STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF BODY WEIGHT ON SOME REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS IN AWASSI RAMS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the difference in the body weight of the awassi rams at the beginning of the reproductive activity in some measures genitals for the purpose of selecting the optimal weight for this strain . This study was conducted in Ruminant Research Station in Abu Ghraib – Department of Livestock Research – Office of Agricultural Research - Ministry of Agriculture. The study period lasted from 25 September 2014 until 15April. 2015. The study used 15 of the Awassi Turkish rams ranged in age between 11 months - 1.1 years. The rams were divided based on body weight into three groups (Treatments) equal number (5 ram / group) the first treatment (low weight at mean of 48.3 kg). for the second treatment (medium weight at mean of 62.1 kg). Third-treatment (high weight at mean of 69.6 kg) at the start of the experiment. The results showed that the treatments cause highly significant effect (p≤0.01) in favor of the first and second treatments compared with the third treatment in cortisol level. Also there were highly significant effects (p≤0.01) in the testicular measurements benefit of third-treatment compared with the first and second treatments and the results also showed the treatments cause highly significant effects (p ≤ 0.01) on the ejaculate volume . the number of sperm in the ejaculate , individual motility and abnormal sperm percentage benefit of third-treatment compared with the first and second treatment, while there was significantly effect (p≤0.05) in favor third-treatment on mass activity and sperm concentration , and the significant effect benefit second treatment reaction time compared with the first treatment. The conclusion of this study is that the high weight at the beginning of the reproductive activity is the most efficient rams reproductive and therefore the possibility of choosing rams top weight to the survival of herds of sheep as males.