1 Corresponding author: Erdal BINGOL Hakkari Univ, Colemerik Vocational School, Dept of Veterinary Sciences, Hakkari, Turkey e-mail: erekdagi_65@hotmail.com * This study is summarized from a portion of the Doctoral Dissertation of first author Van Vet J, 2016, 27 (1) 1-4 Van Veterinary Journal http://vfdergi.yyu.edu.tr ISSN: 2149-3359 Original Article e-ISSN: 2149-8644 Survival Rates of Lambs, Greasy Fleece Weight and Live Weight at Parturition of Fat- Tailed Hamdani Sheep Grown in East Anatolia Region of Turkey Erdal BINGOL 1 Mehmet BINGOL 2 1 Hakkari University, Colemerik Vocational School, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Hakkari, Turkey 2 Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Zootechnics, Van, Turkey Received: 04.06.2015 Accepted: 07.10.2015 SUMMARY This research has been carried out to determine the survival rates of lambs, greasy fleece weight and live weight at parturition of fat-tailed 125 Hamdani ewes under extensive village conditions in Çığlı village of Çukurca province in Hakkari, Turkey. The survival rates (SRs) for lambs were found to be 98.5%, 96.2%, 96.2%, 94.6%, 93.9%, 93.9%, 93.9%, 99.2% and 99.2% for from birth (SR1), from birth to 1 th (SR2), from birth to 2 th (SR3), from birth to 3 th (at weaning) (SR4), from birth to 4 th (SR5), from birth to 5 th (SR6), from birth to 6 th (SR7), from 3 th to 5 th month (SR8) and from 3 th to 6 th month (SR9), respectively. The adjusted values related to average greasy fleece weight (GFW) and average live weights at parturition (LWP) of Hamdani ewes were found to be 2.29 ± 0.13 kg and 71.57 ± 1.28 kg, respectively. Significant effect of age and birth type on LWP of ewes were found (P<0.05). As a result, it was determined that SRs of lambs, average GFW and average LWP of Hamdani ewes with this study. Hamdani sheep had a better performance for mentioned traits compared with Turkish native sheep breeds and some certain cross breeds developed recently known in Turkey. Key Words: Greasy fleece, Hamdani ewes, Lamb, Parturition weight ÖZET Doğu Anadolu’da Yetiştirilen Hamdani Koyunlarında Kirli Yapağı Verimi, Doğum Zamanı Canlı Ağırlık ve Kuzularda Yaşama Gücü Özellikleri Bu çalışma, Hakkari ili Çukurca ilçesi Çığlı bölgesinde ekstansif köylü koşullarda yetiştirilen 125 baş Hamdani koyununun doğumdaki canlı ağırlık özellikleri, kirli yapağı verimleri ve kuzularda yaşama gücü özellikleri nin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Kuzularda, doğumda (SR1), doğum-30. gün (SR2), doğum-60. gün (SR3), doğum-sütten kesim (90. gün) (SR4), doğum-120. gün (SR5), doğum-150. gün (SR6), doğum-180. gün (SR7), sütten kesim-150. gün (SR8) ve sütten kesim-180. gün (SR9) yaşama gücü oranları (SRs) sırasıyla %98.5, %96.2, %96.2, %94.6, %93.9, %93.9, %93.9, %99.2 ve %99.2 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Ortalama kirli yapağı verimi (GFW) ve doğumdaki canlı ağırlık (LWP) sırasıyla 2.29 ± 0.13 ve 71.57 ± 1.28 kg olarak bulunmuştur. Doğum dönemi canlı ağırlık değerleri üzerine koyun yaşı ve doğurma tipi faktörlerinin etkilerinin önemli (P<0.05) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak bu çalışmada Hamdani koyunların GWF ve LWP verimleri ile kuzularda yaşama gücü değerleri tanımlanmıştır. Hamdani koyunlarının gerek yerli ve gerekse bazı melez koyun ırklarıyla karşılaştırılabilir özelliklere sahip olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kirli yapağı, Hamdani koyun, Kuzu, Doğum ağırlığı INTRODUCTION Sheep production has retained its importance for centuries in agriculture and the economy as well, besides its role in human nutrition in Turkey. It is well-known that Turkey has a rich domestic animal population but has low animal productivity. This is mainly due to the high number of the native breeds having low productivity and traditional extensive production methods. Although developments have been observed in sheep breeding structure, the traditional extensive production method is still a common practice for the breeders. Ninety-four per cent of the sheep population is of native breeds whereas only 6% is pure Merino and its crosses (TÜİK 2014). Protection of genetic resources of indigenous breeds is important for the future creation of new types and necessary genetic material for the concerns that may arise in the future as a result of environmental conditions throughout the World. In addition, examination and evaluation of the infrastructure of the traditional sheep breeding are important for breeding programs (Kaymakçı 2006). From this point of view, it is inevitable to identify and