Hornedness and polledness in sheep. 5. Some effects of the horn alleles on characters in the Merino

1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 483
Author(s):  
CHS Dolling ◽  
NB Carter
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
The Third ◽  
Horn Growth ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fibre Number ◽  
Staple Length

The influence on certain characters of the three alleles which affect horn growth has been investigated in three flocks of medium Peppin Merinos. These alleles have been named P, P', and p. The characters investigated were: greasy and clean wool weight per head, body weight, wrinkle score, fibre number per sq. millimetre of' skin, fibre diameter, staple length, clean scoured yield, crimps per inch, face cover, and, on some sheep, spinning count, character, colour, and handle. Comparisons between Pp and pp rams and ewes revealed that Pp rams had a significantly lower fibre number and a higher fibre diameter than their pp halfb-rothers, but there was no other evidence of any relationship between horn genotype and the phenotype of the above characters in either sex. In comparisons between Pp and P'p sheep, rams showed no significant differences, although they had the same hornedness phenotypes as Pp and pp rams. Pp ewes cut more clean wool and greasy wool than P'p ewes at 12 months of age, but not at 22 or 30 months. Pp ewes also had a higher fibre number at 12 months and a lower fibre diameter at 22 months than P'p ewes. In the third flock, comparison \\-as made between P'P' plus P'p ewes, which have female horns, and pp ewes, which have either scurs or knobs. In none of the above characters was there any significant difference between ewes with and without, horns. The presence of P had no demonstrable effect on spinning count, character, colonr, or handle in either the Pp v. pp or the Pp v. P'p comparison. Sire x hornedness genotype interactions were found in the Pp v. P'p comparisons of body weight at 22 months for rams and spinning count for ewes.

Vital statistics for an experimental flock of Merino sheep. III. Factors affecting wool and body characteristics, including the effect of age of ewe and its possible interaction with method of selection

1966 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
GH Brown ◽  
HN Turner ◽  
SSY Young ◽  
CHS Dolling
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Fibre Volume ◽  
Age Changes ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Fibre Number ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Staple Length

Estimates were made of the effects of the following factors on 10 fleece and body characteristics measured on breeding ewes aged 1½ to 10½ years in three mating groups over a period of 15 years: age of ewe, single or twin birth, age of dam, the ewe's own lambing performance, the year in which measurements were made, and the year in which each set of ewes was born. Two groups (S and MS) were under selection for high clean wool weight at 15–16 months, with a ceiling on wrinkle score and fibre diameter, while the third (C) was a random control. Changes with age were present in all characteristics and were similar in the three groups. The finding that selection on wool weight at an early age had no effect on subsequent age changes in any characteristic is of considerable importance. Greasy and clean wool weight reached a maximum at 34 years, then declined by 0.3–0.2 1b per year. Percentage clean yield, fibre diameter, body weight, and wrinkle score had maxima at 5½ to 6½ years. Staple length fell consistently by approximately 0.2 cm per year, while face cover rose consistently but slightly. Crimp number rose, fell, and rose again, while fibre number rose, fell, and remained constant from 4½ years. The chief source of increase in wool weight from l½ to 3½ years was an increase in the total number of fibres. The chief source of the subsequent fall was a decrease in fibre volume, with a minor contribution from a fall in total fibre number after 6½ years. Twin-born ewes cut 0.21 lb (4.2% of the mean) less clean wool per year over their lifetime than single-born ewes, while the progeny of 2-year-old ewes cut 0.32 lb (6.4%) less than the progeny of adults. The main source of lower weight in each case was a lower total fibre number. Pregnancy lowered clean wool weight more than lactation, the separate effects being 0.87 and 0.38 lb respectively (17.4 and 7.7% of the mean) and the combined effect 1.25 1b or 25.1%. Pregnancy lowered total fibre number but lactation had no further effect. Mean clean wool weights over all ages in the C group varied from year to year, the range being from 1.08 lb (21.6%)below the mean to 0.97 lb (19.4%) above. Differences in total fibre number contributed between one-third and two-thirds of the variation. Ewes born in consecutive years in the S and MS groups showed marked upward trends in clean wool weight, fibre number, and staple length, with a marked downward trend in crimp number and a slight upward trend in body weight. These trends demonstrate direct and correlated responses to the strong selection for high clean wool weight at 15–16 months of age, and the associated slight selection against fibre diameter and wrinkle score. The mean annual increases in clean wool weight were 0.15 and 0.11 Ib (3.0 and 2.2%) in the S and MS groups, approximately 40% of the increase arising from increased total fibre number and 40% from increased staple length. The effects of age and lambing performance can be used to predict productivity in flocks of differing age structures. As the casting age rises to 54 years changes in productivity are negligible. With a rise in casting age to 7½ years the average clean wool weight of the flock would fall by 0.14 lb, with a slight decrease in staple length and crimp number. These changes need to be balanced against any increased lambing percentage or decreased annual genetic gain due to increased generation interval. Comparison with other available figures indicates that age changes may vary from one area to another.

