Effect of different body condition score on the reproductive performance of Awassi sheep [Elektronische Ressource] / von Mona Georges Abboud

Mona Georges Abboud

Informations

• Publié par: humboldt-universitat_zu_berlin
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 30
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT BODY CONDITION SCORE
ON THE REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF AWASSI SHEEP

Dissertation

Zur Erlangug des akademischen Grades
Doktor rerum agriculturarum
(Dr. rer. agr.)

eingereicht an der
Landwirtschaftlich- Gärtnerischen Fakultät
der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Von
Dipl. Ing. Agr. Mona Georges Abboud
geb. am 27.01.1976 in Machghara- Lebanon

unter dem
Präsident der Humboldt-Universität
Prof. Dr. Christoph Markschies
und dem
Dekan der landwirtschaflich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Otto Kaufmann

Gutachter:
Prof. Dr. Kurt J. Peters
Prof. Dr. Karl Zessin

Tag der Disputation, 4. July 2007



For those who by their education, love and encouragement
have been made from me what I am today

To the candle of given and sacrifice my father, Georges
To the angel of love and tenderness my mother, Marcelle
To my three sisters that have a great part in my success, Sandra, May and Rola
To my lovely person and my soul mate, Youssef
To my little angel Lea
To all of them I dedicate my work

Mona Abboud

II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my deepest respect and most sincere gratitude to my
supervisor, Prof. Dr. K.J. Peters, for his guidance and encouragement at all stages of
my work. His constructive criticism and comments from the initial conception to the
end of this work is highly appreciated. I am thankful for his scientific guidance, his
critical comments and his encouragement during my work. I am greatly indebted to
his assistance and understanding during my study period.
My deep gratitude also goes to Prof. Dr. Karl Zessin for accepting to evaluate
my thesis and sit in the examination committee. I thank also all the members of the
examination committee and Prof. Dr. Michael Böhme for accepting to chair the
committee.
I am thankful to my Lebanese supervisor Prof. Dr. Saab Abi Saab for his
scientific guidance, his constructive support, scientific and pedagogic encouragement
during the development of my master research project.
I am very grateful to the Humboldt University of Berlin, Department of
Animal Breeding in the Tropics and Subtropics for accepting me as a PhD student.
I am also indebted to the European Association for Animal Production
(EAAP) and the commission of sheep and goat for evaluating the first paper from my
thesis as the best paper.
I am very grateful to the volunteer farmers for providing me the experimental
animals. My most sincere thanks and appreciation are also due to the staff of the Milk
Collecting Center At Kherbit – Rouha, Rachaya, Small Holder livestock
Rehabilitation Project for helping me in the data collection process. My heart felts
thanks also go to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal department for helping me in
my work.
I am also very grateful to Dr. Mustapha Mroueh for his guidance and support
in the early stage of my application at Humboldt University at Berlin.
My deep appreciation also goes to Charles Sassine who has supported me
during my presence in Berlin.
I am also grateful to my all my friends and colleagues in Berlin and Lebanon
for their support and encouragement during my stay abroad and for their help in
providing me whatever I needed.
Finally a very special appreciation and thanks to my heart and life Youssef
IIISassine who have helped me from the first step by presenting my documents until the
end of my work, for his moral support and encouragement, my deep gratitude, thanks
and appreciation goes also to my parents Georges and Marcelle and my three sisters
Sandra, May and Rola for their love, moral and financial support during all my work,
for their patience and understanding throughout.
May God bless all of them.



IV TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................III
TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................V
LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................IX
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... XII
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................XIV

1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................1

2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE ......................................................................6
2.1 Approaches to animal genetic resource evaluation......................................6
2.2 Economic sustainability of sheep production in Near East and Lebanon....8
2.3 Importance of Awassi sheep breed in Lebanon ...........................................9
2.4 Ecosystems pertaining to sheep production in Lebanon............................11
2.5 Constraints facing sheep production in Near East and Lebanon ...............13
2.6 Production system and management..........................................................14
2.7 Performance characteristics of Awassi sheep............................................15
2.7.1 Phenotypic characteristics..........................................................................15
2.7.2 Growth performance of Awassi sheep.......................................................16
2.7.3 Carcass characteristics and fatty acids composition of sheep meat...........17
2.7.4 Reproductive performance of Awassi sheep..............................................20
2.7.5 Milk production.........................................................................................20
2.8 Systematic factors affecting performance traits.........................................21
2.8.1 Genetic make up ........................................................................................21
2.8.2 Environmental factors................................................................................22
2.8.3 Growth and weight.....................................................................................23
2.8.3.1 Weight changes in Awassi sheep...............................................................23
2.8.4 Fat reserves................................................................................................24
2.8.4.1 Effects of age and weight...........................................................................24
2.8.4.2 Effects of sex and physiological state of the animals ................................25
2.8.4.3 Effects of nutrition26
2.9 Importance of fat tail in Awassi sheep.......................................................29
2.10 Interaction between nutrition, fat reserves and fertility of the ewes..........30

3 MATERIAL AND METHODS.................................................................33
3.1 First experiment.........................................................................................33
3.1.1 Experimental location and climate.............................................................33
3.1.2 Composition of pasture..............................................................................33
V3.1.3 Experimental sheep breed and their management .....................................34
3.1.4 ental design and data collection for the first experiment .............35
3.1.5 Grazing and feeding management .............................................................36
3.1.5.1 Supplementary feeding and health care .....................................................37
3.1.6 Performance data collection.......................................................................38
3.1.6.1 Body weight and linear body measurements .............................................38
3.1.6.2 Tail measurements.....................................................................................38
3.1.6.3 Body condition score of ewes....................................................................39
3.1.7 Reproduction parameters...........................................................................40
3.1.7.1 Detection of heat........................................................................................41
3.1.7.2 Pregnancy diagnosis...................................................................................41
3.1.8 Methods of statistical analysis ...................................................................42
3.2 Second experiment42
3.2.1 Experimental location and climate.............................................................42
3.2.2 Composition of pasture..............................................................................44
3.2.3 Experimental sheep breed and their management .....................................44
3.2.4 ental design and data collection for the second experiment.........45
3.2.5 Grazing and feeding management .............................................................46
3.2.5.1 Supplementary feeding and health care .....................................................47
3.2.6 Performance data collection.......................................................................47
3.2.6.1 Body weight measurements47
3.2.6