Preliminary evaluation of the impact of visual traits on lifetime ewe performance

Title
Preliminary evaluation of the impact of visual traits on lifetime ewe performance
Publication Date
2023-07-26
Author(s)
Wahinya, P K
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4268-6744
Email: pwahiny2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:pwahiny2
Brown, D J
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4786-7563
Email: dbrown2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dbrown2
Walkom, S F
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2275-0318
Email: swalkom@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:swalkom
Bird-gardiner, T
Clarke, B E
Smith, J L
Swan, A A
( #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE# )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8048-3169
Email: aswan@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:aswan
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:1959.11/56086
Abstract

Visual traits are considered valuable components within the breeding objectives of many Merino breeders. This paper aimed to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between visual traits and growth, body composition, reproduction and survival in adult ewes. The data were derived from Merino Lifetime Productivity (MLP) sites. Heritability estimates were high for body weight, eye muscle depth, fat depth, body wrinkle, breech wrinkle, breech cover and classer grade (0.32 – 0.64), moderate for urine stain (0.21) and legs score (0.23) and low for weaning rate (0.07) and ewe survival (0.06). Low to moderate negative (favourable) genetic correlations were estimated between the visual traits and body weight and composition, reproduction, and survival traits. Phenotypic correlations between the visual traits and adult body composition and weaning rate traits were negative and low. The genetic and phenotypic correlations estimated in this study were generally favourable hence consideration of visual traits in selection and classing may have beneficial effects on adult ewe performance.

Link
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.25, p. 47-50
ISSN
1328-3227
Start page
47
End page
50

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