Assessment of seasonal and environmental variability of key performance traits of Awassi sheep in semiarid conditions

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of certain environmental factors on reproductive and milk traits in ewes, as well as growth performance in lambs, under semi-intensive management of Awassi sheep. The dataset comprised records from a total of 31.372 lambs born to Awassi ewes participating in the National Small Ruminant Breeding Program. Key parameters, including reproductive and milk yield traits in ewes and birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), average daily gain (ADG), and Kleiber Ratio (KR) in lambs, were analysed concerning dam age, lamb sex, birth type, and birth month. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software package. At the end of the study, the mean values for BW, WW, ADG, and KR were found to be 4.29 ± 0.01 kg, 19.33 ± 0.01 kg, 250.73 ± 0.08 g, and 27.19 ± 0.01, respectively. The average 210-day milk yield and daily milk production in ewes were calculated as 219.15 ± 0.39 l and 1.22 ± 0.01 l, respectively. The findings demonstrate that environmental factors have significant impacts on reproductive performance and milk yield in Awassi sheep, as well as growth traits in lambs. A comprehensive evaluation of these environmental influences is essential for optimizing production efficiency, enhancing the effectiveness of selection programs, and playing a crucial role in sustainable productivity and resource utilization.