Weight gain and feed conversion of crossbred lambs in the state of Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of genotype on growth rate and feed conversion of crossbred lambs in Sobral, state of Ceará, Brazil. analyses were carried out on data of twenty-four F, rams lambs weaned at 112 days of age, born from crossbreeding between Santa Inês (control), Ile-de-France, Texel, Hampshire Down, Suffolk rams and common tropical ewes of the state of Ceará. Before slaughtering, they were allocated during 166 days in barns and fed chopped napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum, plus a concentrate composed by grounded corn (65%), soybean meal (31%), bicalcic phosphate (1%) and sodium cloride (3%). Lambs sired by Suffolk, Texel and Ile-de-France rams had final weight and total weight gain higher (P < .10) than the control group. The daily weight gain was higher than that of the control (P < .05) only in those products of Texel. Dry matter consumption and feed conversion were not different between genotypes (P > .05). Data suggest that Suffolk, Texel and Ile-de-France rams can be used to improve the slaughter weight. In addition, the Texel rams can improve the growth rate of F₁, lambs at slaughter, in the state of Ceará, Brazil.