The Effect of Non-Genetic Factors on Relative Growth Rate of Sonadi Sheep at Different Ages
Renuka Hada
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313601, India.
Rohit Sharma *
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India.
R. K. Nagda
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313601, India.
Vishnu Kumar
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313601, India.
Gaurav Kumar Bansal
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313601, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study was conducted to assess the effect of non-genetic factors on relative growth rate of Sonadi sheep of different age groups. In this study data on 1396 Sonadi sheep maintained over the period of 2012-2019 under the Mega Sheep Seed Project, College of Veterinary and animal Science, Navania, Vallabhnagar, Rajasthan were analysed to assess the effect of non-genetic factors (year of birth, season of birth, sex, type of lamb) on relative growth rate viz. 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months age groups. The overall least-squares mean along with standard error for RGR1 (0-3M), RGR2 (3-6M), RGR3 (6-9M) and RGR4 (9-12M) were 1.32±0.03, 0.42±0.02, 0.226±0.19 and 0.277±0.02 Percent per day, respectively. Year of birth had highly significant (P≤0.01) for RGR1, RGR2 and RGR4 group while significant (P≤0.05) effect on RGR3 group. Effect of season of birth on relative growth rate was also highly significant (P≤0.01) for RGR1 and RGR2 group while significant for RGR3 and RGR4 groups. Sex of lamb showed significant (P≤0.05) effect on RGR1 and RGR2 while non-significant on rest of the groups (RGR3, RGR4) whereas effect of type of birth on relative growth rate was found to be non-significant on all groups. The assessment of non-genetic factors plays an important role to formulate effective breeding programme for improvement of growth performance.
Keywords: Least square mean, non-genetic factors, relative growth rate, significant, Sonadi