Cobertura de lã na face e produtividade de ovinos corriedale

Abstract

To determine the wool face cover effects in Corriedale ewes productive and reproductive efficiency, 304 ewes were used, with an average age 3 years old and 49.6 kg of live weight. The animals were treated in the same form during 10 months, in a extensive handling. The ewes were mated during a 50 days period with male:female ratio of 1:76 and they were classified in three groups according to their wool face cover: uncovered face (FD), intermedium face (FI) and covered face (FC). The cover frequency were FD=26.98%(n=82), FI=45.72%(n=139) and FC=27.3%(n=83). Fertility, twinning, natality and lamb survival rates until 60 days age didn’t show significant difference in both groups. The groups showed difference in the three parturition periods: 75.95%(n=60) of the FD, 69.4%(n=93) of the FI and 60.49%(n=49) of the FC lambed in the first period; 21.52%(n=17) of the FD, 22.39%(n=30) of the FI and 7.41%(n=6) of the FC lambed in the second period and 2.53%(n=2) of the FD, 8.21%(n=11) of the FI and 32.1%(n=26) of the FC lambed in the thirty period. The FD (50.04kg) and FI ewes (50.01kg) had significantly more weight than FC ewes (47.99kg), while the unclean fleece showed variation between the groups FD (4.11 kg) and FI (4.04) in relation to the group FC (3,88). The body condition didn’t change between the groups. It was conclude that the wool cover face in Corriedale ewes is an undesired trait when we want parturition to concentrate in early periods and higher live weights were found in the flock. We advice that ovine owners select uncovered face animals, to make easier handling and reduce costs with labor in the rural propriety.