Performance of F1 Primiparous German Black-headed Mutton x Turcana Crossbred Ewes under Extensive Management Conditions

Aim of the current research was to evaluate the effects that crossbreeding Romanian indigenous Turcana (TA) eweswith German Black-faced Mutton (GBM) rams have on the body weight and reproduction performances ofprimiparous F1 GBM x TA descendants under extensive management conditions, when put to ram as ewe lambs or asyearlings. The study was initiated in a commercial farm from Timis County, western Romania, and starting autumn2009. At the age of 8 months, F1 crossbred female lambs registered on average 37.6 kg, while averages og 32.2 kgwere achieved by the TA females from the control group (CG), differences between the two genotypes weresignificant (p<0.001). When put to ram as ewe-lambs at the age of 8 months, F1 crossbreds registered a averagefertility rate of 84.0%, compared with 29.4% the females from the CG, differences registered between the two groupswere significant (p<0.01). Data registered in the current study proven that the F1 crossbreds are significantly moreprecocious compared to purebred TA, reared under identical conditions. When put to ram at the age of 18 months,F1crossbred glimmers registered an average prolificacy of 140.0%, compared to 111.7% the females from the CG.GBM sired females grow faster, achieve higher body weights, are more precocious and more prolific compared withpurebred TA females of the same age.