Post-Weaning Performance in Columbia and Corriedale Lambs

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Abstract
THE main concern of most commercial sheep producers who sell lambs at weaning time is that their lambs perform well enough in the feedlot to be assured of a future market. if ewe lambs are kept for replacements, however, the producers are interested in the ability of lambs to "grow out". Likewise, to the purebred producers who sell rams, the ability of lambs to grow rapidly and efficiently after weaning is of considerable importance. Fredickson et al., (1959) reported the effects of age, weight, sex, type of birth, and age of dam on post-weaning performance. The reported a correlation of -.63 between rate of gain and feed required per pound of gain. Botkin (1955) found a correlation of -.72 between rate gain and feed effiency. Heritability estimates for gain and for feed per pound of gain were 0.84 and 0.15, respectively. These data indicated that selection for rate of gain could improve efficiency about as rapidly as could selection for efficiency in the improvement of efficiency. Copyright © 1964. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1964 by American Society of Animal Science