EFFECT OF DOCKING ON GROWTH RATE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF LIBYAN BARBARY SHEEP

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Elfateh University, Lebia.

Abstract

SUMMARY
Libyan Barbary sheep characterized by medium body size, cylindrical shape
with strait back sliding at the end of rump, since this breed was considered as fattailed
breeds that scattered in Middle East, Far East and North Africa. The growth
rate of 106 Barbary lambs were studied, the animals were divided randomly into
two groups, control group with 47 lambs(22 ♀+25♂) and the docked group of 59
lambs (29 ♀ + 30 ♂) .Docking of tail start at first week of lambing by using rubber
ring . The objectives were to study the effect of docking on growth rate and carcass
characteristics of Libyan Barbary sheep.
The results showed that the high percentage of docked tail was found on
fourth day of using rubber ring (67%). The mean birth weight, weaning weight,
average daily gain before weaning and the weight at age of 8 month of docked
lambs were 3.27 kg, 25.34 kg , 0.166 kg and 30.07 kg , respectively. Docking of
tail did not significantly affect monthly weight before weaning, weaning weight,
average daily gain before weaning and the weight at 8 month of age. However, sex
of animal and type of birth were significantly affecting all growth rate studied. A
docked ram and ewe lamb gives high dressing percentage (44.3%, 46.7%) than
control. The weight of front and rear half of the carcass of docked ram lambs less
than the control group, but was higher than docked ewe lambs.

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