Production in Some Pure Breeds of Sheep and Their Crosses. II. Birth Weights and Weaning Weights of Lambs

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Abstract
Differences in birth weight, weaning weight, gain from birth to weaning and average daily gain were studied on lambs from Hampshire, Columbia-Southdale, Targhee, Suffolk and Dorset breeds of sheep and on all possible crosses among these breeds. The study included a total of 1699 lambs weaned during the 4 years 1966 through 1969 inclusive. Years, age of dam, type of birth and rearing, sex and breed groups all had significant effects on the traits studied. Increases in body weight due to crossbreeding (hybrid vigor) were more evident in weaning weight and gain from birth to weaning than in birth weight. For birth weight, 12 of the 20 possible crosses showed some degree of increase in weight due to hybrid vigor. For weaning weight, 14 out of 20 crosses showed some degree of increase due to heterosis. Fifteen out of 20 crosses showed some degree of heterosis for gain from birth to weaning. Considering the overall averages for all breeds and crosses, the crossbred lambs exceeded the purebred lambs by 0.11 kg in birth weight, 1.3 kg in both weaning weight and gain from birth to weaning and 0.015 kg in average daily gain. Copyright © 1971. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1971 by American Society of Animal Science.

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