Vol. 9, Special Issue 3 (2024)

Author(s): VS Birhade, YB Kandalkar, MU Tanpure and SA Dhage

Abstract: The data pertaining to body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age on 1099 Deccani female lambs born during year 2011 to 2019 were collected from the Network Project on Sheep Improvement, Deccani farm Based Unit, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India. The least squares means for body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age in Deccani sheep were 3.22 ± 0.01, 13.94 ± 0.06, 21.58 ± 0.10, 23.44 ± 0.11 and 25.66 ± 0.11 kg, respectively. The effect of period of birth was significant on all body weights except six months body weight. The effect of season of birth was non-significant on all body weights except nine months body weight. The significant effect of various non-genetic factors on growth traits indicated the necessity of consistent feeding and management interventions for better growth performance.