WEIGHT-GAIN AND FEED CONVERSION OF CROSSB RED LAMBS IN THE STATE OF CEARA, BRAZIL

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of genotype on growth ra te and feed conversion of crossbred lambs in Sobral, state of Ceara, B razil, analyses were carried out on data of twenty-four F1 rams lambs weaned at 112 days of age, born from crossbreeding between Santa Ines (control), Ile-de-France, Texel, Hampshire Down, Suffolk rams and comm on tropical ewes of the state of Ceara. Before slaughtering, they were allocated during 166 days in barns and fed chopped napier grass (Penn isetum purpureum) ad libitum, plus a concentrate composed by grounded corn (65%), soybean meal (31%), bicalcic phosphate (1%) and sodium clo ride (3%). Lambs sired by Suffolk, Texel and Ile-de-France rams had fi nal weight and total weight gain higher (P < .10) than the control gro up. The daily weight gain was higher than that of the control (P < .05 ) only in those products of Texel. Dry matter consumption and feed con version were not different between genotypes (P > .05). Data suggest t hat Suffolk, Texel and Ile-de-France rams can be used to improve the s laughter weight. In addition, the Texel rams can improve the growth ra te of F1 lambs at slaghter, in the state of Ceara, Brazil.