The aim was to evaluate the pre-weaning productive performance and growth curve of Dorper*Katahdin (DPr; n = 46), Kathadin*Kathadin (KTn; n = 204) and Romanov*Kathadin (RMv; n = 40) of commercial crossed lambs from central Mexico. We considered 1450 data from 290 crossbred lambs. The variables contemplated in this study were cross (CR), lambing type (LT), sex, birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), test days (TD), and daily weight gain (DWG). Correlation analysis and adjustment of growth curve were performed. Differences in CR and sex were found only in BW (p < 0.05). No differences in DWG, WW, and TD (p > 0.05) by CR and sex were found. Single lambing had the highest (p < 0.05) BW, WW, and DWG. Phenotypic correlations differ among crosses. Lambs crossed with DPr presented the highest values in parameters a and b and the lowest in c. The productive behavior of DPr, KTn, and RMv cross with KTn lambs in central Mexico is similar in the pre-weaning period; however, the growth curve and parameters that characterize it suggest that DPr lambs show a tendency to enhance productive behavior in this period.
Keywords: Crosses; Genetic improvement; Intensive system; Ruminants; Sheep.
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