J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1979. 49:939-942.
© 1979 American Society of Animal Science
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Length of Breeding Season for Eight Breed Groups of Sheep in Wisconsin1

J. Lax2, L. R. French, A. B. Chapman, A. L. Pope and L. E. Casida

University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706

Abstract

The breeding season was studied in eight breed groups: Texas Rambouillets, Montana Rambouillets, Wisconsin Hampshires, Beltsville Hampshires, Suffolks, Polled Dorsets, Targhees and Columbias maintained in confinement in southern Wisconsin. Each breed group consisted of 27 mature ewes allocated randomly into two lots. The ewes were checked daily for estrus for a period of 1 year.

There were well defined seasonal trends (P<.01) in the incidence of estrus and some indication (P<.08) of differences among breeds. All breeds showed relatively low incidences of estrus during May, June, July and August. Based on these data for the given breed groups, breeding management systems for lambing three times in 2 years do not appear to be feasible under Wisconsin conditions. Twice-per-year breeding systems using the combinations of March-September, April-October or May-November may have some merit, but more experimental information is needed on length of postpartum anestrous interval and lambing rates at different times of the year.

Footnotes

1 Paper No. 2203 from the Laboratory of Genetics and No. 711 from the Dept. of Meat and Animal Science. Research was supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, in cooperation with the Cooperative State Research and Agricultural Research Service, USDA, North Central Research Project 50.

2 Present address: CSIRO Division of Animal Production, P.O. Box 184, North Ryde, N.S.W. 2113, Australia. The data were collected and partly analyzed while holding a CSIRO post-graduate studentship.






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