Lamb and milk production in Awassi, Assaf, Booroola-Awassi and
Booroola-Assaf sheep in Israel
E. Gootwine, R. Braw-Tal, A. Bor, H. Goot, D. Shalhevet, A.
Zenou
Dairy and Mutton Sheep Department, Institute of Animal Sciences,
A.R.O., The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50-250, Israel
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1992, 52: 203-206
Crossbreeding with Booroola Merino rams was initiated in 1986 in
Israel to transfer the FecB allele to the Awassi (Aw) and the Assaf (As)
dairy breeds to increase their prolificacy. The prolificacy of the F1
ewes was higher by about 0.6 lambs/ewe lambing (P<0.05) over the
prolificacy of Aw and As ewes. Growth rate up to 150 days of age did not
differ between As, ‡As lambs had Merino-type birthcoat. The effect of
the Booroola gene on lamb production in the Aw and the As crosses found
to be similar to its effect in other Booroola crosses. Our results
suggest that some major genes may be involved in controlling the
differences between the Aw and the As and the Booroola in growth, milk
production and birthcoat type.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Awassi; Assaf; Booroola; milk production; prolificacy;
birthcoat; major genes.
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
