Date of Lambing and Reproductive Performance of Newfoundland and “DLS” Breeds of Sheep Raised under Extensive Management in Nova Scotia1

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Abstract
A sample of a breed native to Newfoundland (Nfld) and another of a crossbred population selected for extended breeding season (DLS; ½ Dorset, ¼ Leicester, ¼ Suffolk) were transferred from St-John's, Newfoundland, and La Pocatiére, Quebec, respectively, to Nappan, Nova Scotia, for a study of out-of-season lambing and other reproductive performances of these two breeds under conditions different from those of their native environments. Although the two breeds gave indications of an ability to breed out-of-season in their local environments, neither succeeded in breeding out-of-season in the new environment. The average lambing dates of the Nfld and DLS ewes were March 5 and February 20, respectively; the difference was significant. Ewes 2 years old and older lambed earlier (P<.05) than yearlings. Fertility of the two breeds exceeded 97%, and the number of lambs born and weaned per ewe lambing was 1.45 and 1.28 (Nfld) and 1.51 and 1.04 (DLS). Lamb survival at birth and weaning was 93 and 87% in Nfld, and 85and 69% in DLS. Age at first lambing averaged 386 days among Nfld sheep, 11 days younger than among DLS. Birth and weaning weights of DLS lambs were heavier than those of Nfld (4.09 vs 3.42 kg and 20.1 vs 18.3 kg, respectively). Body weight at maturity was about 5 kg higher and yearly fleece weights about .7 kg heavier in DLS than in Nfld ewes. Copyright © 1980. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1980 by American Society of Animal Science

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