Productivity of Timahdit and D’man x Timahdit Crossbred Ewes in Station and in Farms in Morocco

Abstract

The productivity of Timahdit and D’man x Timahdit (DxT) crossbred ewes was compared in station and in four private farms that practiced terminal crossbreeding. Ten DxT pregnant ewes born at the station were given to each farmer. The study focused on 131 reproductive performances of Timahdit and DxT ewes, and 188 growth performances and survival rates of lambs born from the crossbreeding between the ewes and Ile-de-France rams. Litter traits of DxT ewes were higher than those of Timahdit ewes, except for the litter weight at 70 days. Litter size at birth, at 70 days and litter weight at birth of DxT ewes were 0.49 lamb, 0.32 lamb and 0.29 kg, respectively, higher than those of Timahdit ewes. However, these differences were higher in private farms than in station. Litter weights at 70 days of both genetic types were not statistically different. With regard to lamb growth, the breed type of the dam affected the weight only at 70 days. Lambs born from Timahdit dams weighed on average 2.6 kg more than those born from DxT dams. This difference was higher in station (3.30 kg) than in private farms (1.6 kg). It was concluded that in general performances of DxT ewes were higher than those of Timahdit ewes, usually used as dam breed in terminal crossbreeding.

Keywords

• Ovin
• Brebis D’man x Timahdite
• Produit de croisement
• Productivité
• Performance de reproduction
• Poids
• Maroc