GROWTH DYNAMICS OF YOUNG TAURIAN SHEEP OF THE ASKANIAN FINE WOOL BREED OF VARIOUS LINES

Abstract

The growth characteristics of young Taurian sheep of the Askanian fine wool breed were studied by lines. The dynamics of live weight, the absolute average daily and relative gains from birth to 8 months of age, as well as the growth coefficients of lambs were studied. The live weight from birth to the age of 8 months largely depended on the type of lambs' birth. Naturally, the single-born lambs were larger than the twins, and ram lambs were larger than ewe lambs, which corresponds to the characteristics of embryonic development and manifestation of sexual dimorphism in sheep. The live weight of ram lambs at birth varied from 4,8 to 5,7 kg, while in ewe lambs it was correspondingly lower and ranged from 4,5 to 4,9 kg. Ram lambs of line 1369 were characterized by good live weight parameters from birth to 8 months (5,1 kg; 21,9 kg; 31,3 kg; 51,0 kg). At the same time, the best parameters of gains and growth coefficient were distinguished by rams of line 8,31, from birth to 8 months, i.e. they were more precocious in comparison with other animals. The precocity of young rams of line 5 was also at a fairly high level, which underperformed only to lambs of line 8,31. Based on the above, young rams of lines 1369, 5 and 8,31 were distinguished by more pronounced meat qualities and increased precocity. Ewes of lines 1577 and 369 had high gain parameters from birth to 8 months. The growth coefficients of animals of lines 1577 and 369 from birth to 8 months of age were 8,3 and 8,2, respectively. At the same time, the parameters of the lambs of line 1369 both in live weight and in growth were high. They underperformed only to the parameters of the ewes of lines 1577 and 369. The growth intensity of the young animals of the Taurian type of the Askanian fine wool breed is at a high level, individual parameters of live weight in different periods of ontogenesis allow us to assume a high genetic potential for this trait.