INFLUENCE OF SALT SUPPLEMENTATION – SALT EXCLUSION DIET ON ESTRUS INDUCTION IN NORTH-EAST BULGARIAN MERINO SHEEP

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of salt supplementation - salt exclusion (SSE) diet on estrus induction in North-East Bulgarian merino sheep (NBMS). It was used three groups consisting of 180 animals each, where one serves as control and two were experimental. The control group was allowed to consume salt ad libitum, while the experimental groups had no access to salt for 10 days, after which their diet was supplemented with 17g/per capita for 6 days. During the experiment, teaser rams were used to reveal the animals which are in estrus. It was found that SSE diet doesn't stimulate the estrus onset in the sheep from NBMS.