Vol. 12, Special Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
D Anil Pavan Kumar, M Gnana Prakash, B Ramesh Gupta, T Raghunandan and A Sarat Chandra

Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of various genetic and non-genetic factors on certain body growth measurements in a Deccani flock of 300 animals maintained at Livestock Research Station, Mahabubnagar, Telangana State. Biometric traits pertaining to Height at withers (HAW), Body Length (BL), Heart Girth (HG) and Paunch Girth (PG) included in the study were recorded at birth, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90,180, 270 and 360 days of age. For HAW the study revealed significant influence of sex of the lamb only at 90 days age while season of birth of the lamb significantly influenced the HAW at all ages except at 90 days whereas the effect of ewe weight was significant during 180, 270 and 360 days of age only. The season of birth of lamb significantly influenced the BL of the sheep at 180, 270 and 360 days while the ewe weight significantly influenced BL at 90,180, 270 and 360 days. Parity of the ewe significantly influenced BL at 90 days only. The sex of the lamb significantly influenced HG at birth only while the season of birth of lamb significantly influenced HG at 0,15, 180, 270 and 360 days of age. Paunch Girth revealed that the season of birth of lamb was significantly influenced at birth, 180, 270 and 360 days of age while the ewe weight significantly influenced PG at birth.