Investigations on improving the meat production of slaughter lambs by crossbreeding studies between Turkish Merino, Chios and Kivircik sheep breeds - 1. Fertility, lamb survival and growth of lambs

Abstract

This study was carried out at Marmara Animal Research Institute in 1998-1999. The aim was to investigate the improvement in lamb production achieved by the use of Turkish Merino rams as a father line for the production of two-way and three-way crossbred slaughter lambs, together with intensive fattening programs. In this first part of the study, the fertility of ewes and the survival and growth characteristics of lambs were taken into consideration.