An economic assessment of differently managed sheep flocks in eastern Turkey

The aim of this study was to evaluate production and economic effects of feeding management and hormonal strategy on fat tailed sheep raised in eastern Anatolia. Animals were divided into six groups. Strategies were as follows: ewes were offered 1) 1.0 of the estimated metabolizable energy (1.5kg dry grass hay/ewe/day) (non flushed: NF, n=77) 2) 1.5kg dry grass hay/ewe/day and 300gr barley/ewe /day for 21 days prior to mating (flushing: F, n=100). Thereafter, nutritionally flushed ewes were subdivided: 3) supplemented with Vitamin A and E prior to mating (VIT, n=90), estrus of ewes were synchronized; 4) FGA (30mg) impregnated sponge and 600 U PMSG (Sponge and Flushing: SF, n=113) or 5) PGF_2α (125μg/mL Cloprostenol) and 600 U PMSG (PGF, n=90), or 6) feed additive estrus synchronization treatment, Melengesterol Acetate (MGA, 0.25mg per head daily, n=90). Ewes in estrus were hand mated with rams of proven fertility. Reproductive performance was measured from fertility, percentage of animals in estrus within 6 days of ram introduction and the number of lambs born. Also, lamb birth and weaning weights, and survivability rate at weaning were recorded for prolonged productivity. Production data was subjected to gross margin calculating for economic evaluation. The use of MGA outperformed the other groups in fertility and survivability. Net returns per ewe were US$ 21.58/ewe. PGF_2α hormone treatments (US$ 17.12/ewe) was the most profitable source of extra revenue compared with vaginal sponge (US$ 12.69/ewe) and supplementing vitamins (US$ 13.66/ewe). The economic viability and reproductive performance indicators demonstrate that steps should be taken to disseminate these new practices in the fat tailed sheep development program.