Crossbreeding and management strategies to optimize maternal and reproductive performance of female sheep, for the production of high quality sheep meat and leather, in the Southeast region of Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian domestic market demands sheep products in quantity and quality. The disponibility of these products can be achieved through the increase in numbers of animals in production and/or the increase in productivity. The usual crossbreeding systems and the formation of composite groups can contribute to increase production efficiency, through heterosis and complementarily. These two factors may also be used to produce the meat wanted by the market (consumers and abattoirs), resulting in technology effectively inserted in the production systems. However, the advantages of crossbreeding depend on the breeds that are crossed and on the production environment; therefore, it is essential to investigate different crossbreeding and management systems in different regions of the country. This project was designed to evaluate genetic resources utilization and management strategies to improve the production of high quality sheep meat and leather in the Southeast region of Brazil. The experiments include crossbreeding strategies and activities in several other areas (bioclimatology, animal behavior, meat science, animal nutrition, animal reproduction and animal health), designed to complement each other, to produce information focused on the efficient production of high quality meat and leather. In middle term, the project should allow the definition of crossbreeding and management of different genetic groups to produce high quality meat and leather. In the long term, it is expected to obtain estimates of additive and heterotic effects and composite groups with high heterosis retention for important economic traits, which will be evaluated, selected and introduced mainly in those small and medium production systems. To do so, crossings among the Santa Ines, Dorper, Ile de France and Texel breeds and management strategies were planned, so that in ten years the evaluations will allow the objectives proposed to be reached. (AU)