THE ACCUMULATIVE EFFECT OF FINNSHEEP BREEDING IN CROSSBREEDING SCHEMES: EWE PRODUCTIVITY UNDER AN ACCELERATED LAMBING SYSTEM

Abstract

Ewes representing DLS, Finnsheep (F) and seven of their crosses were subjected to a system of lambing every 8 mo on a commercial farm. Ewes were mated in spring (Apr.), autumn (Aug.) and winter (Dec). For the three mating seasons, fertility was 80, 86 and 87% while number of lambs born alive was 1.85, 2.21 and 2.25 and those weaned were 1.84, 2.38 and 1.67 lambs, respectively. Fertility was highest in Finnsheep (98%) and 6/8F (97%). The largest (2.8) and smallest (1.2 lambs) litters were born to 7/8F and DLS ewes, respectively. The average interval between lambings was 264 d corresponding to 1.38 lambings producing 2.3 lambs ewe−1 yr−1. The 6/8F ewes had the highest productivity (3.27 lambs, 55.3 kg ewe−1 yr−1) followed by 5/8F and Finnsheep ewes. Key words: DLS, Finnsheep, accelerated lambing, crossbreeding