engleski

SEASONAL LAMBING DISTRIBUTION OF JEZERSKO-SOLČAVA SHEEP DURING TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN NORTHWESTERN CROATIA

The aim of study was to investigate lambing distribution of Jezersko-Solčava breed during ten consecutive years in northwestern Croatia. The Jezersko-Solčava breed was originally developed in Slovenia from local breeds of sheep. Because of its good adaptation and relatively good reproductive efficiency, this breed is widespread in Austria, Croatia, southern Germany, northern Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia. The Jezersko-Solčava breed of sheep is a meat breed which is seasonally polyoestrous. Most European breeds of sheep are seasonal breeders, and lambing season, in Croatia, occurred in the winter and early spring. During 10 consecutive years on 11 middle-scale sheep farms in northwestern Croatia there was 2941 matings with 2718 successful conceptions i.e. lambings. On all farms, ewes were kept at pasture, with access to stables during the night, in a semi-intensive environment. According to standard farming practice, the animals had free access to good quality meadow hay (about 1.8 kg per doe daily), adequate concentrate and had drinking water “ad libitum“. Winter season referred to January and February of the chosen year and December of the previous year, spring (March to May), summer (June to August), and autumn (September to November). Seasonal distribution of lambings in this study was no equal through the seasons as follows: 54.12% of ewes delivered in winter (n=1471), 20.86% in spring (n=567), 8.72% in summer (n=237) and 16.30% in autumn (n=443). Sexual activity was lowest during spring and early summer (from March to May) with a peak from the end of July to October, during 10 consecutive years (from December 2011 to November 2019). Litter size was 1.22 and fertility 92.41%. The seasonal distribution of lambings was not uniform throughout the year and the most of Jezersko- Solčava ewes delivered in the late winter and early spring as the most European breeds of sheep, although, a quarter (25.02%) of the ewes delivered in summer and autumn which is a characteristic of breeds which are aseasonally polyoestrous.

ewes ; lambing distribution ; season

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