Results of crossing Uzbek fine-wool ewes with Dagestan fine-wool rams

Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Poultry, 100140 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

^* Corresponding author: doniyoraqnazarov@mail.com

Abstract

This study evaluated the growth performance of F1 crossbred lambs from Dagestan breed rams crossed with meat-wool ewes, comparing them to purebred meat-wool lambs across all developmental stages. The F1 hybrids demonstrated superior live weight at all measured intervals: birth (4.36 kg vs 4.24 kg), 1 month (14.24 kg vs 13.97 kg), 3 months (25.70 kg vs 24.71 kg), 5 months (35.46 kg vs 33.86 kg), 8 months (37.48 kg vs 35.79 kg), and 12 months (41.59 kg vs 38.59 kg), showing consistent advantages in absolute growth. Body measurements of F1 crossbred rams significantly exceeded purebred counterparts in all parameters: height at withers (66.39 cm vs 65.00 cm), body length (67.89 cm vs 66.72 cm), chest width (28.0 cm vs 27.25 cm), chest depth (31.49 cm vs 31.00 cm), chest circumference (103.35 cm vs 102.18 cm), and rump circumference (8.30 cm vs 8.28 cm). These results demonstrate that Dagestan breed crossbreeding consistently enhances both growth rates and body conformation in meat-wool sheep populations, regardless of gender.