Study Regarding Body Weight of Yearlings and Mature Indigenous Sheep Breeds Reared in the Western Part of Romania

Abstract

Aim of the present study was to determine the body weight in indigenous adult sheep breeds, reared in the western part of Romania. The study was carried out on a number of 3457 adult sheep (rams and breeding ewes), from following breeds: Turcana – 1511 heads; Tigaie – 1573 heads and Transylvanian Merino - 373 heads. Measurements were made in 22 farms from the counties Arad, Bihor, Timis and Caras-Severin. Animals were separated into four group for each breed studied: gimmers, shearing’s, ewes and rams. Body measurements were conducted in spring, between 1^st of April and late May 2009. Animals were measured using an electronically scale, measurements were made just after shearing. The average body weight for Turcana registered was of 43.68 kg for gimmers; 4-58.34 kg for shearing’s; 5-43.83 kg and 6-73.08 kg for mature ewes, respectively mature rams. For Tigaie breed, averages were of 45.66 kg in yearling ewes; 67.25 kg in yearling rams; 50.57 kg in ewes and 73.76 kg in adult rams. While for Transylvanian Merino, averages were of 45.96 kg for yearling ewes, 47.67 for yearling rams, 58.70 for ewes and 64.22 for mature rams.