Meat productivity and interior features of mongrel lambs (½ Kalmyk fat tailed + ½ Dorper) at intense feeding

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the efficiency of crossing the ewes of Kalmyk fat tailed breed with the rams of the Dorper breed to create a new genotype of the purebred sheep, as well as to assess the productive qualities and interior features of the first generation cross breed during intensive feeding in the conditions of the arid zone of Kalmykia. It was established that the crossbred rams have the best feed-efficiency by the body weight gain. In two months of feeding they consumed less dry matter per 1 kg of the body weight gain than the purebred animals by 2.11 kg, energetic feed unit (EFU) – by 2.17, exchange energy – by 21.67 MJ, crude protein – by 354.26 g. The cross breed of the experimental group showed a significantly higher content of total protein, alkaline phosphatase, AST and ALT enzymes transamination in the blood and serum during all periods of the study indicating the activation of redox processes in animals. The crossbred rams significantly surpassed their purebred herdmates in terms of preslaughter body weight by 11.07 kg, chilled carcass weight – by 5.37 kg, slaughter weight – by 5.18 kg, boneless meat weight in carcass – by 4.86 kg, loin eye area – by 3.54 cm2.