Abstract
The article presents the results of a comparative assessment of the growth, development and meat productivity of young Volga-Grad fine-fleeced sheep and crossbreeds obtained as a result of crossing Volgograd fine-fleeced sheep with sheep of the Akzhaik meat and wool breed of the Saltanat farm. The differences between the groups in terms of body weight are explained by the breed characteristics of the paternal forms of animals and the manifestation of heterosis. Thus, sheep from Akzhaik producers outnum-bered sheep from producers of the Vogograd breed in live weight by 9.1% (P<0.05), by 2.1% when chipped, and by 5.2% in 8 meat products (P<0.05). The yearlings, respectively, outperformed at birth by 0.4 kg or 9.8% (P<0.05), at 8 months by 1.6 kg or 5.8% (P<0.01). Body measurements and body indices characterizing the severity of meat content show the superiority of young animals from the Akzhaik breed over the offspring of producers Volgograd breed. To study meat productivity, control slaughterings of sheep aged 4 and 8 months were carried out. At the same time, in terms of slaughter weight, the superiority of offspring from Akzhaik sheep was noted by 1.27 kg or 5.8%.