Sheep Research
Project Title: Evaluation of Terminal Sire Breeds for Hair Sheep Production Systems on Lamb Birth, Weaning & Grazing Performance
Investigator(s): Andrew Weaver, Lee Wright, David Notter, Anne Zajac, Scott Bowdridge and Scott Greiner
Project Summary:
The purpose of the 3 year project was to evaluate the efficacy of terminal sire breeds in hair sheep production systems to produce higher valued market lambs in terms of survivability, growth and parasite resistance.
The conclusion of the study found that Texel sires, when compared to Suffolk and Katahdin sires, provided the best combination of growth and carcass composition, while still maintaining a level of parasite resistance in their progeny.