Lamb fattening possibilities in mixed flock of sheep

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine daily weight gain of different Wiirtemberg crosses. The experiment was carried out in central part of Vajdaság province, at right and left side of river Tisza in Bácska and Bánság region. In flock of 240 Wiirtemberg ewes 3 genotype of ram were used: Wiirtemberg, lie de France and Charolais. Trial included 60 lambs of three breed and crosses, 20 lambs per each: I. group pure Wiirtemberg, II. group lie de France x Wiirtemberg and III. group Charolais x Wiirtemberg. Average body mass of lambs at the beginning of trial was approx. 12 kg and at the end of the trial approx. 30 kg. The lambs were divided into two groups: indoor and pasture trial group. Lambs of group A were kept exclusively on pasture for fattening, fed by mothers milk and grass. Lambs of group B were kept indoors fed by mothers milk, concentrate mixture and alfalfa hay (ad libitum). During the experiment all lambs in group had same housing and nutrition condition. At the indoor condition the average daily gain of pure Wiirtemberg breed were 290 g for ram and 279 g for ewe lambs. In the case of He de France x Wiirtemberg crosses the daily gain were 313 and 309 g respectively. Charolais x Wiirtemberg crosses showed daily gain of 333 and 300 g per day. In this case the ram and ewe lambs obtained the best daily gain in the group. In the pasture condition the crosses of ram the Charolais x Wiirtemberg show the highest results 271 g while in the case of pure Wiirtemberg breed the result was 226 g/day. The average values of He de France x Wiirtemberg crosses are in the middle with daily gain value of 250 and 243 g/day. Wiirtemberg breed and their crosses at indoor condition have realised higher daily gain average. This confirms the fact that in crossing beside the genetic difference between populations that are being crossed, important factor for better daily gain is also the system of feeding. At indoor and also in outdoor condition the all breed crosses of Charolais x Wiirtemberg lambs got the highest daily gain results. In that case of crossing the Charolais breed has an outstanding effect.