Productivity of comeback and australian meat merino sheep of stavropol breed in the volga region

Abstract

The study was conducted in ZAO "Novaya Zhizn” in Saratov region. Stavropol breed ewes of the local population were inseminated with sperm of highly productive half-blood Australian meat Merino rams, as a result there was received 1/4AMM+3/4ST offspring. Then these sheep were bred inter se. Productivity indicators were studied in the resulting offspring under one year of age and at the age 13-14 months. After that backcrossing of 1/4AMM+3/4ST with Stavropol breed was performed, as a result, there was received 1/8AMM+7/8ST offspring, productivity indicators were studied in the animals under one year of age and at the age 13-14 months. After that the productivity indicators were determined through consolidation by selecting crossbred 1/8AMM+7/8ST sheep, the experimental data on the use of the genotype of Australian meat Merino in the local Stavropol population were analyzed and summarized. The body weight of 1/8АММ Stavropol breed gimmers was 7.67% (P > 0.999) higher than the body weight of their purebred herdmates. The shearing of greasy wool from the crossbred gimmers was 5.97% higher (Р > 0,999), the shearing of pure wool was 1.46% higher. The wool with almost the same amount of mechanical impurities was less greasy (26.3 and 24.6%, respectively), had lower iodine value (21.9 and 20.5 units, respectively) and was more cream-colored. Thus, 1/8 hybrids at the age of 13-14 months showed high rates of wool quality and body weight in comparison with purebred animals.