Analysis of the effect of crossbreeding between Qianhua Mutton Merino and small-tailed Han sheep and Ujumuqin sheep

Qianhua Mutton Merino is a new breed that is ndependently reared in China for both meat and wool. Qianhua Mutton Merino is used to improve the performance of local breeds. Investigating the performance of this breed via an experiment will reveal its germplasm characteristics and promote the meat in major sheep producing areas. Under the same breeding conditions, Qianhua Mutton Merino and Dorper sheep were used as male parents to cross two local breeds, small-tailed Han sheep and Ujumuqin sheep. The growth and development, slaughter performance, and mutton quality of the offspring of the same age were compared. The results showed that the growth rate of the hybrid offspring of Qianhua Mutton Merino and the two local breeds was significantly better than that from other combinations (P < 0.05). The carcass weight, slaughter rate, net meat percentage, and eye muscle area of the 6-month-old and 12-month-old hybrid sheep were higher than those of other combinations of the same age (P < 0.05). The shear strength and muscle fiber diameter of the mutton of 6-month-old and 12-month-old hybrid sheep were significantly lower than those of the hybrid offspring of Dubo and the two breeds (P < 0.05). A comprehensive comparison of growth and development, slaughter performance, and meat quality traits showed that the F₁ generation of Qianhua Mutton Merino with small-tailed Han sheep was superior to that of Ujumuqin sheep. Analysis of the economic benefits of raising improved offspring showed that the offspring from the cross between Qianhua Mutton Merino and small-tailed Han sheep and Ujumuqin sheep increased in economic income by 133.2 and 487.49 yuan, respectively compared with the mother breed, but the increase was more than 100 yuan per sheep compared with the hybrid offspring of Dorper sheep with two local breeds. In summary, Qianhua Mutton Merino improved the quality of small-tailed Han and Ujumuqin sheep. Results of this study will help in the development of the mutton sheep industry and can be widely used as a parent breed for commercial mutton sheep production.