Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXV, Issue 1
Written by Alexandru Marian FLOREA, Ionică NECHIFOR, Andre CRÎȘMARU, Constantin PASCAL
In order to achieve the fundamental objective, an experimental protocol was developed which was applied at the same level and respecting all the experimental variables for three consecutive seasons, the period of each season being the same, respectively May-June. The experimental batch consisted of 30 adult females of the Karakul de Botoșani breed, aged between three and seven years. In each experimental season the batch of selected adult sheep had a good body condition and was maintained in a separate compartment. In order to study the effect due to the presence of rams on females and on the possibility of initiating the sexual cycle during periods outside the natural breeding season, an adult breeding ram was introduced inside the batch. In order to avoid physical exhaustion, the ram was changed at certain intervals. Adult sheep exhibiting sexual cycles were mounted immediately after detection, with breeding repeated after 10 hours. The data obtained were statistically processed, and analysing the average values shows that the proportion of sheep that manifested heat and were mounted was higher than 56% in each of the three seasons.
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