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Breed Crosses used in the Development of Targhee Sheep

United States Department of Agriculture¹

Abstract

Data on weaning weight, staple length, type, condition, face covering and neck folds were studied on 599 Targhee lambs and 415 breed-cross lambs at the U. S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, Idaho. Also data on yearling grease fleece weight, staple length, body weight, type, condition, face covering and neck folds were studied on 439 Targhee ewes and 262 breed-cross ewes. In addition, available data from some of these ewes on clean yield, clean fleece weight and commercial grade of fleece were examined. Breed crosses were compared with Targhees to determine their suitability for foundation Targhee breeding.

ColumbiaxRambouillet ewes excelled in body weight, type, condition, fleece weight, and open face but were deficient in staple length and freedom from neck folds. RambouilletxCorriedale ewes excelled in staple length, yearling weight, fleece weight, and freedom from folds, but were deficient in type, condition and face covering. Both of these crosses produced grades of fleeces which were fairly typical of Targhees. These crosses complement each other in that one is strong in the traits in which the other is weak.

Crosses of Targhee rams on Corriedale and Lincoln-Rambouillet ewes produced ewes which were equal to or better than Targhees in most traits. These crosses produced exceptional length of staple but more of their fleeces were classified in coarser grades than were fleeces of Targhees.

The cross of Targhee rams on Rambouillet ewes was least satisfactory for production of Targhees. This cross was inferior to Targhees in every trait at weaning. Yearling body weight, type and condition were better than Targhees, although the shorter staple, more covered faces, and greater degree of neck folds persisted. The yearling fleeces graded definitely finer than Targhees.

¹ U. S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, Idaho.

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