A time-series assessment of the productive and reproductive performance of Balochi sheep.

This study was carried out to find the environmental factors which have a significant effect on the productive and reproductive characteristics of the Balochi sheep. The study used data from 729 ewes and 71 rams for a period of 13 years (2003 to 2016) at the Sheep Research Center, Yet Abad, Balochistan, Pakistan. The productive characteristics considered for current study were weight, birth weight (BW), 90 days weight (3 MW), 180 days weight (6 MW), 270 days weight (9 MW), 365 days (12 MW), and 2 years weight (24 MW). Reproductive characteristics measured were ewe age at first service (AFS), service period (SP) of ewe, age at 1st lambing (AFL) of ewe, lambing interval (LI), and sex ratio. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) assessments of different characteristics were analyzed for the Balochi sheep on the basis of location, birth year (YOB), season of birth (SOB), type of birth (TOB), and sex of lamb. The average means ± SE for BW, WW, 6 MW, 9 MW, 12 MW, and 24 MW, were 3.28 ± 0.83, 17.20 ± 2.04, 21.94 ± 1.60, 26.20 ± 2.87, 30.21 ± 3.58, and 37.11 ± 2.84 for ram and 2.56 ± 0.53, 15.69 ± 1.45, 19.57 ± 1.77, 24.07 ± 2.70, 27.46 ± 2.09, and 34.61 ± 2.32 for ewes respectively. The results of reproductive performance of the Balochi sheep age of ewe at the time of breeding, age at first service (AFS), service period (SP), age at first lambing (AFL), and lambing interval (LI) were 1078 ± 2.2, 579.61 ± 0.6, 206.25 ± 0.2, 731.67 ± 0.3, and 256.60 ± 0.3 days respectively. The twining and lambing rates were 10.12% and 86.78%, while the sex proportion for ram and ewes was 50.12:49.37. Area, sex, and TOB had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on weight while TOB (twinning rate) was higher in Balochi sheep. These conditions affected the productive and reproductive performance of the Balochi sheep. At Sheep Research Center, Yet Abad, Balochistan, Pakistan, performed fundamentally better in all qualities such as weight gain and reproductive performance. Supplements were given with feed to get maximum profit from the sheep of Yet Abad farm. The birth weight of males was higher than that of females and single conceived Balochi sheep were heavier than that of twins. Thus, it was concluded that the Balochi sheep can be improved with better management practices, feeding, and disease control.

Effect of ambient management interventions on the production and physiological performance of lactating Sahiwal cattle during hot dry summer.

During summer season, increase in the environmental temperature in the subtropical regions of Pakistan is negatively affecting the performance of dairy animals. The study objective was to determine the effect of ambient management (90 days) on productive and physiological performance of lactating Sahiwal cows during hot dry summer season. Fifteen lactating cows during the early lactation stage, having similar parity (3), daily milk production (6.2 l), were randomly allocated to three treatments, 5 cows each, i.e., (1) kept under roof shade only, (2) provision of fans along with roof shade, and (3) provision of roof shade, fans, and sprinklers designated as S, SF, and SFS, respectively. The fans were of 360-rpm capacity and showers were on for 40 min after every 90-min interval from 9:00 to 21:00 h. THI values were 81.1 ± 0.7, 80.5 ± 0.7, and 77.7 ± 0.4 under S, SF, and SFS treatments, respectively. Cows were milked twice daily. Respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) data were collected at 14:00 h on daily basis. The daily milk production was significantly higher in cows under SF (7.9 ± 1 kg) followed by SFS (6.9 ± 1.2 kg) and S (6.1 ± 0.9 kg) treatments. The mean RT (101.0 ± 0.04 °F) was significantly lower in cows under SFS than that on SF and S treatments and similarly mean RR was also lower (21.2 breaths/min) in cows under SFS followed by SF and S treatments. It is concluded that milk production and physiological performance in Sahiwal cows can be improved by fan-assisted ventilation during hot dry summer in subtropical regions.