The relative merit of Dhamari (Burri / Jahrani) and White Bouni (Ansi / Aansi) breeds of sheep in Yemen were examined in straightbred and two-breed combinations at the Agricultural Research & Extention Authority (AREA) under intermountain plains conditions of the central highlands, Dhamar, Repuplic of Yemen. The study conducted for only one genereration during the year 2000. Lambs performance traits studied were birth weight, preweaning average daily gain, weaning weights at 60 and 90 days of age. Pure-bred Dhamari lambs excelled white Bouni straightbred in all traits. Based on both straightbred and crossbred lamb performance, ranking of lambs group in ascending order of merit for birth weight was 1/2 Dhamari (2.75) kg, Dhamari (2.59) kg, 1/2 Bourn (2.42) Kg and Bouni (2.21) kg. The first three groups showed no significant difference among them, while Bouni group (2.21) kg. differed significantly (p<.05) with only the 1/2 Dhamari and Dhamari groups for the same traits. In case of the 90 days lamb weights, the Vi Bouni (13.94) kg seem to be superior to the 1/2 Dhamari (13.76) kg which in turn is superior to Dhamari (13.49) kg but with no statistically significant differences among them while they differed significantly (p<.05) with the Bouni group for the same trait. Individual hetrosis was estimited for all the early growth traits studied. In the 1/2 Bouni group they were 0.83% and 8.31% for birth weight and weaning weight at 90 days of age, respectivily while they, were 14.58% and 7.00% in the 1/2 Dhamari group for the same trait. Only part of the superiority in the crossbred lambs obtained here may be attributed to hetrosis.
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