The Effect of Live Weight and Body Condition Scores of Akkaraman and Lalahan Sheep During Mating and Lambing Periods on Lamb Birth Weights

This study examines the effects of body weight and body condition scores (BCS) during mating and lambing periods of Akkaraman and Lalahan (KıvırcıkxAkkaraman G1) sheep breeds on birth weights of the lambs. The study was conducted with a total of 100 lambs born in February-March 2021, comprising 29 Akkaraman and 71 Lalahan lambs. The average live weights during the mating season were 59.17±1.20 kg and 54.07±0.77 kg; the average postpartum live weights were 61.58±1.43 kg and 59.05±0.92 kg (P>0.05); and the average BCS were 2.69±0.08 and 2.82±0.05 (P>0.05) in Akkaraman and Lalahan genotype (P<0.01), respectively. The birth weights of lambs were 4.95±0.14 kg and 4.75±0.09 kg in Akkaraman and Lalahan genotype (P>0.05), 4.92±0.07 kg and 4.25±0.18 kg in single and twin lambs (P<0.001), 4.89±0.11 kg and 4.74±0.10 kg in male and female lambs (P>0.05), respectively. Analysis using the CART algorithm revealed that the birth weight of lambs from ewes with a BCS of 2.5 or below and those with a BCS of 3 or above was 4.72 kg and 4.88 kg (P<0.05), respectively. The results indicate that Akkaraman lambs have slightly higher birth weights, and lamb birth type and ewe BCS have more pronounced effects on lamb birth weight