RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HAEMOGLOBIN (Hb) TYPE AND PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RAHMANI EWES LAMBS

Two hundred Rahmani ewes and seventy-one lambs used to study the relationship between the type of haemoglobin and some productive and reproductive traits. Distribution of Hb types and allelic frequencies were higher for type AA of ewes, while for lamb's type BB was higher than type AA. Fertility rate was higher in ewes with the type of haemoglobin AA than ewes with type AB or BB. Hemoglobin type, year of mating and breed of sire were not significant effects on fertility, while, age of dam and season of mating had a significant (P<0.01 or P<0.05) effect on fertility. Autumn season was the best season in fertility (84%) compared to (60%) in summer and (64%) in winter season. Ewes sired by Rahmani rams had the highest fertility (73%) compared to those sired by Chios rams (66%). All factors (Haemoglobin type, age of dam, year of lambing, season of mating, and breed of sire) had no significant effect on litter size at birth. However, ewes with Hb BB produced more lambs than either ewes with HB AB or ewes with Hb AA. Also, ewes aged 4 years had the highest litter size at birth. Ewes mating during autumn season produced more lambs than those mating during summer. Haemoglobin type was not significant effect on body weights of Rahmani lambs and F1 cross C R at all ages studied. Rahmani lambs with Hb AA had the lowest value of birth weight (4.05 kg vs. 4.14; 4.3 kg) compared lambs with Hb AB or BB, while lambs with Hb BB had highest weight at weaning , 6, 9 and 12 months of ages. F1 ( C R) lambs with Hb AA had the highest weight at birth, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, while lambs with Hb BB had the highest weight at weaning age. Haemoglobin type was not significant effect on daily gain at all periods studied for both Rahmani and F1 ( C R) lambs. Generally, Rahmani and ( C R) lambs with