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The current study was conducted in order to evaluate the potential for meat production of the Tsigai sheep, as maternal breed, when crossed with native Palas Meat Breed and imported specialised breeds for meat production, such as Suffolk and German Blackface. The article is a review in which up-to-date results on crossbreeding between the Tsigai sheep and meat sire breeds are being presented. The results were obtained by different authors between 1976 and 2016. The results are presented based on the applied fattening technology and the genotype structure of the lambs. The growth rates and the quality of the meat and of resulting carcasses were superior in all cases in the intensive fattening systems in the crossbred lambs, compared to the Romanian local Tsigai breed.

Research purpose is to obtain information on the development of carcasses obtained from Tsigai race and its hybrids with Suffolk and German blackface breeds. The results showed that hybrids Suffolk x Tsigai and German blackface x Tsigai have made a better form of carcass compared with Tsigai race, being superior with 1.86% to the Suffolk x Tsigai hybrids and 1.48% German blackface x Tsigai hybrids. Regarding the index of carcass compacted, its value is around the value of 100% in all three groups. The best development of the leg of mutton is found at Suffolk x Tsigai hybrids. Value of leg of mutton development index was 203.58% for hybrids with race Suffolk, being superior with 14.91% compared with Tsigai race, while the index value at German blackface x Tsigai hybrids was higher only 4.56% compared to Tsigai breed. The best proportionality of leg of mutton meets to the Suffolk x Tsigai hybrids, the index value was 65.42%, with 11.05% higher, compared with Tsigai race. At German blackface x Tsigai hybrids, the index was higher with 6.45%, compared with that obtained at Tsigai breed. Carcasses obtained from hybrids are appropriate format, to those corresponding meat breeds.

The research was done on carcasses from the slaughter of young male sheep intensively fattened belonging to the local Tsigai race of mountain ecotype and its half-breeds with Suffolk and German blackface (GCCN). The purpose of the research was to determine Logissimus dorsi (LD) and leg of moutton area, because these parts provide information on Ist meat quality. Research results have noted that lots of half-breeds achieved higher Longissimus dorsi (LD) and leg of moutton area, compared with the pure breed batch. Compared with Tsigai breed, Longissimus dorsi (LD) area deterrmined was higher with 10,75% to Suffolk x Tsigai half-breeds, and 0,07% respectively to German Blackface x Tsigai half-breeds. Leg of moutton area was higher with 17,27% to Suffolk x Tsigai half-breeds, and 2,75% respectively to German Blackface x Tsigai half-breeds. Research carried out special information on Ist meat quality on carcass.

The reproductive value of sheep belonging to the hill and mountain ecotypes of the Tsigaie breed was characterized based on the analysis of specific indexes. This operation was deemed necessary given our interest in the ex situ conservation of these ecotypes. Our research resulted in establishing that the hill ecotype is superior to the mountain ecotype, as is apparent by comparing indices for the two. The number of sheep in oestrus is higher by 9.56%, the pregnancy rate by 9.14%, the insemination index by 37.11%, the index of abortions by 6.96%, the fertility index by 19.76%, the sterility index by 14.18% and the number of lambed sheep by 15.06%. Only the prolificacy index is higher in the mountain ecotype by 5.96%. This situation stems from the particular biology of each ecotype and warrants optimal keeping and feeding for the mountain ecotype so that future research will not negatively influenced.

Investigations were carried out in a commercial farm from Turnu, Arad County, on a number of 110 indigenous adult ewes from the Tigaia breed. It is estimated by some authors that administration of subcutaneous melatonin implants during a period of 30 days, in lactating or dry ewes, would improve the reproductive performances in some sheep breeds. Subcutaneous melatonin implants (Melovin) were inserted to the ewes in doses of 18 mg. Current research, emphasized treated that from indigenous Tigaia breed, can be obtained superior reproduction indexes if the animals are treated with melatonin implants with 35 days before the mating season, differences from the untreated group being significantly (p