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This study was performed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In order to improve its low milk and reproduction yields, Cyprus Native Sheep was crossbred with Chios and Awassi rams. The survival and growth of Cyprus born crossbred lambs [Awassi x Cyprus Native (F1) and Chios x Cyprus Native (F1) and fertility and milk yield of crossbred ewes were compared. The terms “AF1” and “SF1” will be used respectively for Awassi X Cyprus Native (F1) and Chios X Cyprus Native (F1) cross breeds.
The survival rates of AF1 and SF1 lambs at 90th day of age were 95.89% and 93.42%, respectively. In terms of the growth characteristics, the average birth weights of AF1 and SF1 lambs were 4.59 kg and 4.48 kg and 90th day weights were 27.79 kg and 26.75 kg, respectively. In the study, average live weight values of AF1 and SF1 ewes before mating were 57.10 kg and 54.79 kg, fertility and single and twin birth rate, lamb rate, litter size and weaned lamb rates according to mated ewe numbers were 88.09%, 67.57% and 32.43% 116.67%, 1.32 and 111.90%; 95.35%, 39.02%, and 43.90%, 17.07%, 117.42, 1.83 and 158.13%, respectively. Lactation length and lactation yields of AF1 and SF1 ewes were 243.73 days, 243.27 days and 116.92 kg and 197.10 kg, respectively.
In the light of the data showing that F1 lambs had similar survival and growth rates in both genotypes and SF1 ewes had higher milk yields, SF1 genotype was thought to be more suitable to be used as maternal line in commercial crossbreeding.