Growth performance of purebred Awassi, Morkaraman and Tushin lambs and their crosses under semi-intensive management in Turkey

Growth performance of 168 Awassi (A), Morkaraman (M), Tushin (T) purebred l ambs and their crosses A x M, M x T, A x M and T x M reared under semi-inte nsive management in Turkey were evaluated. The lambs grazed on pasture for 84 days and were provided with a concentrate diet ( 1.5-2.0% of their live weight). Birth weight and average daily weight gain during the pre-grazing period for M, A, T, M x T, A x M and T x M crossbred lambs were 2.91, 3.61, 3.70, 4.30, 2.63, and 3.79 kg and 186, 129, 160, 160, 163, and 168 g, resp ectively. Corresponding estimates were 20, 15, 15, 17, 20 and 19 kg for ini tial fattening weight; 168, 169, 160, 176, 174 and 184 g for average daily weight gain on fattening, and 34, 30, 28, 32, 35, and 34 kg for final fatte ning weight, respectively, The amounts of concentrate consumed per kg weigh t gain in addition to grazing on pasture for purebred and crossbred lambs w ere 1.89, 1.86, and 1.97 and, 1.78, 1.82, and 1.71 kh, respectively. The ge notype of lamb and type of birth significantly affected the birth weight. B esides the genotype and the type of birth, age of dam and sex had a signifi cant influence on the average daily weight gain during the pre-grazing peri od. Average daily weight gain during the fattening period was significantly affected by sex. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.