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Performance of crossbred Welsh Mountain ewes in the hill environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

B T Wolf ,
B M L McLean ,
O D Davies  and
J B Griffiths
B T Wolf*
Affiliation:
IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3AL, United Kingdom
B M L McLean
Affiliation:
Welsh Assembly Government, Cefn Llan Science Park, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3AH, United Kingdom
O D Davies
Affiliation:
ADAS Pwllpeiran, Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 4AB, United Kingdom
J B Griffiths
Affiliation:
ADAS Pwllpeiran, Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 4AB, United Kingdom
*
Email: btw@aber.ac.uk
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Extract

The Welsh Mountain sheep is a numerically important breed in the UK, but its lambs are characterised by low slaughter weights and poor carcass conformation. The reduction in stocking rates that is often associated with environmental conservation schemes, offers the potential for the use of larger ewes. Crossbreeding allows more rapid genetic change to be undertaken than would be possible from selection within breeds, and affords the potential to utilise heterosis and improve the quality of subsequent crosses with the Bluefaced Leicester. This work compared the survival and productivity of purebred Welsh Mountain ewes with a range of crossbred ewe types maintained in a hill environment.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2009 , April 2009 , pp. 71
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

McLean, B.M.L., Davies, O.D., Evans, D.E., Wolf, B.T. 2006. Crossbred lamb performance from four breeds of sire mated to Welsh Mountain ewes in the hill environment. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science: 38 Google Scholar
Speijers, M.H.M., Carson, A.F., Irwin, D., Dawson, L.E.R. 2007. Performance of crossbred ewes in the hill sector. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science: 117 Google Scholar