Alteration of Body Measurements of Some Native Sheep of Turkey at the Fattening Period

This study was carried out to determine the body growth of Akkaraman, Da l , K v rc k, Malya and Karacabey Merino (KM) lambs at intensive fattening period. A total of 50 male lambs there are 10 lambs from each breed were used in the study. The lambs were 2.5 months of age and their live weights averaged as 20 kg at the beginning of fattening period the intensive fattening period lasted for 68 days. The increase in body measurements of Akkaraman, Da li , Kivircik, Malya and Karacabey Merino were determined as 9.8, 5.9, 11.2,10.5 and 10.2 cm for withers heights; 13.0, 10.9, 8.6, 12.5 and 12.2 cm for rump heights; 13.1, 8.6, 8.6, 13.8 and 14.4 cm for body lengths; 20.2, 15.6, 16.5, 23.9 and 20.7 cm for heart girths and 22.0, 16.5, 16.2, 21.1 and 20.5 cm for leg girths respectively. During the intensive fattening period Akkaraman, Malya and KM genotypes had similar body performance however these breeds had better body performance than Kivircik and Da li genotypes.