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Performance of crossbred sheep from a synthetic Dam Line

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. Smith ,
J. W. B. King ,
D. Nicholson ,
B. T. Wolf  and
P. R. Bampton
C. Smith
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
J. W. B. King
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
D. Nicholson
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
B. T. Wolf
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
P. R. Bampton
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
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Abstract

The performance of traditional Border Leicester × Blackface cross- breds (Greyfaces) was compared with Blackface crosses from a synthetic Dam Line developed from four breeds; Finnish Landrace (47%), East Friesian (24%), Border Leicester (17%) and Dorset Horn (12%). The Dam Line crosses were lighter (−10%), showed earlier sexual maturity, were more prolific (+12%) and weaned more lambs (+13%) than the traditional crosses but had similar litter weights and flock survival. The lambs from the Dam Line crosses grew more slowly (−5%) (comparing twins with twins and singles with singles) but their carcass composition and carcass grades were similar to those from the traditional crosses.

An assessment of the relative biological efficiency for meat production of the two crossbred types indicated an advantage of about 10 to 12% in favour of the Dam Line crossbred type.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , August 1979 , pp. 1 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

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References

REFERENCES

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