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RUMINANT LIVESTOCK GENETIC RESOURCES IN CYPRUS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

A. Constantinou
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Summary

Friesian cattle, Chios sheep and Damascus goats have become dominant livestock breeds in Cyprus. Chios sheep were found to be superior to the indigenous Cyprus FatTailed and the imported Awassi with respect to precocity, fertility and prolificacy. Awassi performed very well with regard to milk yield and lamb viability. Crossbreds were more or less intermediate. Crosses of Chios with Cyprus Fat-Tailed have contributed substantially to the improvement of milk and meat production from sheep in the country.

Damascus goats are very good in litter size and milk yield; a specific strain of the indigenous goat also appears to be a valuable genotype.

Resume

Les bovins Frisons, les ovins Chios et les caprins Damas sont devenus des races dominantes à Chypre. Les ovins Chios se sont révélés superieurs à la rae indigène chypriote d'ovins à grosse queue et aux Awassi importés, en ce qui concerne la précocité, la fécondité et la prolificité. Les Awassi ont d'excéllentes performances du point de vue du rendement en lait et de la viabilité des agneaux. Les produits de croisement sont plus ou moins intermédiaires. Les croisements entre Chios et ovins chypriotes A grosse queue ont beaucoup contribué A améliorer la production de lait et de viande ovine dans le pays.

Les caprins Damas sont très intéressants pour la taille des portées et le rendement en lait; une souche spécifique de chévre indigène semble aussi atre un génotype intéressant.

Resumen

El vacuno frisón, las ovejas de Kios y las cabras de Damasco se han convertido en las razas de ganado que mgs abundan en Chipre. Se ha descubierto que las ovejas de Kios son superiores a las indigenas de rabo grueso y a las importadas de Awassi en cuanto a su precocidad, fertilidad y prolificidad. Las ovejas Awassi habian dado muy buen resultado en cuanto a la producción de leche y a la viabilidad de las crias. Los cruces presentaban caracteristicas mgs o menos intermedia. El cruce de las ovejas de Kios con las de Chipre de rabo grueso, ha contribuido considerablemente a mejorar la producción de leche y carne de las ovejas del país.

Aspectos muy positivos de las cabras de Damasco son el número de las crias y la producción de leche; existe una casta especial de la cabra indigena que parece ser tambión un genotipo valioso.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1985

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References

REFERENCES

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