Livestock Studies 1974, Vol 14, Num, 1-2     (Pages: 003-021)

A Comparative Study of Birth Weight, Live Weights, Growth and Lamb Survival of the Kıvırcık and Different Texel Crossbred Lambs at İnanlı Animal Breeding Research Station

Halil ÖZCAN ,Turan AKI

- Texel have been crossed with the Kıvırcık raised at İnanlı Animal Breeding Research Station in order to increase weights and rate of growth since 1970. This study was conducted on 171 Kıvırcık, 124 F1, 34 F2, 91 KG1 and 35 TG1 lambs being obtained in 1973. The F1 crossbreds were obtained by crossing Kıvırcık ewes with Texel rams. The others were as follows:

The lambs have been scaled within 24 hours after lambirg and every 15 days interval until 6 th month significant differences were found beetween the Kıvırcık and the crossbreds in respect of weights. The crossbreds were heavier than the Kıvırcık. The F1 and TG1 were the heaviest in all. Average increases in live weight of lambs from birth up to 6 th mont were greater in the F1 lambs. Male lambs were heavier than females.

Rate of survival up to 6 th mont of age was significantly higher in the Kıvırcık. Lamb mortality was found higher for the crossbreds. Also the highest for F2 KG1 and TG1 in all. Although the F1 lambs were hardier than the other crossbreds, all crosbreds needed favourable environmental conditions. It was noticed that the crossbreds wery very sensitive to parazite diseases, infections, etc. Texel gnotype will be more useful in some parts of thrace having better environmental conditions. Keywords :