THE EFFICIENCY OF EARLY USE OF MEDIUM-WOOL YOUNG EWES OF THE AGINSKAYA BREED FOR THE FLOCK REPRODUCTION

Abstract

The evaluation of breeding and selection based on early maturity was done for the
purpose of early use of medium-wool young ewes of the Aginskaya breed (Zugalai type) for
flock reproduction. On the basis of the research, it was concluded that it was possible to mate
young one-year-old ewes in medium-wool sheep breeding. It would allow to extend the
period of practical use of those sheep for one more year and get one additional lamb. The
research results show that with sufficient feed supply, intensive use of breeding stock, there
are real possibilities to increase the production of lamb meat per head to 25-27 kg. The article
presents data of an identical experiment which was conducted in the Stavropol Territory on
the fine wool Caucasian sheep breed in 1980. The results of the breeding capacity of young
ewes which were inseminated at different ages confirmed the obtained data connected with
the same scientific problem on medium-wool sheep of the Aginskaya breed (Zugalai type).
Early pregnancy with appropriate feeding and livestock keeping did not negatively affect the
live weight and wool productivity of animals. In comparison to animals which were
inseminated at the age of 19.0 months they even had 18.6 and 18.1% more amount of wool
shorn in dirty and washed fleece, respectively. The lambs obtained from early mated young
ewes (ewes), grew and developed normally and in terms of live weight at 8.0 months age
were not inferior to their herdmates which were born of 19.0 months old ewes. The author
concluded that the early use of young ewes in mating can be successfully applied not only in
industrial complexes, but also under normal conditions of intensive production of sheep
products.