Growth Performance and Survival Rates of Un-Weaned F1 German Blackheaded Mutton X Turcana Crossbred Lambs Under Organic Production System

The current research aimed to evaluate the effects of crossbreeding the Romanian native Turcana (TA) sheep breed ewes with meat specialized German Blackheaded Mutton (GB) rams on growth and survival rates in un-weaned F1 crossb red lambs reared under organic production system. At the age of 28 days the crossbred lambs registere d average body weights of 10.1±0.21 kg, while the TA purebreds achieved weights of 8.0±0.147 kg, differences between the two groups being significant (p ≤0.001). Survival rate of the lambs was not affected by genotype (p ≥0.05), both crossbred and purebreds have registered values of 9 1.6±0.04% and 93.9±0.04%, respectively. Throughout crossbreeding the indigenous Turcana ewes with German Blackheaded Mutton rams under organic production system the performance for meat production is significantly improved.