Strategies to Objectively Group Merino Flocks in Sheep Genetics

Title
Strategies to Objectively Group Merino Flocks in Sheep Genetics
Publication Date
2013
Author(s)
Brown, Daniel
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4786-7563
Email: dbrown2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dbrown2
Swan, Andrew
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8048-3169
Email: aswan@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:aswan
Gill, J S
Banks, Robert
Editor
Editor(s): Nicolas Lopez Villalobos
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Place of publication
Armidale, Australia
UNE publication id
une:14551
Abstract
The Merino breeding population in Australia exhibits considerable diversity in objectives and breeding philosophies. It could be beneficial for both the analysis and reporting of the national genetic evaluation to objectively group flocks into logical subsets. This study evaluates techniques to cluster flocks into logical groups based on either estimated breeding values or genomic information. Principle component analyses were conducted using flock mean breeding values and the genomic relationship matrix. Using the flock mean breeding values, 6 clusters of flocks were identified with the first 2 principle components explaining 73% of the variation between flocks. The first principle component separated flocks based on overall productivity, with approximately equal emphasis across all traits. The second component separated flocks based on fleece weight, wrinkle and staple length. Less separation between flocks was apparent for flocks with below average fibre diameter. The principle components of the genomic relationship matrix were also strongly correlated with mean breeding values across the flocks. The lack of accurate Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for some traits and genomic information across some of the flocks is a limitation of this approach as it makes allocation of some flocks challenging.
Link
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.20, p. 66-69
ISSN
1328-3227
ISBN
9780473260569
Start page
66
End page
69

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