ANBAR JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Abstract

His field experiment was carried out on a flock of 169 local ewes at Al-Jazeera – Al-Budyb. Located in the northern of Al- Ramadi. During the period from 1/1/2013 until 11/11/2013. The aim of this study was determine the effect of melatonin implants on reproductive performance of local Iraqi ewes. The ewes ranging from 2 to 5 years of age. The ewes were randomly divided into two groups. Which are: melatonin group (92 ewes) and control group (77 ewes). Results in the present study shown the lambing rate was greater (P<0.05) in the melatonin group (69.6%) than the control group (57.1%). as well as treatment of melatonin lowered (P<0.01) percentage of Barren ewes. 30.4% in the melatonin group and 42.9% in the control group. No treatment effects were observed for the Twining rate (12.5% melatonin group, 18.2% control group) . Prolificacy (1.125±0.04 melatonin group, 1.182±0.06 control group) and Fecundity (0.78±0.06 melatonin group, 0.68±0.07 control group). The results shown that ewes treated with melatonin implants were producing a 0.10 extra lambs per ewe treated (extra 10 lambs on 100 ewes lambed. compared with control group) and 12.8% Gain. It can be concluded that melatonin could be a useful tool to improve reproductive performance of the sheep.