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Multiple Birth in the Texel Sheep

Universities of Alexandria and of Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

In 1955, 385 ewes and 10 rams of the Texel sheep from Holland were introduced into Egypt, at the Tahreer Province. This breed is known for its high frequency of multiple birth, the lambs are fast growers, and the mature animals give a heavy wool crop of medium fineness.

The records of 333 dams, 275 dams' dams, and 146 sires' dams of the imported animals showed that the average number of lambs born for ewes with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 lambings were; 1.91, 3.66, 5.90, 7.37, 9.67 and 11.76, respectively, with an average of 1.91 lambs per lambing. The average number of lambs reared for ewes with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 lambings were; 1.77, 3.18, 5.04, 6.44, 8.40 and 10.48, respectively, with an average of 1.67 lambs per lambing. Percent of lamb mortality, from birth until weaning age, had an average of 13.1. The "heritability" of number of lambs born was .266±.108.

¹ Lecturer, Animal Prod. Dept., College of Agr., U. of Alex., and Advisor to the Tahreer Province Instit.

² Associate Professor, Animal Prod. Dept., College of Agr. U. of Cairo, and Advisor to the Tahreer Province Instit.