Productivity of Horro ewes under 12-monthly and 8-monthly mating systems

Abstract

After a preliminary common lambing, Horro ewes were mated either twice at 12-month intervals or three times at 8-month intervals over a period of two years. There were no significant differences between the two mating systems in their productivity at each lambing. However, ewes in the 8-monthly system lambed on average 2.6 times during the two years, whereas ewes in the 12-monthly system lambed on average only 1.6 times during the same period. As a consequence, total production over two years increased from 2.2 to 3.5 lambs born.