Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Some Sudan Desert Sheep Ecotypes and their Crosses

The present study aimed to evaluate feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of lambs from some pure-bred Sudan Desert sheep ecotypes: Dubasi (DU), Shugor (SH), Watish (WA); and their crosses, Dubasi x Watish (DU x WA), Dubasi x Shugor (DU x SH) and Shugor x Watish (SH x WA). Crossbred lambs (DU x WA, DU x SH, and SH x WA) took a shorter duration to attain the target live weight of 40 kg compared with pure-bred lambs (DU, SH, and WA). Daily gain was greater in SH x WA lambs and was lowest in DU lambs. Dry matter intake was greater in crossbred than pure-bred lambs. Feed conversion efficiency was superior in crossbred than in pure-bred lambs. Hot and cold carcass weights were heaviest in SH lambs and lightest in SH x WA lambs. Crossbred lambs DU x WA and SH x DU had more muscles, SH lambs had more bone and WA lambs had more fat. Fat depots were significantly (P<0.05) heavier in WA lambs compared to other lambs types.