Lamb fattening and carcass characteristics of Croatian crossbred dairy sheep
1997
Mikulec | K. | Susic, V. | Pipic, R. | Balenovic, T. (University of Zagreb (Croatia). Veterinary Faculty) | Serman, V. | Mikulec, Z. | Maticic, D.
In the Mediterranean region of the Republic of Croatia, a programme of genetic creation of domestic dairy sheep has been carried out. The programme was based on three breeds: autochthonous Istrian Pramenka (IP) and imported Sardinian (S), as well as East Friesian (EF) breeds. A meat-wool German Domestic Merino breed (GDM) was also introduced in the investigation. Lambs were weaned at the age of 36 days and after that fattening period followed until the age of 71 days when the lambs were slaughtered. The IPS x EF and IPS x GDM crossbred lambs manifested approximately similar level of average daily weight gain (297 g and 299 g, respectively) being statistically significantly higher (P0.05) compared to the level of the same characteristic in lambs of IPS x S genotype. During fattening period the lambs of the first two genotypes manifested also a lower NU (nutrition units) consumption for 1 kg of weight gain. At the same time it was established that fattening, based exclusively on the nutrition with concentrate and hay, should not be carried out longer than average age of lambs of 60 days. Slaughtery efficiency as well as most of the measures of body development were in the lambs with IPS x EF and IPS x GDM genotypes about equal and generally on the higher level compared to the lambs with IPS x S genotype.
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