Response to selection in Australian Merino sheep. III. Single character selection for high and low values of wool weight and its components

1970 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 955 ◽  
Author(s):  
HN Turner ◽  
MG Brooker ◽  
CHS Dolling
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Skin Area ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Fibre Number ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Staple Length

Direct and correlated responses are reported for 10 traits in eight pairs of lines under selection for high and low values of single characteristics : clean wool weight per head, clean wool weight per unit skin area (measured only in the groups under selection for it), body weight, wrinkle score, fibre number per unit skin area (adjusted for body weight), fibre diameter, staple length, and percentage clean yield. All groups showed overall divergence in the character under selection, though response was not always symmetrical, and in two cases (long staple and low fibre number) there was no continuing response after the initial response to extreme selection of the base parents. In all except one case, whenever previous estimates of genetic correlation were at the level of 0.2 or higher, correlated responses were in the predicted direction, though not always symmetrical in magnitude. The exception was a previously reported negative correlation between fibre number and staple length, which was not exhibited under selection for either character. Where two characters of a pair were under selection, reciprocal responses agreed in sign; magnitude will be examined in a later paper. Wool per unit area was shown to have a greater influence on clean wool weight than that of surface area, with staple length on this occasion being the most important component of wool per unit area. Reasons for an apparent decrease in the relative importance of fibre number are discussed. Three other points of importance in sheep breeding are again emphasized by these results : 1. Crimp in several pairs of groups was a poor indicator of fibre diameter. 2. Increases in clean wool weight were associated with falls in crimp number, even though fibre diameter actually became finer; diameter, not crimp, should therefore be used as a guide to wool quality. 3. The absence of genetic correlations DL and NL indicates that selection can be for high N (fibre number) with high L (staple length) and low D (fibre diameter) -in other words, a desirable fleece -with no impeding genetic correlations.

A comparison of the production of F1 and F2 Border Leicester × Merino ewes

1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
WA Pattie ◽  
MD Smith
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Density Ratio ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Multiple Births ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Major Genes ◽  
Horn Growth ◽  
Production Characteristics ◽  
Staple Length

A comparison has been made of the production characteristics of 255 F1 and 288 F2 Border Leicester x Merino ewes. These sheep comprised a total drop of ewes born in a breed establishment trial in March-April 1960. There were no significant differences between the means of each group of ewes for the following characters : 18 month body weight, mutton score, fleece and breech score, yield, staple length, crimps per inch, fibre diameter, follicle density, ratio of primary to total follicles, and wool colour and character. The F1 ewes had significantly heavier greasy and clean fleece weights and showed significant though only slightly greater face cover scores. There was no significant increase in the variation of any character studied, in the F2 ewes. It is considered that these results are reasonable when the nature of inheritance of production characters, and their susceptibility to environment are considered. On the other hand the variance of horn growth, which is controlled by a few major genes, increased considerably in the F2 ewes. There was a large (40 per cent) and significant drop in fertility in the F2 ewes brought about by a drop in the number of wet ewes and multiple births, and an increase in lamb losses. The significance of these findings in relation to crossbreeding and breed establishment is discussed.

