The performance and dressing percentage of male sheep confined during 80 days before slaughtering at twelve months of age, were evaluated. Sheep were fed with com silage (60.5% dry matter basis) plus concentrate (39.5%). Crude protein of the diet was 17.13%. Thegeneticgroups evaluated were: Hampshire Down (HD), Texel (T), Corriedale (C), Suffolk x Corriedale cross (SC), lle de France x Corriedale cross (IC). The dry matter (DM) comsumption (g/animal/day) of the HD was higher (P < 0.0013) than those of the T, C and IC groups; however, no statistical difference was observed between HD and SC. When expressed as kg/100kg of live weight, DM consumption was similar among the HD, T and C, which, in turn, were lower (P < 0.0093) than those observed for the SC and IC crosses. On the other hand, when DM consumption was expressed as g/metabolic size, there was no difference (P ≥ 0.05) among the genetic groups. Average daily gains were similar for the HD, SC and IC, which were higher (P < 0.0022) than those of the T and C group. DM conversion in live weight gain was statistically similar among genetic groups. Dressing percentage was higher (P < 0.0001) for the HD and similar among the other genetic groups. C and SC had the highest (P < 0.0174) percentage of head, in relation to live body weight while HD had the lowest. The highest (P < 0.004) percentage of feet was for the IC and the lowest for the H D whereas for the other genetic groups it was similar (P ≥ 0.05). The percentage of sheared skin was higher (P < 0.0004) for the C, lower for the HD, and similar among the other groups. No significant difference was found among the genetic groups for the percentage of the digestive tract + internal organs + blood.
Genetic group; confinment; sheep
