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Lamb Performance and Combining Ability of Columbia, Suffolk and Targhee Breeds of Sheep^{1, 2,}

University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108

Abstract

The Columbia, Suffolk and Targhee breeds were compared as straightbred and single cross combinations for several lamb performance traits. The lambs included in this study were part of a larger experiment designed to assess the relative merits of a specific three-breed crossing system with sheep. Characters studied were birth weight, preweaning average daily gain, weaning weight at 70 days of age, postweaning average daily gain and age at market weight (50 to 55 kg).

Heterosis was not detected in single cross lamb performance for any of the preweaning and weaning traits. Some heterosis was observed for postweaning average daily gain and age at market, amounting to 4.0% and 3.0%, respectively. However, the amount of heterosis was generally not important, particularly when performance of single crosses were compared with the best of the purebreds.

Breed and general combining ability differences were found to exist for all traits studied. The Suffolk breed excelled the other breeds in purebred performance for all traits studied, except that the purebred Targhee was similar to the Suffolk for postweaning growth rate.

¹ Paper No. 8557, Scientific Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with the A.H.R.D., A.R.S., U.S.D.A. as a contribution to the Regional Project NC-50.

² This study was supported by a grant from the Louis W. and Maud Hill Family Foundation.

³ Present address: Laboratorie de Génétique des Petits Ruminants, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 31320 CASTANET — Tolosan, France.