Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China
To address the bottleneck in meat production efficiency within China’s mutton sheep industry, this study established a two-generation crossbreeding program between WHS rams and STH ewes. Hybrid offspring (F1 and BC1) were evaluated for growth performance, slaughter traits, meat quality, and reproduc...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Kai Quan Jun Li Haoyuan Han Kun Liu Huibin Shi Huihua Wang Meilin Jin Wei Sun Caihong Wei |
| author_facet | Kai Quan Jun Li Haoyuan Han Kun Liu Huibin Shi Huihua Wang Meilin Jin Wei Sun Caihong Wei |
| author_sort | Kai Quan |
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| description | To address the bottleneck in meat production efficiency within China’s mutton sheep industry, this study established a two-generation crossbreeding program between WHS rams and STH ewes. Hybrid offspring (F1 and BC1) were evaluated for growth performance, slaughter traits, meat quality, and reproductive performance. The F1 generation exhibited significant improvements over STH in 6-month body weight (52.3 kg, +27.3%), dressing percentage (56.1%, +6.3%), and feed efficiency ratio (FER) of 4.6 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The BC1 generation shows a mixed state of paternal and maternal characteristics and further enhanced these traits, achieving a 6-month body weight of 55.2 kg (+5.4% vs. F1), a dressing percentage of 58.3%, and an optimized gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) of 4.2 (−8.7%). Meat quality parameters, including shear force (32.5 N vs. 41.6 N in F1 vs. STH) and intramuscular fat content (4.5% vs. 3.8% in F1 vs. STH), demonstrated superior tenderness and marbling. Despite a decline in lambing rate (F1: 178%; BC1: 142%), the hybrids combined the dam’s adaptability with the sire’s meat traits, forming a novel germplasm for sustainable mutton production. This study provides a replicable model for balancing genetic improvement and ecological sustainability in central China. |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-90e93d46a0e4462f92babd97816a6ca52025-08-20T03:08:43ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01157107110.3390/ani15071071Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central ChinaKai Quan0Jun Li1Haoyuan Han2Kun Liu3Huibin Shi4Huihua Wang5Meilin Jin6Wei Sun7Caihong Wei8College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaInstitute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaInstitute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaTo address the bottleneck in meat production efficiency within China’s mutton sheep industry, this study established a two-generation crossbreeding program between WHS rams and STH ewes. Hybrid offspring (F1 and BC1) were evaluated for growth performance, slaughter traits, meat quality, and reproductive performance. The F1 generation exhibited significant improvements over STH in 6-month body weight (52.3 kg, +27.3%), dressing percentage (56.1%, +6.3%), and feed efficiency ratio (FER) of 4.6 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The BC1 generation shows a mixed state of paternal and maternal characteristics and further enhanced these traits, achieving a 6-month body weight of 55.2 kg (+5.4% vs. F1), a dressing percentage of 58.3%, and an optimized gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) of 4.2 (−8.7%). Meat quality parameters, including shear force (32.5 N vs. 41.6 N in F1 vs. STH) and intramuscular fat content (4.5% vs. 3.8% in F1 vs. STH), demonstrated superior tenderness and marbling. Despite a decline in lambing rate (F1: 178%; BC1: 142%), the hybrids combined the dam’s adaptability with the sire’s meat traits, forming a novel germplasm for sustainable mutton production. This study provides a replicable model for balancing genetic improvement and ecological sustainability in central China.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1071crossbreedingheterosismeat qualitysmall-tailed Han sheepwhite-headed Suffolk sheep |
| spellingShingle | Kai Quan Jun Li Haoyuan Han Kun Liu Huibin Shi Huihua Wang Meilin Jin Wei Sun Caihong Wei Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China Animals crossbreeding heterosis meat quality small-tailed Han sheep white-headed Suffolk sheep |
| title | Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China |
| title_full | Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China |
| title_fullStr | Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China |
| title_short | Two-Generation Crossbreeding of White-Headed Suffolk and Small-Tailed Han Sheep: Heterosis, Sustainable Production Traits, and Morphological Features in Central China |
| title_sort | two generation crossbreeding of white headed suffolk and small tailed han sheep heterosis sustainable production traits and morphological features in central china |
| topic | crossbreeding heterosis meat quality small-tailed Han sheep white-headed Suffolk sheep |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1071 |
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