The experiment was carried out to study the performance of Corriedale and crossbred lambs from birth to slaughter. Twenty-three Corriedale (C), 25 Bergamácia × Corriedale (BC) and 17 Hampshire Down × Corriedale (HC) lambs were fed on pasture (Cynodon dactylon) or on drylot within a 3× 2 factorial (3 genotypes and 2 finishing systems) in a completely randomized design. The birth weight and daily gain from birth to weaning were not affected by genotype (P>0.05). The daily gain from weaning to slaughter (GPDA) was higher for confined lambs (0.144kg) than for lambs on pasture (0.106kg; P<0.05). The GPDA of the C lambs (0.106kg) was lower than BC (0.136kg) and HC (0.130kg). There were system and genotype effects on the weight gain from birth to slaugther. The drylot and the crossbred lambs had the highest growth rate. The slaugther age was lower (P<0.05) for confined (219 days) than for grazing lambs (258 days). The weight losses from the farm to the slaughter house were higher (P< 0.05) for grazing (5.17%) than for the drylot lambs (3.16%). Therefore, the crossbreeding between Bergamacia and Hampshire Down rams with Corriedale ewes and the drylot system, must be emphasized in similar environment condition, always with prior analysis of the production cost.
Sheep; crossbreeding; drylot; weight gain; production system
