EFFECT OF DAM AGE AND SOME BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN AWASSI EWES

Abstract

A study was conducted at Al-Faihaa station (North of Babil) the station had a herd of awassi Sheep (500 sheep), This study included 180 records of 60 ewes the averge ages between (2-5) years, over period from 2010 to 2012, 120 viewer for every characters from blood parameters belonged to the same ewes for three month (April to June)2012 to predicting of number of production and reproduction traits through number of blood parameters after study effect of fixed factors on traits[birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), gain body weight (GBW) from birth to weaning, percentage of fertility (F) and litter size (LS)]. The overall means of BW, WW and GBW 2.53, 17.60 and 14.80 kg respectively. The F and LS were 69.82% and 1.40 bornewe respectively. The averages of blood biochemical characteristics such as glucose, total protein (TP), level of cholesterol and Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) were 54.64 mg/dl, 53.23 g/l, 50.21 mg/dl and 1.59 ng/ml respectively. The age of the dam had nonsignificant effect in 3 years age records on BW while significant on WW and GBW. The age of the dam had significant effect(p<0.05) on F and LS and turned to the dams at 4 years age compare to other ages. Increased in growth traits with increase level of blood glucose and cholesterol while the regression coefficient of growth on level of TP was negative and the growth no effect by other blood parameters. The regression coefficient of F were significant (p<0.05) on glucose, cholesterol and FSH hormone. The regression of LS on level of glucose and TP in blood were negative and highly significant (p<0.01).