Original scientific paper
The ihfluence od rainfall precipitation and air temperature on the reproducive efficiency od Solčava-Jezerska sgeep in northwestern Croatia over seven consecutive years
Dražen Đuričić
; The Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology (APTF) of the University of Mostar
Jozo Grbavac
; The Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology (APTF) of the University of Mostar
Mislav Kovačić
; Mount-trade d.o.o., Garešnica, Croatia
Miroslav Benić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Samardžija
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The study aims was to determine the influence of rainfall precipitation and air temperature on the reproductive efficiency of the Jezerska-Solčava breed in NW Croatia for 7 consecutive years (2013-2019). A total of 2026 sheep were mated, of which 1821 successfully conceived and 2321 lambs were born. The average litter size was 1.23. The average fertility during the study was 92.31%. The distribution of lambs was not equally distributed throughout the year because 75% of all sheep were born during winter and spring (winter 52%; spring 23%; summer 8% and autumn 17%). Sexual activity was the lowest from the end of March to June, while the peak of sexual activity was from the end of July to October. There was a positive or negative correlation (p <0.0001 (Kruskall Wallis)) between air temperature and precipitation and specific reproductive traits (number of pregnant and non-pregnant sheep). We can assume that air temperature and rainfall precipitation during different months or seasons affect the reproductive efficiency of Jezerska- Solčava sheep in northwestern Croatia.
Keywords
air temperature; rainfall; reproductive efficacy; Jezerska-Solčava sheep
Hrčak ID:
274842
URI
Publication date:
19.12.2021.
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