Effect of supplementation on the productive and reproductive performance of woolless sheep of Northeast Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this two-year study was to determine the effect on the reproductive and productive performance of a concentrated feed composed of maize and cotton seed on the last period of pregnancy (45 days) and the first period of lactation (45 days) to 58 woolless ewes without definite breed (SRD) In the first and 62 in the second year. The animals were divided into two groups, T₁ and T₂. The check-group T₂ was mantained only on native pasture. No differences were observed between the two groups, which presented high rates of performance. The fertility rate was 100% in the first year and 100,0% (T₁), and 93.5% (T₂) in the second. The mean of the weight at birth was 2.8 kg and 16.3 kg at winning. Considering the weight at birth, a significant effect of P<0.05 was observed between the years. The first oestrum occurred 63.0 days after parturition. The different food supply used in this experiment did not affect the reproductive and productive performance of the ewes.