Reproductive Performance of Garut Sheep Fed Ration Containing SunFlower Oil as a Source of Linoleic Acid

Abstract

ABSTR4CT The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation of linoleic acid derived from sunflower oil on reproductive performances of Gamt sheep. Animals used were primaparous Gamt ewes (initial body weight of 22.12 ± 1.69 kg), and 4 rams with the same fertility. The experiment used completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 8 replications. Treatments consisted of four rations with difterent levels of sunflower oil. Levels of sunflower oil were added based on the maintenance level of linoleic acid. MO=without sunflower oil, M1 =2% sunt10wer oil, M2=4% sunflower oil and M3=6% sunflower oil. Parameters measured were the percentage of pregnancy, the length of pregnancy, the number of embryos, litter size, the percentage lost of embryo, single-twin birth ratio and sex ratio of lambs. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Chi Square (X2), except the lost of embryo was described descriptively. The results showed that the treatments did not significantly affect the number of embryos and litter size. The lost of embryo was MO (-28.5%), Ml (38.46%), M2 (0%) and M3 (-7.69%). The percentage of pregnancy of sheep fed ration containing 4% sunflower oil was higher than the other treatments. The single-twin birth ratio and sex ratio of lambs were significantly affected (p<0.001) by the addition of sunt10wer oil. It can be concluded that the increased levels of linoleic acid up to 3 times of the maintenance requirement of sheep (6% sunflower oil in ration) improve reproductive performances of sheep. The best reproductive performance is achieved on the ration containing linoleic acid 2 times of maintenance requirement or 4 percent sunflower oil.