Lambing seasons in subspecies of Urial (Ovis vignei) in Pakistan

Abstract

In 2000-2005, we quantified the onset and duration of lambing in three urial (Ovis vignei) subspecies inPakistan. Onset of lambing in the southern populations was on average on day 31 (± 9.0 SE; n = 18; Julian date),two months earlier than in the northern populations (Salt Range; onset on Julian day 90 ± 0.95 SE, n = 6). Thebirth season in the southern populations of Afghan urial (subspecies cycloceros) lasted 1.7 times longer (61 days ± 5SE vs. 35 days ± .70 SE) than punjabensis in the Salt Range. The southern subspecies had a more protracted lambingseason and greater interannual variation in distribution of births than the northern subspecies. Onset and duration oflambing did not differ in two populations in the Salt Range. Population sex ratio and male age structure did notappear to affect lambing synchrony.