Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, cilt.37, sa.3, ss.479-486, 2022 (Hakemli Dergi)
Path analysis is applied to identify directed dependencies between a set of variables and used in animal breeding to improve breeding practices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effect of some placental traits on lamb birth weight born to Bafra sheep breed using path analysis. For this aim, the relationship between lamb birth weight and seven placental traits (placental weight; PW, total cotyledon numbers; TCN, total cotyledon surface area; TCSA, cotyledon efficiency; CE, total cotyledon volume; TCV, volumetric cotyledon efficiency; VCE, placenta efficiency; PE) were studied in 40 singleton - bearing Bafra ewe with same live weight and parity. Birth weight (BW), lamb sex, and placental measurements were recorded within 12 h after parturition. The direct effects of PE on birth weight were found statistically significant (p<0.05). Additionally, the indirect effects of PW on birth weight were found statistically significant (p<0.05). While the PE variable was found with the highest direct effect (0.602) on BW, the highest total indirect effect (-0,468) on BW was found in the PW variable. The direct effect (-0.046) of the TCN variable was lowest on BW. Also, the indirect effect (0.093) of the PE variable was lowest on BW. The results showed that PW and PE were the most explanatory variable for the birth weight of Bafra lambs.