Abstract
Early growth rates of lambs of four tropical breeds, viz. Barbados Blackbelly, grade Blackbelly, West African and Blackhead Persian were studied and compared. Body weights were recorded at birth and then every three weeks up to 12 weeks of age when the lambs were weaned. Average daily gain was computed and analysed for various period of time. AII lambs were born in October 1974. No information was available on sex and type of birth of lambs. Thus, only effect of breed could be studied. Differences due to breed effects were insignificant for any of the traits studied. The least squares breed means varied from 2·8 to 3·1, and 13·8 to 14·9 kg for birth weight and 12 week weight, respectively, and 127 to 141 g for average daily gain from birth to 12 weeks.
