Genetic and phenotypic parameters for reproduction, production and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep

Dominik, S; Swan, A A

doi:10.1071/AN15738

Author(s)

Dominik, S

Swan, A A

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

The present study estimated phenotypic and genetic relationships between wool production, reproduction and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep. The data for the study originated from the CSIRO Fine Wool Project, Armidale, Australia. Data on wool characteristics, measured at ~10 and 22 months of age, bodyweight and several reproduction traits across consecutive lambing opportunities were analysed. The genetic correlations were moderately negative between fibre diameter measured as yearling and adult, and lamb survival (rg = -0.34 ± 0.15 and rg = -0.28 ± 0.14 respectively) and total number of lambs weaned (rg = -0.32 ± 0.21 and rg = -0.40 ± 0.21 respectively). The genetic correlations of yearling and adult greasy and clean fleece weights with number of lambs weaned and fecundity showed moderately to highly negative relationships and a moderately negative correlation with the number of fetuses at pregnancy scanning. Phenotypic correlations between reproduction and wool production traits were estimated to be zero, with the exception of bodyweight showing low to moderate positive phenotypic correlations with total number of lambs born and weaned. Genetic variances were generally low for the reproduction traits and resulted in low heritability estimates (from h2 = 0.03 ± 0.01 to h2 = 0.12 ± 0.13), with the exception of total number of lambs born (h2 = 0.25 ± 0.03). The study indicated that parameter estimation and trait definition of lifetime reproduction records require careful consideration and more work in this area is required.

Citation

Animal Production Science, 58(2), p. 207-212

ISSN

1836-5787

1836-0939

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/27238

Language

en

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Title

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for reproduction, production and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Dominik, S Swan, A A
Publication Date	2018
Abstract	The present study estimated phenotypic and genetic relationships between wool production, reproduction and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep. The data for the study originated from the CSIRO Fine Wool Project, Armidale, Australia. Data on wool characteristics, measured at ~10 and 22 months of age, bodyweight and several reproduction traits across consecutive lambing opportunities were analysed. The genetic correlations were moderately negative between fibre diameter measured as yearling and adult, and lamb survival (r<sub>g</sub> = -0.34 ± 0.15 and r<sub>g</sub> = -0.28 ± 0.14 respectively) and total number of lambs weaned (r<sub>g</sub> = -0.32 ± 0.21 and r<sub>g</sub> = -0.40 ± 0.21 respectively). The genetic correlations of yearling and adult greasy and clean fleece weights with number of lambs weaned and fecundity showed moderately to highly negative relationships and a moderately negative correlation with the number of fetuses at pregnancy scanning. Phenotypic correlations between reproduction and wool production traits were estimated to be zero, with the exception of bodyweight showing low to moderate positive phenotypic correlations with total number of lambs born and weaned. Genetic variances were generally low for the reproduction traits and resulted in low heritability estimates (from h<sup>2</sup> = 0.03 ± 0.01 to h<sup>2</sup> = 0.12 ± 0.13), with the exception of total number of lambs born (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.25 ± 0.03). The study indicated that parameter estimation and trait definition of lifetime reproduction records require careful consideration and more work in this area is required.
Citation	Animal Production Science, 58(2), p. 207-212
ISSN	1836-5787 1836-0939
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/27238
Language	en
Publisher	CSIRO Publishing
Title	Genetic and phenotypic parameters for reproduction, production and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for reproduction, production and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep

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