RESULTS FROM ADAPTABILITY TRIAL OF RAMBOUILLET SHEEP AND THEIR CROSSBREEDING WITH KAGHANIS. EFFECTS ON EWE MATING WEIGHT, WOOL PRODUCTION, LITTER SIZE AND LAMB GROWTH

In order to upgrade native sheep, Rambouillet (R) rams were mated to Kaghani (K) ewes to generate F1 ($R{\times}K$) crossbred ewes. Crossbred ewes were backcrossed to Rambouillet rams to produce B1 ($R{\times}F1$), B2 ($R{\times}B1$) and B3 ($R{\times}B2$) genotypes. Weaning weight of 2605 lambs and wool weight of 2378 mature ewe records, representing R, K, F1, B1, B2 and B3 genotypes, were analyzed to compare genetic variation among genotypes produced during upgrading process and identify genotypes of the highest performance. Performance of Rambouillets was also evaluated under semi-temperate climate. Data were adjusted for yearly variation considering Rambouillet as a control. Genotypes influenced lambs weaning weight (p<.01). B1 lambs were heaviest (18.4 kg) followed in order by B2, F1, B3, R and K lambs (18.3, 17.9, 16.9, 16.8 and 13.2 kg, respectively). The highest wool production was 2.5 kg from R ewes followed by B2 (2.3), B3 (2.3), F1 (2.0) and K (1.2) ewes (p < .01). Ewe mating weight, reproduction, growth and wool production of Rambouillets deteriorated significantly after the first decade of their importation. Compared with the first phase (1959-1971), ewe mating weight, litter size, birth weight, lamb weaning weight and wool production declined by 20, 23, 32 and 36%, respectively, in the second phase (1972-1988).