Comparative Study regarding Reproductive Performance in Gyimesi racka and Turcana Sheep Breeds

The aim of the current study was to evaluate reproductive performance of native Hungarian Gyimesi racka (GR) and Romanian Turcana (TA) sheep breeds, belonging to the Central and Eastern European Zackel group. In TA breed the average conception rate was 96.11±0.024%, while in GR it was 93.29±0.064%, the differences between the two genotypes were significant (p≤0.001). For the prolificacy trait, TA ewes registered an average of 118.94±0.051%, while GR ewes had an average of 105.78±0.059%, differences between the two breeds were significant (p≤0.001). Lamb survival rate from birth to weaning was not affected by the genotype (p≤0.05), with TA lambs having survival rates of 97.32±0.019% and the GR lambs 97.70±0.038%. Differences between reproduction performances of the two related breeds could be caused by the management and rearing practices in the two countries. Overall, the conception rates and litter size for the TA and GR breeds are close to the data reported for most low-input European genotypes originating from the mountain breed groups, with excellent survival rates of the progeny and mothering abilities of the ewes