Comparison on the Growth Performance between F1 Hybrid of Small-tail Han Sheep × Hu Sheep and Small-tail Han Sheep

This experiment was carried out to evaluate heterosis of the F1 hybrid of female Small-tail Han sheep and male Hu sheep in growth performance.The newborn lambs from Small-tail Han sheep and F1 hybrid of Small-tail Han sheep × Hu sheep were used in supplementary feeding (6 to 45 days old ) and fattening (46 to 150 days old) under the same conditions.The results showed that F1 hybrid were extremely significantly higher than Small-tail Han sheep in birth weight,weaning weight,three months weight and five months weight (P < 0.01),which were increased by 20.00%,25.17%,19.92% and 20.42%,respectively.The average daily gain of F1 were also extremely significantly higher than that of Small-tail Han sheep in both supplementary feeding period and fattening period (P < 0.01),the increase were 26.91% and 17.63%,respectively.At 5-month old,body height,chest circumference and cannon circumference of F1 hybrid were extremely significantly higher than that of Small-tail Han sheep (P < 0.01),but the body length had no significant difference (P > 0.05).The diarrhea rate of F1 hybrid was 8.33% lower than that of Small-tail Han sheep,and the survival rate was 5.55% higher.In addition,the economic benefit of F1 hybrid was 69.34% more than that of Small-tail Han sheep at the end of the experiment.The results suggested that the heterosis was obvious,meanwhile the survival rate and pre-slaughter live weight of F1 progenies could be significantly improved.