Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank

<p>This research aimed to analyze whether ewes' total reproductive performance up to the fourth year of life (RP4) can be predicted based on the data available at an early stage of a ewe's productive life. The RP4 of 133 Romanov ewes was measured in terms of the total number of lambs...

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Main Authors: I. Vlahek, V. Sušić, A. Ekert Kabalin, S. Menčik, M. Maurić Maljković, A. Piplica, J. Šavorić, S. Faraguna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-03-01
Series:Archives Animal Breeding
Online Access:https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/66/145/2023/aab-66-145-2023.pdf
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author I. Vlahek
V. Sušić
A. Ekert Kabalin
S. Menčik
M. Maurić Maljković
A. Piplica
J. Šavorić
S. Faraguna
author_facet I. Vlahek
V. Sušić
A. Ekert Kabalin
S. Menčik
M. Maurić Maljković
A. Piplica
J. Šavorić
S. Faraguna
author_sort I. Vlahek
collection DOAJ
description <p>This research aimed to analyze whether ewes' total reproductive performance up to the fourth year of life (RP4) can be predicted based on the data available at an early stage of a ewe's productive life. The RP4 of 133 Romanov ewes was measured in terms of the total number of lambs born per ewe (TNLE) and total birth weight of lambs per ewe (TBLE). Multiple regression was used to analyze whether early reproductive performance indicators (first litter size – FLS, age at first lambing – AFL, first lambing interval – FLI), ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank can be used as the predictors of RP4. Predicted <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> and 95 % prediction intervals were used as indicators of the precision of prediction. Average TNLE and TBLE at the end of fourth year of ewe life were 11.84 lambs and 37.96 kg, respectively. FLS and FLI significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) influenced TNLE and TBLE, while AFL was not a significant (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&gt;0.05</span>) variable. Ewes with shorter FLI had significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) higher TNLE (10.94 lambs) and TBLE (36.17 kg) than ewes with long FLI (TNLE <span class="inline-formula">=</span> 9.12 lambs and TBLE <span class="inline-formula">=</span> 28.05 kg). <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> predicted for TNLE and TBLE was 7.54 % and 11.49 %, respectively. The ewe's birth rank and the dam's birth rank significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) influenced TNLE and TBLE. Ewes born as singletons and ewes from singleton-born dams had significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) lower TNLE and TBLE than ewes born as triplets and ewes from triplet-born dams. <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> predicted for TNLE was 16.76 %, and 25.69 % for TBLE. FLS and FLI are better predictors of RP4 than AFL. The birth rank of ewe and dam also proved significant predictors of RP4. For both sets of predictors (early reproductive indicators and birth rank data), low values of <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> predicted indicate that precise prediction of RP4 cannot be made.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-542085d649724009925adaa0f771bb852023-03-30T07:07:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsArchives Animal Breeding0003-94382363-98222023-03-016614515110.5194/aab-66-145-2023Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rankI. VlahekV. SušićA. Ekert KabalinS. MenčikM. Maurić MaljkovićA. PiplicaJ. ŠavorićS. Faraguna<p>This research aimed to analyze whether ewes' total reproductive performance up to the fourth year of life (RP4) can be predicted based on the data available at an early stage of a ewe's productive life. The RP4 of 133 Romanov ewes was measured in terms of the total number of lambs born per ewe (TNLE) and total birth weight of lambs per ewe (TBLE). Multiple regression was used to analyze whether early reproductive performance indicators (first litter size – FLS, age at first lambing – AFL, first lambing interval – FLI), ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank can be used as the predictors of RP4. Predicted <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> and 95 % prediction intervals were used as indicators of the precision of prediction. Average TNLE and TBLE at the end of fourth year of ewe life were 11.84 lambs and 37.96 kg, respectively. FLS and FLI significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) influenced TNLE and TBLE, while AFL was not a significant (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&gt;0.05</span>) variable. Ewes with shorter FLI had significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) higher TNLE (10.94 lambs) and TBLE (36.17 kg) than ewes with long FLI (TNLE <span class="inline-formula">=</span> 9.12 lambs and TBLE <span class="inline-formula">=</span> 28.05 kg). <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> predicted for TNLE and TBLE was 7.54 % and 11.49 %, respectively. The ewe's birth rank and the dam's birth rank significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) influenced TNLE and TBLE. Ewes born as singletons and ewes from singleton-born dams had significantly (<span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i>&lt;0.05</span>) lower TNLE and TBLE than ewes born as triplets and ewes from triplet-born dams. <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> predicted for TNLE was 16.76 %, and 25.69 % for TBLE. FLS and FLI are better predictors of RP4 than AFL. The birth rank of ewe and dam also proved significant predictors of RP4. For both sets of predictors (early reproductive indicators and birth rank data), low values of <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> predicted indicate that precise prediction of RP4 cannot be made.</p>https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/66/145/2023/aab-66-145-2023.pdf
spellingShingle I. Vlahek
V. Sušić
A. Ekert Kabalin
S. Menčik
M. Maurić Maljković
A. Piplica
J. Šavorić
S. Faraguna
Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank
Archives Animal Breeding
title Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank
title_full Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank
title_fullStr Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank
title_full_unstemmed Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank
title_short Prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data, ewe birth rank, dam age, and dam birth rank
title_sort prediction of reproductive performance of ewes based on the early production data ewe birth rank dam age and dam birth rank
url https://aab.copernicus.org/articles/66/145/2023/aab-66-145-2023.pdf
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