Crossbreeding of Three Iranian Sheep Breeds with Respect to Reproductive, Growth and Carcass Characteristics
In Iran, increasing demand for red meat, caused by increasing human population, pasture limitations and increasing cost of production, has become an impetus for sheep producers to change the system of farming and optimise meat production for more efficient output per unit livestock. One way to ac...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2002
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10628/1/FP_2002_37.pdf |
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| Summary: | In Iran, increasing demand for red meat, caused by increasing human
population, pasture limitations and increasing cost of production, has become an
impetus for sheep producers to change the system of farming and optimise meat
production for more efficient output per unit livestock. One way to achieve the latter
goal is by taking advantage of the effect of heterosis from crossbreeding.
Twenty seven rams and 473 ewes of three popular breeds of sheep in Iran,
namely the Chal, Moghani and Zel, were crossed reciprocally. The reproductive
performances of the ewes, and the growth performance, feed conversion ratio and
carcass traits of the offspring, under an intensive system of management, were
studied.
Zel ewes showed higher (P<0.05) overall apparent fertility, reproductivity and
productivity compared Chal and Moghani ewes. |
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