The effect of early mating on different yield properties of Turkgeldi sheep flock

This research has been carried out to investigate the possibilities of early mating of Turkgeldi female yearlings. Pregnancy rates of ewes, birth weight and weaning weight of the lambs were investigated with respect to the duration of two reproduction period. The female lambs were first mated at 11 month of age and at an avarage body weight of 37.49±0.766 kg, second at 20 month with the body weight of 45.32±0.987kg. Lambing rate for ewes mated at 11 month of age was found %100 and for ewes mated at 20 month of age was %83, survival rate of lambs up to weaning were %96.5 and %90.6 respectively. It was concluded that Turkgeldi sheep genotype can be mated at early age.