GROWTH PROFILE OF MADRAS RED SHEEP IN FARMER'S FLOCKS

Madras Red is a medium-sized hair sheep, reared mostly by landless farmers for meat, skin and manure in northern parts of Tamil Nadu. Body weights were recorded (n=403) up to one year of age during 2000–2002 in the farmers’ flocks in its native breeding tract. The relative growth rates were computed for birth-3, 3–6, 6–9 and 9–12 months and were analyzed by the method of leastsquares. The mean body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 2.70±0.02, 9.40±0.01, 14.80±0.02, 18.60±0.02 and 20.80±0.02 kg, respectively. The growth rate decreased as the age advanced and was the lowest during 9–12 months. Year of birth (P<0.05) and sex (P<0.01) had significant influence on growth rate during birth-3 and 3–6 months. The growth rate was influenced significantly (P<0.05) by the sex of the lambs during birth-3, 3–6 and 9–12 months only. Growth rate was higher in males during 3–6 months while it was higher in females during birth-3 and 9–12 months. Lambs born in off-season (April - July) had significantly (P<0.05) less growth rate during 6–9 months than those born in main season (October -January). The regression of dam's weight at lambing had significant (P<0.05) influence on growth rate of their offspring during birth-3 months, indicating that lambs of heavier dams had better growth rate. The heritability estimates, obtained by paternal half-sib correlation were low during birth-3 months and moderate to high during 3–6, 69 and 9–12 months, which showed the presence of effective variation for selective breeding of these traits for further improvement.