THE INFLUENCE OF HEMOGLOBIN TYPES ON REPRODUCTION AND PRODUCTION IN HUNGARIAN MERINO SHEEP

Fewer Hb A and AB lambs were born than expected in the investigated Hu ngarian Merino population but the factors responsible for these differ ences could not be identified. The Hb A and AB breeding ewes were not inferior to their B type herd mates with respect to average daily weig ht gain (when lambs), reproductive performance (prolificacy) and survi val rate. Their reproductive performance was, in some cases, even bett er than that of the ewes with other haemoglobin types. The haemoglobin types cannot be used as markers when selecting for higher prolificacy .