ABSTRACT
This study was conducted at Bier- Alghanem Experiment Station, 80 km South
West Tripoli. The aim was to assess the growth traits of Local breeds; Mahali (M),
Targhi (T), Tibawy (Tb)); imported Breeds; Cyprus Damascus (D), Murciano
Granadina (S)), Reciprocal Crosses of Local breeds, and crosses of Mahali breed with
imported breeds. Traits studied included birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW),
yearling weight (YW) and daily gain until weaning (DGW). Analysis of variance (SAS
GLM) was used to analyze the data. The model included: Year, type of birth, sex, and
breed or type of crossing where all managed as fixed effects. The results indicated
significant effect of year, sex and type of birth (P < 0.05). Local breeds showed no
significant differences in pre-weaning traits but post weaning traits were significantly
different (P < 0.05). The reciprocal crosses of local breeds and those of Mahali with
imported breeds showed differences indicating maternal and genetic maternal effects.
Large variation within the crosses indicated differences within each breed and that
selection within pure breeds could improve the crosses.