HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kean, G. R. Articles by Henning, W. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kean, G. R. Articles by Henning, W. L.

Birth Weights and Average Daily Gain in Hothouse Lamb Production¹

Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station

Abstract

This study was largely a comparison of birth weights and average daily gains on 10 different kinds of breeding used in hothouse lamb production and indicates that the [Dorset x (Corriedale-Merino)] cross is the largest at birth and gains the fastest of all lambs studied. This cross also had a very high percentage of high quality carcasses. The study also showed that the three breed crosses are more desirable than the two breed crosses. It was found, also, that the purebred Hampshire lambs compare very favorably with the three breed crosses. However, as a general practice, Hampshires are not used extensively in hothouse lamb production because of the fact that they will not normally breed in May, June, and July in this area.

The three mutton type rams studied in the report rank in the order of Dorset, Hampshire, and Southdown. The results show that the Southdown ram does not sire as large a lamb as the Hampshire or Dorset rams, nor do the lambs gain as fast, but the pedigreed Southdown ram does sire lambs of more finish and quality that sell for a higher price.

¹ Authorized for publication on November 23, 1948 as paper No. 1494 in the journal series of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.