Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep x Polish Merino. C. Preliminary results of reproductive performance of ewes

The investigations were carried out on the basis of the first three reproductive cycles of ewes born in the same year. The experimental flock consisted of 100 ewes progeny of Polish Merino (PM) dams and F1 rams: Finnsheep (F) x PM; there were also 32 purebred PM used as controls. The crossbred ewes, with 25 % of F genotype, had a much better reproductive performance (117 % vs. 96 % in the PM), mainly due to a much higher prolificacy (152.2 vs. 133.6 %) and improved fertility (by 3.1 %) and the percentage of lambs weaned (higher in the crossbreds by 3.4 %)

Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep x Polish Merino. B. Wool production of ewes

The investigations were carried out on wool of 180 non-selected ewes with 25 % Finnsheep (F) genotype (F x PM x PM) and 51 purebred Polish Merino (PM) ewes as controls. The shearing took place at 23 months of age, after a year’s growth of fleece. Greasy and clean wool production, length and diameter of fibres as well as wool character evaluated by subjective appraisal were recorded. Crossbred ewes had a slightly lower greasy wool production (F x PM x PM—4.0 kg, PM—4.3 kg), but a much higher rendement (60.2 and 51.2 % resp.) and a little higher clean wool yield 2.38 versus 2.20 kg. Wool of the crossbreds was longer (11.4 vs 10.5cm) and coarser (24.8 vs 23.9 pm), but had a poorer character 14.9 vs 16.0 points

Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep X Polish Merino. A. Semi-intensive fattening of ram-lambs up to 40—45 kg

The investigations were carried out to evaluate fattening ability, carcass quality and wool production of semi-intensively fattened ram lambs the progeny of F1 rams: Finnsheep (F) x Polish Merino (PM) mated to PM ewes. Two experiments were performed, on a total of 73 crossbreds and 73 purebred PM lambs. The lambs were housed together in a shed and fed farm-produced roughages, supplemented by commercially available concentrates. The crossbred lambs under semi-intensive feeding were found to have similar fattening ability as the purebreds: daily gains F x PM x PM 196 g and PM 191 g, energy consumption per 1 kg of body weight gain 26.1 and 27.0MJ, respectively. Crossbreeding did not affect slaughter value, but the commercial evaluation of live lambs was poorer in the crossbred groups. The tested crossbreds had generally better wool performance: their clean fleece weight was 1.09 kg, while that of the purebreds was 0.98 kg, rendement respectively 59.3 and 53.0 %, fibre length 6.7 and 5.4 cm, while fibre diameter was similar in the both groups

Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep X Polish Merino. A. Semi-intesive fattening of ram-lambs up to 40-45 kg

vokKirjasto Aj-

Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep X Polish Merino. B. Wool production of ewes

vokKirjasto Aj-

Performance of crossbreds of Polish Merino dams with F1 rams: Finnsheep X Polish Merino. C. Preliminary results of reproductive performance of ewes

vokKirjasto Aj-