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Effect of Intensive and Semi-intensive Feeding System on Productive and Reproductive Performances of Native Sheep

N. Sultana
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka

M. N. Hasan
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka

A. Iqbal
Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

M. Ershaduzzaman
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka

M. A. I. Talukdar
Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka

S. Dey
Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The experiment was conducted with forty four pre-pubertal stages female lambs of 12.5±2.5 kg average live weight and 7.5±0.5 months of average age. Animals were equally and randomly allocated into two feeding groups, intensive and semi-intensive feeding systems with 22 animals in each group. Under intensive system, animals were fed concentrate mixture (15.0% crude protein (CP); 11 MJ metabolizable energy (ME)/kg dry matter (DM)) at the rate of 1.5% of live weight with ad libitum green grass from May to November and supplied urea molasses straw (UMS) in place of green grass from December to April. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in service per conception, litter size, lambing interval, gestation length, service period, birth weight and weaning weight between intensive and semi-intensive feeding system. Reproductive traits and productive traits were not affected by feeding system. Conception rate was higher (98.0%) in semi-intensive system than intensive system (83.0%). On the other hand lamb survivability was higher in intensive system than in semi-intensive system. The semi-intensive feeding system is found to be better to rear sheep for commercial purpose compared to intensive feeding system.

Keywords: Feeding system; Productive; Reproductive; Native sheep.

Location: Goat and Sheep Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Sheep

Objectives:

This study was conducted to determine the effect of intensive and semi-intensive feeding system on productive and reproductive performances of native sheep.

Methodology:

Forty four pre-pubertal stages female lamb of about average 12.5±2.5 kg live weight and about 7.5±0.5 months of age were randomly selected from BLRI sheep farm. All animals were dewormed and injected with 1.5 ml of AD3 E at the start of the trial. Animals were equally and randomly allocated into intensive and semi-intensive feeding system. Under intensive system, animals were fed concentrate ration (15.0% CP; 11MJ ME/kg DM) at the rate of 1.5% of live weight and were not allowed any grazing. In semi-intensive system, in addition to daily grazing 8 hours, animal were fed concentrate ration at the rate of 1.5% of the live weight. The grazing animals were offered to clean drinking water twice daily, in the morning and afternoon on return from grazing area. After grazing, the ewes were housed during night in a permanent wood floor house. The trial was conducted from the month of May to November 2008. In both feeding systems, lambs were kept with their mother for two month. In-semi intensive system, after one month lambs were stayed with their mother except grazing time. The entire 44 ewes were mated as per approved plan of breeding at Sheep Farm at BLRI. Reproductive traits viz. service(s) per conception, gestation length, litter size and birth weight were recorded. Heat was detected from the physical signs of heat which was confirmed with a treasured buck. Body weights of lambs from all experimental animals were recorded each week. Milk yield was recorded after lambing up to two weeks. Milk production was determined by lamb suckling method. Weekly body weight was recorded for all experimental animals. The recorded data were analyzed by using SPSS (version 9.5) statistical package and conception rate, lamb survivability rate were expressed in percentage.

Source of Information: J. Sci. Res. 3 (3), 692-698 (2011)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Reproductive and productive traits were not significantly affected by the system of rearing, i.e. intensive and semi-intensive feeding system. Conception rate was higher in semi-intensive system than intensive system. On the other hand lamb survivability was higher in intensive system than semi-intensive system. It may be concluded that semi-intensive feeding system is better to rear sheep under commercial purpose compared to intensive feeding system. Since this study did not focus on farmer’s socioeconomic conditions, further study would be required to assess its net economic returns with respect to farmer’s conditions.

Knowledge Management: Journal