The effect of suffolk rams on the progeny performance of Lithuanian Blackface sheep
2006
Zapasnikiene, B., Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Baisogala (Lithuania). Inst. of Animal Science
At present, sheep breeding in Lithuania is clearly directed towards breeding of mutton sheep, and the number of sheep is constantly increasing. By 1st January 2006, sheep numbered 43,400 head while by the data of 1st January 2001 there were only 11,500 left. The development of mutton sheep breeding is based on the import of productive sheep of various mutton breeds [5, 8]. Currently, sheep of even 18 breeds, including 13 meat types, are raised in Lithuania. This opens the way for the improvement of the genetic potential of local sheep breeds by blood immigration from more productive and early maturing imported rams [4, 7]. Until now, Lithuanian Blackface and local coarsewooled sheep were mostly used in various studies. Meanwhile, the influence of the imported sheep breeds (in 2003-2004 even 10 breeds were imported) on the performance of local sheep has not been studied. The optimum use of the genetic potential of the imported sheep is very important for the development of mutton sheep breeding in Lithuania, and leads to high animal productivity and production quality in accordance with the EU requirements. In many countries there is the demand to raise more fertile and meaty sheep or to improve them with more productive rams [1, 2, 3, 6, 9]. Semifinewooled Lithuanian Blackface sheep make up the majority of sheep (approx. 16,000) in Lithuania. Pedigree Lithuanian Blackface sheep are raised in one sheep breeding centre and five breeding flocks (over 2,000 sheep). Meanwhile, the first Suffolks (five rams) were imported into Lithuania in 1958 and 118 since 2000 their number has been steadily increasing. Currently there are about 1,000 head. It is important that sheep raised in Lithuania and their production would meet not only local but also foreign market demands. Therefore, the number of lambs with high growth rate and lean meat content should be increasing [10, 11, 12]. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Suffolk rams on the progeny performance of Lithuanian Blackface sheep.
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