Welcome to Acta Prataculturae Sinica ! Today is Share:

Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3): 186-197.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023157

Previous Articles    

Comparative analysis of growth performance, meat productivity, and meat quality in Hu sheep and its hybrids

Rui ZHANG1,2,3(), Xue-jiao AN1,2,3, Jian-ye LI1,2,3, Zeng-kui LU1,2,3, Chun-e NIU1,2,3, Zhen-fei XU4, Jin-xia ZHANG4, Zhi-guang GENG4, Yao-jing YUE1,2,3(), Bo-hui YANG1,2,3()   

  1. 1.Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Lanzhou 730050,China
    2.Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Lanzhou 730050,China
    3.Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Lanzhou 730050,China
    4.Qingyang Research Institute of Agricultural Sciences,Qingyang 745000,China
  • Received:2023-05-09 Revised:2023-07-17 Online:2024-03-20 Published:2023-12-27
  • Contact: Yao-jing YUE,Bo-hui YANG

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the differences in the growth performance, meat productivity, and meat quality of Hu sheep and their hybrids with Southdown and Poll Dorset. Sixteen male lambs, about 3 months old, of Hu×Hu (HH), Southdown×Hu (NH) and Poll Dorset×Hu (TH) F1 generation sheep were selected and raised in individual pens under the same nutritional levels and management conditions. The feeding experiment lasted for 95 days (including a 15-day pre-test period). Feed intake was determined daily from the beginning of the experiment, and body weight and body size were measured every 20 days. Seven sheep close to the average weight of the group were slaughtered at the end of the feeding experiment to measure slaughter performance, carcass traits, and meat quality to further evaluate breeding benefits. The results showed that: 1) The body weights of the TH and NH F1 generation sheep were significantly higher than that of the HH sheep during the whole experimental period (P<0.05). Compared with the HH sheep, the TH F1 generation sheep showed a significantly higher average daily gain weight, with a lower feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Compared with the HH sheep, the TH and NH F1 sheep showed a significantly lower body height and significantly higher heart girth and cannon circumference at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). 2) Compared with the HH sheep, the TH and NH F1 generation sheep showed significantly higher live weight, carcass weight, and net meat weight; the NH F1 generation sheep showed a significantly higher dressing percentage and significantly lower GR value; and the TH F1 generation sheep showed a significantly higher loin eye area (P<0.05). 3) The meat pressing loss was significantly lower for the NH F1 generation sheep than for the HH sheep, while the cooking percentage was significantly higher for NH F1 generation sheep than for HH and TH F1 generation sheep (P<0.05). The protein contents in meat were significantly higher in the NH and TH F1 generation sheep than in the HH sheep (P<0.05). 4) The value of the TH and NH F1 generation sheep (¥320.72 and ¥318.05, respectively) was higher than that of HH sheep (¥249.33), indicating a breeding benefit of ¥71.39 and ¥68.72 for the TH and NH hybrid sheep, respectively. In conclusion, compared with HH sheep, the hybrid sheep showed stronger growth (hybrid vigor), a lower feed conversion ratio, improved meat quality, and increased meat palatability and nutritional value. Thus, hybrid breeding benefits the competitiveness of the local sheep industry.

Key words: Hu sheep, Southdown×Hu F1 generation, Poll Dorset×Hu F1 generation, growth performance, meat productivity, meat quality