Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Animal Science Research Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Qom Province, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Qom, Iran.

2 National Animal Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran.

3 National Animal Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran

4 Expert of the Nomadic Affairs Department of Qom Province, Qom, Iran

Abstract

The present research was conducted with the aim of investigating the productive and reproductive efficiency of Zandi and Kalkuhi sheep in the nomadic breeding system in the Qom province. For this purpose, for one year, records of production and reproduction characteristics of livestock were recorded and analyzed in 11 herds of Zandi sheep and 15 herds of Kalkuhi sheep. lambing rate, lamb production, twinning rate and the pre-weaning mortality rate in Zandi sheep herds were estimated 90.3±7.311, 109.78±1.72 15.4±3.07, 10.63±4.36%, and in Kalkuhi sheep herds were estimated 91.52±10.41, 102.63±0.58, 5.27±2.16 and 21.84±7.61%, respectively. The weaned lamb crop of Zandi and Kalkuhi flocks were estimated 20.56 and 14.91 kg, respectively. Nomads rearing Zandi and Kalkuhi sheep purchased feed for 4.85 and 5.45 months of the year, respectively. The purity of the breeds was under threat in most nomadic herds, especially Kalkuhi herds, and the frequency of hybrid animals in Kalkuhi and Zandi sheep was estimated at 33.3 and 24.3 percent. The production and reproductive performance of Zandi sheep was better than Kalkuhi sheep reared in the nomadic system, but environmental constraints, especially lack of feed and significant lamb losses throughout the year, have had a negative impact on the productive and reproductive efficiency of all nomadic herds in the Qom province.

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