EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT AND FEED SUPPLEMENTATION ON BODY MEASUREMENTS OF DESERT LAMBS RAISED UNDER RANGE CONDITIONS IN WEST KORDOFAN, SUDAN

This study was conducted with the objective of studying the effects of pattern of husbandry and addition of concentrates on lambs’ body measurements. Measurements were taken from lambs borne to different ewes groups. The first group (A) were borne to ewes left to graze the natural grazing from 6: pm to 7: am, stayed under shade from 8: am to 5: pm and watered once every 3 days, the second group (B) allowed grazing natural grazing from 6: pm to 7: am, stayed under shade from 8: am to 5: pm and drank daily, the third group (C) was kept on natural grazing from 6: pm to 7: am stayed in under shade from 8: am to 5: pm drank daily and offered concentrate at the rate of 250 g / head / day and the fourth group (D) was left on the natural grazing all the day watered once every five days as followed traditionally representing control. Body measurements (head length, neck length, ear length, height at wither, body length, heart girth, chest depth and tail length) was monthly recorded. All those data were recorded for the first years. The data on the parameters studied were analyzed via SAS/STATTM computer programme. Body measurements especially height at withers, heart girth, chest depth and body length indicated that they were higher for lambs of group C compared with the control. The study concluded that supplementary feeding of Desert lambs with concentrates could give best body measurements. It was recommended that husbandry pattern be changed to avoid heat stress and supplementary feeding be followed to improve lambs performance on the natural grazing.