Birth Weights and Average Daily Gain in Hothouse Lamb Production

Abstract

This study was largely a comparison of birth weights and average daily gains on 10 different kinds of breeding used in hothouse lamb production and indicates that the [Dorset × (Corriedale-Merino)] cross is the largest at birth and gains the fastest of all lambs studied. This cross also had a very high percentage of high quality carcasses. The study also showed that the three breed crosses are more desirable than the two breed crosses. It was found, also, that the purebred Hampshire lambs compare very favorably with the three breed crosses. However, as a general practice, Hampshires are not used extensively in hothouse lamb production because of the fact that they will not normally breed in May, June, and July in this area. The three mutton type rams studied in the report rank in the order of Dorset, Hampshire, and Southdown. The results show that the Southdown ram does not sire as large a lamb as the Hampshire or Dorset rams, nor do the lambs gain as fast, but the pedigreed Southdown ram does sire lambs of more finish and quality that sell for a higher price.