Early growth and reproduction of exotic sheep breeds - a
preliminary report
W.H. McMillan, I.C. Malthus, J.N. Clarke and N.C. Amyes
Whatawhata Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, Hamilton; Hopu Hopu Animal Quarantine Station, Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton and Ruakura Agricultural Centre,
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1988, 48: 49-52
Growth and hogget reproduction were recorded in Texel, Oxford
Down (Oxford) and Finnish Landrace (Finn) purebreds and crosses born in
1985, 1986 and 1987. Border Leicester and Suffolk cross hoggets were
included in 1986 and Suffolk cross, Coopworth and Perendale hoggets in
1987. Amongst the purebreds, Oxfords were heavier at weaning than
Texels and Finns (100: 92: 89), and as yearlings (100: 93: 88). Amongst
the crossbreds born in 1986, Oxfords were heaviest at weaning with
Texel, Border Leicester and Suffolks intermediate and Finn crosses the
lightest (100: 97: 96: 95: 92). The yearling weight rankings for these 5
crosses were 100: 98: 94: 93: 88.
Following entire joining in May after treatment with progesterone
impregnated controlled internal drug releasers and pregnant mare serum
gonadotrophin, the number of lambs born per hogget joined were, for 1985
and 1986 born purebreds, 1.40 and 1.11 in Finns; 0.76 and 0.96 in Texels
and 0.21 and 0.51 in Oxfords. Amongst the 1986 born crosses, Finns
ranked highest (1.31 lambs per hogget), Border Leicester, Suffolk and
Texel crosses were intermediate (0.61 to 0.65) and Oxfords lowest
(0.44).
These findings highlight the role of Oxfords for early growth rate and
Finns for exceptionally high early reproduction rate.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Finnish Landrace; Texel; Oxford Down; hogget reproduction;
growth; exotic sheep
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Last Updated 18-03-1997
