Sheep Breeding Farm, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (K) Shuhama (Alusteng), Srinagar-190 006, (J&K), India.
Twenty eight (28) healthy pure bred Corriedale lambs of 15 days age were randomly selected and divided into two equal groups of 14 lambs each (A and B) with average body weight of 4.13±0.25 and 4.13±0.14 kg, respectively. Group A lambs were allowed to graze on sub-alpine pasture of the farm land separately without their dam whereas group B lambs were allowed to graze along-with their dams in same area. The group A were allowed to suckle their dams only on their return from grazing area for three months period. The lambs in each group were provided with concentrate mixture as per their requirement. The body weight of under trial lambs was recorded at weekly interval. The results indicated significantly (P<0.05) higher daily body weight gain group B than group A, thereby, achieving 3.99 kg more body weight during 45 days trial. Mortality in group A and B was 7.12% and 0%, respectively. The better performance was also reflected during post weaning period, wherein, the 6 month body weight was 16.22 and 19.96 kg in group A and B, respectively. Wool yield was 900 and 1125 g in group A and B, respectively. The study indicated favourable effect of lamb-dam association on growth of lambs during pre-weaning suckling period.
