Precocious reproduction of young sheep of Merino de Palas breed

Abstract

The principal measure for raising the economic profitableness from the sheep breeding section was to increase the lamb number from each female of the livestock, easy to accomplish by increasing the reproduction activity and the precociousness of the young sheep during that specific time. For using in reproduction the young females, without affecting the further body development, a special attention will be paid to the breeding technology, so that the sexual maturity be installed as soon as possible. As concerns the age and optimum weight of the young females , there was a large variety between populations. As for age, the complex research suggests for almost all the breeds an interval of 6 – 8 months, but it can be postponed until the age of 18 months. The situation of young females, proceeded from late lambing has shown that they could conceive from the first autumn, at the age of 4 months. As concerns the weight, the reproduction could take place without negative repercussions, when a body development of at least 60 – 70% from the one typical to the adult sheep like Merino- type, was reached and of 50 – 60% for the fertile type and English mutton-type sheep.