Face color effect on growth rate of Libyan Barbary lambs.

ABSTRACTThe Libyan Barbary sheep Dynasty marked to bear range harsh conditions such assevere lack of rain in some seasons and the high temperature and therefore its ability toimprove productivity in good environmental conditions. The Libyan Barbary sheepgenerally have a white body colour with white or black built or patches on the head andlegs. This study aimed to assess the possible effect of face colour on growth rate ofLibyan Barbary sheep towards developing improved lines of Barbary sheep accordingto face colour. The study included also the effect of some other factors such as year, sex, birth type and age of mother on growth characteristics . This study was carried out atBir El Ghanam Research Station located 80 km southwest of Tripoli. The breedingsystem in this station extend according to range availability and presence of rain , wheresheep grazed during morning and return by the end of the day. Animals fed onconcentrate feed (14% protein) and barley or wheat straw pasture during the summermonths. Growth rate records for lambs born during the seasons 2002 and 2003 wereused as a base to divide according to face colour. Results show the overall means ofbirth weight (3.66 kg) and weaning weight (31.48 kg). Statistical analysis revealed nonsignificant influence of face colour on birth weight of lambs during all seasons, whileits effect on weaning weights of lambs was significant. Lambs which was addressed toblack face colour had the heavier weight . The factors year ,sex and type of birth havesignificant effects on birth weight, weaning weights and weights before and afterweaning, where differences varied from year to year. Male lambs were heavier thanfemale Lambs and single lambs was heavier than the twins. Therefore, it is worth wise to suggest using face-colour as a base to select lines specialized in the production ofmeat. The results of this study stressed the significance of remaining non-geneticfactors like sex, type and year of birth.