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Received: January 28, 2026

Revised: February 10, 2026

Published: March 30, 2026

 

The article presents the results of determining growth parameters in ewe lambs of the Kharkiv intra-breed type of the Precoce breed under different intensities of its formation, weaning periods, and annual feed expenditure levels. To achieve this goal, two scientific and economic experiments were conducted at the breeding farm of the “Hontarivka” State Enterprise of the Institute of Animal Science of the NAAS. The relevance of the work is due to the need to increase the efficiency of sheep breeding through a more complete realization of the genetic potential of lambs in the early period of ontogenesis. Assessment of ewe lamb growth was carried out not only by absolute, average daily, and relative live weight gains but also by using integral indices of live weight formation intensity, growth uniformity, and growth stress. It was established that the indices of growth uniformity and growth stress of ewe lambs are characterized by multidirectional formation tendencies depending on the weaning period. The highest indicators of growth uniformity were inherent in ewe lambs weaned at 90 days of age, while early weaning (45 days) was accompanied by an increase in the growth stress index. At one year of age, animals with high growth uniformity had an advantage in live weight: their live weight exceeded that of their peers with high and low growth stress by 7.9–28.1% (p<0.05–0.01) depending on the weaning terms. Analysis of the level of annual feed expenditures proved their significant influence on the formation of live weight and growth indices: with increased feed supply, the live weight of ewe lambs at one year of age increased up to 30.5% (p<0.001), which was accompanied by an improvement in the growth uniformity index. The results obtained confirm the feasibility of using integral index evaluation for a comprehensive analysis of the ontogenetic characteristics of lamb development and the justification of rational periods of suckling rearing and feeding conditions.

 

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