Growth potential of five sheep genotypes in Indonesia

Twenty five ram lambs, 7-8 months old, were used in a 90 day growth trial t o compare performance in Indonesia of five genotypes: Virgin Island St. Cro ix (C), Sumatra (S), CS, Barbados Blackbelly (B)xS (BS), and the composite Sei Putih Hair Sheep (BCS; 25% C, 25% B and 50% S). A high energy, 2.8 Meal ME/kg, 18% CP, concentrate was fed for ad libitum intake with the grass Br achiaria brizantha supplemented at 0.7% body weight (BW). Lambs were indivi dually housed, with daily intakes recorded and determination of BW weekly. ADG of BS (209 g/d), C (196 g/d) and BCS (192 g/d) were not different (P>0. 05) from ADG of CS (179 g/d) but higher (P<0.05) than that of S (155 g/d). Relative growth rate was similar among genotypes (P>0.05), as were efficien cies of growth which ranged from 190 to 208 g gain/kg feed consumed. In con clusion, the Sei Putih Hair Sheep has a relatively high growth potential an d can contribute to increased sheep production in Indonesia. Published by E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd.