effect of sex and genotype on growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of local sheep group Pantaneiro and Texel or Santa Inês crossbred finished on feedlot

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 869 - 875
• Main Authors: de Vargas Junior, Fernando Miranda, Martins, Charles Ferreira, dos Santos Pinto, Guilherme, Ferreira, Marcos Barbosa, de Almeida Ricardo, Hélio, Leão, André Gustavo, Fernandes, Alexandre Rodrigo Mendes, Teixeira, Alfredo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01-06-2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry; animal performance; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Body Composition - genetics; Body weight; carcass characteristics; crossbreds; crossing; Environmental conditions; environmental factors; Feed conversion; Feedlots; Female; females; Genotype; Genotypes; growth performance; Hybridization, Genetic; lambs; Life Sciences; Male; males; Meat; meat cuts; meat production; production technology; Regular Articles; savannas; Sheep - genetics; Sheep - physiology; Texel; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Weaning; weaning weight; Weight Gain - genetics; Weight Gain - physiology; Zoology; Animal performance; Pantaneiro; Breed crosses; Carcass
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-014-0579-4

This study aimed to assess and compare the growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of Pantaneiro sheep and their Texel and Santa Inês crossbreds. Ninety-six lambs, fifty-one males, and forty-five females, with a mean weaning weight of 15.21 ± 1.25 kg and 78 ± 13 days of age, were slaughtered at a 32-kg body weight. The results showed better production efficiency from males compared with females. Texel-crossed lambs had a better growth performance than the other genotypes. The Texel × Pantaneiro lambs were more efficient with a better feedlot performance, higher ribeye muscle area, and better carcass characteristics with an adequate amount of fat cover. Pantaneiro lambs and their crosses with meat breeds could be useful in meat production systems under Savanna environmental conditions.