in the sheep and goat breeding country project

This study was carried out with the aim of determining the fertility, birth weight, livability, and growth performance of elite and base herd of the Akkaraman sheep in semi-intensive conditions in the farms in Malatya Yazihan District. In the study, in order to determine the fertility of the sheep, two elite herds (290+185=475 sheep, with controlled mating 10+10=20 rams) and two base herds with normal yield levels (280+210=490 sheep, with free mating 14+10=24 rams) were used. In order to determine the growth performance, 100 single-born lambs from each of the four-year-old breeders of each of the elite and basic herds, a total of 400 lambs were used. When the fertility characteristics of the sheep belonging to the elite and base herds are examined, the birth rate in the elite herds is 94.52%, the single birth rate is 85.52%, the twin birth rate is 14.47%, the number of lambs per birth is 114.6%, the lamb yield is 108.4% and 93.67%, 85.18%, 14.81%, 112.6% and 105.5% in base herds, respectively. The mean live weights of the lambs at birth and 105 days were found to be 4.13±0.01 kg and 31.36±0.07 kg in the elite herd, respectively, and 4.02±0.01 kg and 30.58±0.09 kg in the base herd. 0-105th day daily live weight gain of Akkaraman lambs in elite flock; 259±1.12 g, in the base flock; 252±1.24 g in female lambs; 252±1.36 g, in male lambs; It was determined as 259±1.14 g. The survivability rates of the lambs subjected to the study until weaning (90th day) were calculated as 96.50% in the elite flock and 94.50% in the base flock. As a result, it can be said that the elite herds are generally at a better level than the base herds in terms of the comparison of the performances of the traits discussed in the study with the elite herd. In this sense, it is thought that the differences in the observed values will create awareness among the farmers. Key words: Akkaraman, fertility, lamb, growing, livability