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This study was carried out to investigate the effects of German Black-Headed Mutton (GBM) used as a sire line on the growth and survival characteristics of the three-way crossbred lambs in comparison with Kıvırcık and Turkish Merino lambs.
Survival rates of the three-way crossbred (GBM x F1 (Chios x Kıvırcık)), Kıvırcık and Turkish
Merino lambs at 105'h days of age were 92.11%, 86.39% and 93.55% and at 180th days of age were 87.93%. 84.78% and 89.42%. respectively. In terms of the growth characteristics, the birth. 105th day and 180th day weights were 4.34 kg, 32.04 kg and 38.35 kg for slaughter lambs, 3.85 kg. 27.30 kg and 35.33 kg for Kıvırcık lambs and 4.84 kg, 30.81 kg and 41.83 kg for Turkish Merino lambs, respectively.
The results of this study showed that in Marmara Region. German Black-Headed Mutton genotype can be used to get lambs growing faster at early ages by the use of commercial crossbreeding. The use and widening of the commercial crossbreeding method in the region would provide an increase in the lamb meat production and economic income of sheep breeding.