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The Effect of Breed of Sire on Body Size of Lambs at Birth¹

Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Blacksburg

Abstract

The production of early milk fat lambs is the most important phase of the sheep enterprise in the native lamb states of central and southeastern United States. In these states grade ewes, either native or crossbred westerns, are bred to rams of the various mutton breeds to produce a desirable market lamb. The native ewes usually are predominantly grade Hampshires. The western ewes are generally crosses of Hampshire, Suffolk, Columbia, or Corriedale rams on grade range ewes of predominantly Rambouillet or Merino breeding. The most popular breeds of rams are Hampshire, Suffolk, Southdown, Shropshire, and Dorset.

Many producers believe that certain breeds of rams sire lambs that are heavier at birth and have proportionally larger heads than certain other breeds, thus causing increased difficulty at lambing. Differences in birth weights due to breed of sire have been reported by Miller (1935); Spencer et al. (1942); Kincaid (1943); Kean and Henning (1949); Blackwell and Henderson (1955) ; and Carter et al. (1957). Miller (1935) and Neville et al. (1958) reported breed of sire differences in other body measurements.

¹ Adapted from a thesis submitted by the senior author to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.

² Present address: The Clemson Agricultural College, Clemson, South Carolina.

³ Formerly Professor of Animal Husbandry; now Southern Regional Coordinator, Beef Cattle Research Branch, Animal Husbandry Research Division, ARS, U.S.D.A., Knoxville, Tennessee.