Lifetime meat production from six different F1 crossbred ewes

Abstract

The efficiency of meat production with regard to kilogram of lamb weaned per kilogram metabolic mass of ewes at mating of six different F1 crossbred populations, viz. Finnish Landrace x Merino (FL x M), Border
Leicester x Merino (BL x M), Bleu de Maine x Merino (BdM x M), Texel x Merino (T x M), Cheviot x Merino (C x M) and Merino Landsheep x Merino (ML x M), with their flock structures in equilibrium, were evaluated with each other over their lifetime. The FL x M was the most efficient cross followed by the T x M, BL x M, C x M, BdM x M and ML x M. Results indicate that size and other individual components of productivity are not reliable indicators of total production or efficiency of production.

Die doeltreffendheid van vleisproduksie ten opsigte van kilogram lam gespeen per kilogram metaboliese massa van ooie by paring, van ses verskillende F1-kruispopulasies, nl. Finse Landras x Merino (FL x M), Border Leicester x Merino (BL x M), Bleu de Maine x Merino (BdM x M), Texel x Merino (T x M), Cheviot x Merino (C x M) en Merino Landskaap x Merino (ML x M), met hul kuddestrukture in ekwilibrium, is oor hul leeftyd met mekaar vergelyk. Die FL x M was die doeltreffendste kruising gevolg deur die T x M, BL x M, C x M, BdM x M en ML x M. Die resultate dui aan dat grootte en individuele komponente van produktiwiteit nie 'n getroue weergawe van totale produksie of doeltreffendheid van produksie is nie.

Keywords: Crossbreeding, growth, reproduction, sheep, survival, total production.