Local sheep production is set to flourish following the launch of genetically improved F1 Sheep Cross Breed which was launched at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Nawaicoba Quarantine Station in Nadi.
While speaking at the launch, the Minister for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy says that the improvement in the genetic make‑up will create impacts such as improved weight gain, reproductive efficiency and better production performance.
Reddy says that F1 Cross Breeds have an average birth weight of 3.5kg compared to 2.68kg in the Fiji Fantastic breed and the release has paved the way for improved sheep genetics and production at the farm level.
120 male breeders and 60 female breeders were released for farmers in the Western Division and the F1 Sheep Cross Breed is a product of cross breeding between Dorper and the Fiji Fantastic Breed.
Dr Reddy has urged farmers to take advantage of this genetic improvement program to improve the current condition of their stock.
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