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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168752
Title: EVALUATION OF DORSET, FINNSHEEP, ROMANOV, TEXEL, AND MONTADALE BREEDS OF SHEEP: V. REPRODUCTION OF F1 EWES IN SPRING MATING SEASONS

Author
item Casas, Eduardo
item Freking, Bradley - Brad
item Leymaster, Kreg

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2005
Publication Date: 10/8/2005
Citation: Casas, E., Freking, B.A., Leymaster, K.A. 2005. Evaluation of Dorset, Finnsheep, Romanov, Texel, and Montadale breeds of sheep: V. Reproduction of F1 ewes in spring mating seasons. Journal of Animal Science. 83:2743-2751.

Interpretive Summary: We previously reported exceptional reproduction of Romanov-sired crossbred ewes during traditional fall breeding (August, October, and December). However, the seasonal nature of sheep fertility is an important economic constraint of the industry. Length of seasonal fertility largely determines the effectiveness of accelerated systems (three lamb crops in 2 yr or five lamb crops in 3 yr) and annual systems that breed in the spring. An experiment was done to compare fertility rates during March and May breeding of mature crossbred ewes sired by Dorset, Finnsheep, Romanov, Texel, and Montadale rams. Romanov-sired ewes were 59% more productive than Dorset and Finnsheep (breeds commonly used for out-of-season breeding), primarily due to greater fertility rate and prolificacy in both seasons. Efficiency of commercial sheep production could be improved markedly by greater use of Romanov crossbred ewes in maternal roles of terminal crossbreeding systems.

Technical Abstract: Objectives were to estimate effects of sire breed (Dorset, Finnsheep, Romanov, Texel, and Montadale), dam breed (Composite III (CIII) and northwestern whiteface (WF)), mating season (March and May), ewe age (4, 5, and 6 yr) and their interactions on reproductive traits of F1 ewes. A total of 1,099 F1 ewes produced 1,754 litters of 2,995 lambs from exposures to Suffolk rams during March and May mating seasons in 1995 through 1999. Fertility rate and ewe longevity were measured. Number born and litter birth weight were recorded and number and weight at weaning and 20 wk of age were analyzed separately for dam- and nursery-reared litter mates. Total productivity from 4 to 6 yr of age for each ewe entering the breeding flock was calculated as the sum of 20-wk weights for dam- or nursery-reared lambs. Interactions of sire breed x mating season, ewe age x mating season, and ewe age x dam breed were often significant. Interactive effects of sire breed and mating season on fertility rate (P < 0.001) were primarily due to differences in magnitude. Fertility rates of sire breeds for March and May matings, respectively, were 92 and 89% for Romanov, 91 and 72% for Finnsheep, 90 and 52% for Texel, 88 and 52% for Montadale, and 83 and 62% for Dorset. Sire breed x mating season also affected number born (P < 0.03), with March and May values of 2.12 and 2.05 for Romanov, 2.00 and 1.94 for Finnsheep, 1.39 and 1.41 for Texel, 1.37 and 1.51 for Montadale, and 1.37 and 1.55 for Dorset, respectively. Interaction of sire breed x dam breed on fertility rate (P < 0.01) was due to change in rank as well as magnitude. Romanov- and Dorset-sired ewes out of CIII dams had greater fertility rates than Romanov- and Dorset-sired ewes out of WF dams. The opposite situation existed for ewes by Finnsheep, Texel, and Montadale sires. Differences between dam breeds (CIII and WF) in total productivity of dam-reared lambs were not detected, whereas ewes exposed in March (78 kg) were more productive (P < 0.01) than May (68 kg). Means of sire breeds for total productivity of dam-reared lambs were 47, 65, 70, 70, and 111 kg for Texel, Montadale, Dorset, Finnsheep, and Romanov, respectively (P < 0.001). Superior reproduction of Romanov-sired ewes was primarily due to greater fertility rate and prolificacy at each mating season and ewe age. Use of Romanov crossbred ewes would increase fertility during spring mating, an important constraint of the sheep industry.