Evaluation of Growth Performance of Local and Dorper × Local Crossbred Sheep in Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The present study was performed to evaluate the on-station growth performance of local and Dorper × local crossbred sheep in eastern Amhara region, Ethiopia. Data on 302 lambs collected over a 4-year period (2009 to 2012) on local and Dorper × local crossbred sheep at Sirinka breeding, evaluation and distribution site were used in this study. Fixed effects considered were breed, lamb sex, birth season, birth type and birth year. Results revealed that breed was a significant source of variation that crossbred lambs consistently weighed more than the local sheep lambs at all ages. The mean birth weights of local and crossbred lambs were 2.36 ± 0.05 and 3.24 ± 0.04 kg, respectively. Sex was an important source of variation at weaning, six months and yearling of ages in which male lambs were superior over their female contemporaries. Lambs born in dry season were heavier than lambs born in wet season at six months (20.51±0.34 kg vs. 16.74±0.59 kg) and at yearling (31.12±0.38 kg vs. 27.72±0.82 kg). Single-born lambs were heavier (P