Estimation of General and Specific Combining Ability and Heterosis in Reciprocal Crosses of Morkaraman, Merino, and Awassi BreedsType

It is aimed to calculate the general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and heterosis estimates for reciprocal crosses of Merino, Morkaraman, and Awassi sheep breeds. The performance data received from Morkaraman, Merino, and Awassi sheep flocks and their crosses kept at the Atatürk University High School farm were analysed for the study. Heterosis values of ewes lambing, number of lambs born and number of lambs weaned per ewe mated were estimated as 5.92%, 5.83%, and 12.71% for Morkaraman * Merino crosses, respectively. Heterosis values of number of lambs born per ewe lambing were calculated as 5.7% for Morkaraman * Awassi; and number of lambs weaned per ewe lambing as 10.68% for Merino X Awassi crosses. Heterosis of greasy fleece weight, body weight at shearing and lactation length were estimated between 11% and 17%, 9% to 12% and 8% to 6% for whole population, respectively. Merino ewes performed a higher GCA, while Merino * Morkaraman crosses had a higher SCA for reproductive traits. Crosses between Merino and Morkaraman breeds gave also higher heterosis estimate, especially for the number of lambs weaned per ewe mated. These crosses can be used to increase the economic standards of this population. Estimates for the GCA and SCA should be considered in planning the breeding strategy of the sheep breeds.