author(s)
R Selvakkumar

abstract
The study was conducted with an objective to assess the effect of nongenetic factors like sex and season of birth on birth weight, weaning weight and growth performance in Vembur sheep breed. Data on season of birth and sex of lambs born between 2010 to 2014 (5 years) were analyzed. Fro m the results, it was found that the season of birth has significant influence (P< 0.05) on birth weight and the lambs born during season 1(December – April) had a higher body weight than the lambs born during season 2 (September – November). Weaning weight, pre-weaning average daily weight gain and body weight at 12 months of age in lambs born during season 1(December – April) were higher than the lambs born during season 2 (September – November). Similarly, sex of the lambs also had a significant (P< 0.05) influence on birth weight, post weaning average daily weight gain, overall average daily weight gain and body weight at 12 months of age and male had a higher value irrespective of the season of birth.