Effects of Some Environmental Factors on Weanling Traits of Range Columbia, Corriedale and Targhee Lambs

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Abstract
The effects of sex, age of dam, type of birth, age at weaning and percent inbreeding were studied on 478 Columbia, 238 Corriedale and 366 Targhee lambs raised in 1941 and 1942 at the U. S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, Idaho. Differences in weaning weight between ram lambs and ewe lambs, lambs from mature and 2-year-old dams, and single and twin lambs were 10.8, 8.7 and 11.7 pounds, respectively. Ewe lambs, lambs from mature dams, and single lambs had longer staple and were given higher type and condition scores than the contrasting groups. Face covering and neck folds were not strongly influenced by any of the factors. Merit in each of the traits increased with age at weaning, as indicated by regression coefficients. Inbreeding had a noticeably detrimental effect upon weaning weight, body type and condition, but not upon length of staple. Copyright © . .