Comparison Investigation of comparison feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of Lori-Bakhtiari and Romanov×Lori-Bakhtiari crossbreeds Lambs

The aim of this experiment was to compare the feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of Lori Bakhtiari and Romanov×Lori-Bakhtiari crossbreed lambs. Forty-four Lori-Bakhtiari lamb and Forty-four Romanov×Lori-Bakhtiari lambs were used in a completely randomized design and using a factorial method (2×2) during two consecutive years. The average daily gain and daily feed intake were determined by individual weaning of each animal and then feed conversion ratio was calculated. Carcass characteristics of lambs were measured. The results showed that average daily gain during fattening period (212.1vs. 179.6 g), final fattening weight (52.12 vs. 48.26 kg), feed intake, carcass weight and fat tail percentage in Lori Bakhtiari lambs were greater than Romanov× Lori Bakhtiari crossbred lambs. The average daily gain before weaning (298.4 vs. 266.8 g), the average daily gain during fattening period (217.2 vs. 161.9 g), and feed conversion ratio (7.62 vs. 9.75) in male lambs was better than female lambs (p < 0.05). Fat tail percentage and total carcass fat content in male lambs were higher than that of female lambs (p < 0.05). It is concluded that, Romanov×Lori Bakhtiari crossbred lambs had higher performance than Lori Bakhtiari lambs before weaning. However, fattening period performance and carcass weight in Bakhtiari lambs were higher compared to Romanov×Lori Bakhtiari crossbred lambs. In addition, energy spent per kg of carcass and live weights in Bakhtiari lambs was lower than Romanov×Lori Bakhtiari crossbreds. Therefore, it can be concluded that the indigenous Bakhtiari sheep breed is more useful for fattening than that of Romanov×Lori Bakhtiari crossbreds in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.