Relationship between body condition score (BCS) at lambing on ultrasounography, biometry measurement and productive traits of Afshari sheep

Body Condition Score (BCS) is a subjective metod for evaluating the nutritional status of the flock that provided the profitable information of productive trait and body ingridients. OBGECTIVES: The Effect of BCS at lambing on ultrasounography, biometry measurement and productive traits of Afshari breeds were investigated. 169 Afshari ewes 2 to 7 years old were selected from experimental flock of Zanjan University. BCS of ewes at lambing were categorized to 5 groups of 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4. The numbers of each Group were 12, 50, 45, 27 and 35 respectively. Traits in this study included: ultrasounography and biometry measurements, body weight and body temperature, wool production and some productive traits. BCS have significant effect on Longissimus muscle depth, body length, chest circumference, length tail, middle and bottom of the tail and body weight, while skin thickness, fat thickness, withers height and depth of the chest have no significant difference (P<0.05). Average wool production in ewes with a score of 3.5 more than other groups, and ewes with BCS 2 was lower than other treatments (P<0.05). Birth weight of lamb from ewes with different BCS, have no significant. This study showed that type of birth and sex of lamb in birth weight was significant (P<0.05). Ewe Body condition score, sex, birth weight and type of birth were effective on weaning weight and average daily gain to weaning. The results showed that positive effect of BCS, ewes with BCS of 3 to 4 had better performance than other groups in the flock, therefore complementary feeding of ewes in late pregnancy is recommended.