Annual reproductive activity of ewes from Jezersko-Solchava, Bovec and Istrian breeds under variable field conditions

Breeding season in mature Jezersko-Solchava and Bovec ewes started in early autumn and ended rapidly with pregnancies in all studied ewes of these breeds. Spring lambing in mature Jezersko-Solchava ewes was followed by the resumption of ovarian activity in June 2011, indicating an early timing of the breeding season in this sheep breed. Pregnancies in Jezersko-Solchava ewes were confirmed from August 2011 on with a 100% pregnancy rate in October 2011. Ovarian activity was detected in August 2011 in 75% of the Bovec ewes and 100% of the Istrian ewes. In November 2011, all of the Bovec ewes were pregnant, while in Istrian ewes, pregnancy rate only reached 75%. Our results indicate important differences in the patterns of annual reproductive activity in various native sheep breeds that are bred under identical environmental and geographical conditions.