Genetic Potentials of Awassi and Hissardale Sheep Breeds Maintained on a Government Farm, Pakistan
Mushtaq Hussain LASHARI, Zahida TASAWAR, Nuzhat SIAL, Muhammad Saleem AKHTAR, Abdul Asim FAROOQ and Muhammad Shafiq CHAUDHARY
Date : 2015-09-16 Volume : 7

The present study was conducted on sheep flocks (n=295) belonging to different breeds (Hissardale, Awassi) at Experimental Research Station Jahangirabad. The genetic potential of these flocks were determined through birth weight, weaning weight, adult body weight, reproductive performance and wool production. The mean birth weight of Hissardale male and female lamb was 4.72±0.80 kg and 4.46±0.84 kg; similarly the birth weight of in Awassi male and female lambs was 4.89±0.16 and 4.30±0.14kg respectively. The weaning weight was recorded as 19.23±0.55 kg in Hissardale male and 17.0±0.68 kg in Hissardale female. The weaning weight in Awassi was recorded as 16.44±0.58 kg in male and 17.1±0.31kg in female. The adult body weight of Hissardale male and females was 66.4±0.70 and 41.94±0.42 kg respectively. Similarly the adult body weight of Awassi was 67.89±0.71 kg in male and 45.34±0.33 kg in female. Female fertility rate was 96%, twice a year lambing was zero and twin birth were 17.60% and triplet were 0.40% of live birth in these stocks. The 1.5 lambs were produced per female per year. Wool production was 4.19±0.22 kg/year and quality; it was superior in Hissardale and medium in Awassi. The blood glucose level were 109.4±5.89mg/100ml, Hemoglobin was 7.45±0.32%, RBC counts 3.05±0.03 million/mm3 WBC count 8.13±0.35 thousand/ mm3 and ESR was 1.35±0.12 mm in this stock. These breeds of sheep showed higher genetic potential than the stock maintained on natural grazing. 1436557567.php