Comparison of five crossbreeding types involving Timahdit, D’man and improved terminal sire breeds of sheep: ewe reproduction, lamb survival and growth performance

Abstract

AbstractA crossbreeding experiment involving Timahdit (T), D'man (D) and improved sire breeds (M) was conducted to compare lamb production in five crossbreeding types: D ✕ D, T ✕ T, D ✕ T (DT), M ✕ T, and M ✕ DT lambs. Reproductive and production traits were analysed in 1187 litters, 1586 lambs born and 1346 lambs weaned, progeny of 605 ewes. Effects of crossbreeding type, year of birth, sex of lamb, age of dam, and type of birth were significant on the majority of traits studied. The D ✕ D and M ✕ DT crossbreeding system showed the highest litter sizes at lambing and at weaning with respective values in D ✕ D (2·17, 1·34) and M ✕ DT (1·72, 1·39). Ewes bearing the M ✕ DT cross lambs showed the highest (P < 0·05) litter weight at weaning (28·28 kg) followed by those with M ✕ T (23·14 kg), and D ✕ D (22·53 kg) lambs. M ✕ DT and M ✕ T lambs were heavier and grew faster than the other lambs. On the other hand, lamb survival rates and growth traits were the lowest in D ✕ D but those in T ✕ T and D ✕ T genetic types of lamb were intermediate. Results showed that D as a dam breed had a favourable effect on litter size (P < 0·01) but unfavourable effect on lamb survival and birth weight. The reproductive performance of DT crossbred ewes, due to their high prolificacy and lamb survival, associated with the favourable effect of an improved terminal sire (M) for growth traits, indicated that the three breed cross (M ✕ DT) could enhance lamb production in Morocco.