engleski

Lamb fattening and carcass characteristics of Croatian crossbred dairy sheep

In the Mediterranean region of the Republic of Croatia, a programm of genetic creation of domestic dairy sheep has been carried out. The program was based on free breeds: autochtonous Istrian Pramenka (IP) and imported Sardinian (S), as well as East Friesian (EF) breeds. In this paper fattening and sloughtery characteristics of lambs, crosbreds of the breeds mentioned, have been investigated. The aim was to check the possibilities of new sheep type in production of meat which is after milk a secondary product. For the sake of comparison a meat-wool German Domestic Merino breed (GDM) was also introduced in the investigation. In total 40 male lambs were included in the trial. They 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 IPSxEF and IPSxGDM crossbred lambs manifested approximately similiar level of average daily weight gain (297g and 299g, respectively) being statistically significantly higher (P<0, 05) compared to the level of the same characteristics in lambs of IPSxS genotype. During fattening period the lambs of the first genotypes manifested also a lower NU (nutrition units) consumption for 1kg 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. Sloughter efficiency as well as most of the mesaures of body development were in the lambs with IPSxF and IPSxGDM genotypes about equal and generally on the higher level compared to the lamb with IPSxS genotype. The establish indicate the justification of using of the East Friesian breed (EF), which in the programme of genetic creation of dairy sheep, should contribute not only to increase the milking capacity but also to meat production as a secondary product.

sheep; crossbreeding; lamb-fattening; carcass

nije evidentirano