Crossbreeding Balouchi Sheep with Romanov: A Profitable Strategy to Improve Litter Size, Lamb Growth, and Carcass Characteristics

Crossbreeding in sheep is strategically used to improve production and reproduction, especially when pastures have low quality. The objective of this study was to compare growth performance, birth and weaning body weights, and survivability between purebred Balouchi (n=53) and crossbred Balouchi × Romanov (n=114) lambs. In addition, carcass characteristics (n=24) were determined. Balouchi ewes were inseminated with Romanov semen to produce crossbred lambs. All experimental lambs were weaned at 77 d of age and slaughtered at 10 months of age. Birth body weight of the purebred Balouchi lambs was significantly greater than that of the crossbred lambs (3.75 vs. 3.56 kg, P 0.01). However, weaning body weight (16.6 vs. 12.4 kg) and average daily gain from birth until weaning (152.2 vs. 126.0 g/d) and slaughter (125 vs. 95 g/d) were greater (P 0.05) for the crossbred lambs than for the purebred lambs. Slaughter body weight at 10-month age (36.9 vs. 36.1 kg) tended to be greater (P=0.08) for the crossbred lambs. Litter size was also increased by crossbreeding (1.13 vs. 1.00), but lamb survivability was not different between the two groups. The fat-tail-free carcass yield tended to increase with crossbreeding. Crossbreeding increased (P 0.05) the weights of testis (0.24 vs. 0.16 kg), liver (0.61 vs. 0.52 kg), heart (0.15 vs. 0.12, kg), and lung (0.47 vs. 0.40 kg), while it decreased the weights of skin (3.16 vs. 3.72 kg), fat-tail (0.30 vs. 1.29 kg), and total internal fats (1.08 vs. 2.06 kg). It is concluded that crossbreeding Balouchi ewes with Romanov’s semen resulted in improved litter size, weaning and slaughter body weights, average daily gains from birth until weaning and slaughter, and carcass characteristics without affecting lamb survivability. Therefore, crossbreeding can be a profitable strategy to increase lamb (meat) production in Balouchi sheep.