Adaptability of breeds of rams and breed-types of range ewes to market lamb production in Kansas.

Abstract

Western ewes of the three predominant types (Texas ewes or finewools, Northwest Blackface Crossbreds, and' Northwest Whiteface Crossbreds) commonly found in Kansas were obtained as ewe lambs in the fall of 1951 and bred to Hampshire, Suffolk, Shropshire, and Southdown rams for five seasons. A different set of rams has been used each year, and the ewes have been rotated so that they were bred to a different breed of ram each year. Lamb and wool production records have been kept on the different types of ewes, and lamb production figures have been obtained for the four sire groups.