A comparison of the wether progeny of Border Leicester, Cheviot, and Merino rams mated to Merino ewes.

Border Leicester, Cheviot, and Merino rams mated to Merino ewes were compared in terms of the meat production of their progeny. Each ram breed was joined with approximately 100 Merino ewes in April in the three years 1964-66. Birth weight (P < 0.05) and incidence of lamb deaths (P c<O.Ol) were lower for Merino progeny than for either of the other breeds. Cheviot progeny were superior to Merinos but inferior to those of Border Leicester sires in growth rate, bodyweight at slaughter, carcass weight and financial return per lamb (all P < 0.05). It is concluded that, as prime lamb sires, the Border Leicester rams were superior to the Cheviot rams which were superior to the Merinos.