Selecting for more methane efficient sheep

Author(s)
Van Der Werf, J H J
Publication Date
2023-07-26
Abstract
<p>A bioeconomic model was developed to predict outcomes of scenarios to select for methane efficiency in Merino sheep. The model determines economic values for trait improvement according to different breeding objectives. A selection index approach is used to predict response to selection, assuming knowledge or assumptions about genetic parameters, economic values of breeding objective traits and phenotypic measurement information used to select animals, including information from reference populations for genomic selection. Breeding objectives were based on profit per DSE, reduction in overall flock methane output and methane production per kg lamb produced (defined here as methane efficiency). Results showed that methane production to produce a certain amount of lambs is affected not only by methane production per head, but also by reproductive rate. Methane output per kg lamb produced can be decreased by 3.5% per annum, with the effect of improving production and reproduction efficiency being stronger than the effect of reducing methane production per head.</p>
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.25, p. 234-237
ISSN
1328-3227
Link
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Title
Selecting for more methane efficient sheep
Type of document
Conference Publication
Entity Type
Publication

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