Abstract :
The present study aimed to evaluate the performance, survivability and carcass traits of
crossbred lambs. Data from 299 lambs born to 209 ewes were used. The dams were from a
local hair breed (Santa Inês) and five breeds of sires were used: Dorper (DR), Ile de France
(IF), Hampshire Down (HD), Texel (TX) and Santa Inês (SI). The lambs were weighed at birth,
weaning and slaughter. Fasting body weight, skin thickness, hot and cold carcass weight,
carcass yield and carcass length were measured at slaughter. Carcasses were separated
into commercial cuts: neck, shoulder, rib, belly, loin and leg. Leg length and circumference
were measured. Analyses of variances using MIXED procedure in SAS® were carried out
for weights and carcass traits. Factor, discriminant and canonical analysis were carried out.
Mortality data of animals from birth until slaughter was analyzed using logistic regression.
The HD animals had the highest mortality rate. TX lambs had similar growth rate and survivability
compared to DR and IF and had better carcass traits than these genetic groups.
Therefore, this breed can be used as paternal breed to crossbreeding with Santa Inês dams.
Santa Inês animals did not differ in growth from birth until slaughter compared to crossbred
animals, which highlights the potential of this naturalized breed for meat production.
Moreover, there is a great variability inside this breed for carcass and growth traits which
may undergo great improvement through selection programs.