The relationship of lamb birthcoat to adult fleece structure in a strain of Merino sheep

1958 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Schinckel
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Gene System ◽  
Weight Yield ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Staple Length

Variability of the lamb birthcoat has been studied in relation to adult fleece characteristics. Coarse birthcoats were associated with increased variability of fibre diameter and decreased crimp rate. The increased variability of fibre diameter resulted from a significant increase in the diameter of primary fibres and a small, but statistically non-significant, decrease in the diameter of secondary fibres. There was no relation between birthcoat grade and body weight, clean fleece weight, yield, staple length, follicle density, follicle ratio, mean fibre diameter, or skin folds. It is postulated that there is a gene system in the Merino the effect of which is to cause variation in the amount of wool produced by the different follicle types. Increased "dosage" of genes of the system endows primary follicles with increased productivity and secondary follicles with decreased productivity. This is expressed in the form of increased halo-hair abundance in the lamb and increased differences between the diameters of primary and secondary fibres in the adult.

Comparison of estimates of repeatability and heritability for some production traits in Merino rams and ewes. 2. Heritability

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
SSY Young ◽  
Turner H Newton ◽  
CHS Dolling
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Sex Difference ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Lower Figure ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Australian Merino ◽  
Staple Length

Heritability estimates were calculated for 10 traits in rams and ewes of a medium-woolled strain of Australian Merino sheep. The traits were greasy wool weight, clean scoured yield, clean wool weight, body weight, wrinkle score, face cover score, fibre population density, fibre diameter, staple length, and crimps per inch. Estimates were made by dam-offspring correlations, measurement on the dams being at 15-16 months, on daughters at 15-16 months, and on sons at both 10-12 and 15-16 months. All estimates for both sexes lay between 0.3 and 0.6, except for fibre population density (0.24) and fibre diameter (0.12) in rams at 15-16 months and for clean wool weight (0.29) and face cover score (0.29) in rams at 10-12 months. The only significant sex difference lay in the lower figure for fibre diameter in rams at 15-16 months, but this is of doubtful importance as the corresponding figure for rams at 10-12 months (0.37) did not differ significantly from the ewe figure. All traits may be considered highly heritable, and the high values for the yearling rams indicate that consideration might be given to the selection of rams for production traits at an earlier age than the traditional one of 18 months or older.

Response to selection in Australian Merino sheep. VI. Inheritance of abnormal staple crimp; estimates of phenotypic and genetic parameters

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Jackson ◽  
RE Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Number

The heritability of abnormal crimp in wool at various ages and the genetic and phenotypic cotreiations of crimp abnormality with several wool and body characters were estimated for Peppin Merino sheep. When examined by half-sib analyses of variance, the heritability of abnormal crimp scored at ages less than 4.5 years was low, whereas abnormality at 5.5 years and older was highly inherited. Heritabilities estimated by intra-sire dam-daughter regression analyses with fewer degrees of freedom did not show such a clear-cut pattern, although the estimates tended to increase with age. The genetic correlations of crimp abnormality scores at ages up to 4.5 years with scores at older ages were mainly low. Crimp abnormality scores at most ages had genetic correlations with wool and body characters at 15–16 months of age as follows: strong positive with fibre diameter, weak positive with greasy and clean wool weight, wrinkle score and staple length, and weak negative with fibre number. Genetic correlations with body weight, percentage clean yield, face cover score and crimp frequency were inconsistent. The phenotypic variance of crimp abnormality increased with age, owing almost entirely to an increase in the additive genetic variance. The environmental variance was approximately the same at all ages. Phenotypic correlations among crimp abnormality scores were generally higher between scores at close ages, and particularly at older ages. Crimp abnormality scores at all ages had positive phenotypic correlations with fibre diameter and wrinkle score and negative correlations with fibre number per unit area of skin and percentage clean yield.Crimp abnormality at old ages also had positive phenotypic correlations with greasy and clean wool weights. Environmental correlations of crimp abnormality with greasy wool weight, clean wool weight body weight and fibre number per unit area of skin were negative, and those with percentage clean yield and fibre number positive. Predicted correlated responses in crimp abnormality differed in some respects from correlated responses observed previously in groups of Peppin Merino sheep selected for high and low values of percentage clean yield, clean wool weight, fibre number per unit area of skin and fibre diameter. Methods of selection of sheep which would be expected to reduce crimp abnormality are outlined.

Effects of divergent selection for body weight on fibre number and diameter in two mouse muscles

1973 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Hanrahan ◽  
A. C. Hooper ◽  
J. C. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Body Weight Changes ◽  
Muscle Weight ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Number ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Anterior Tibialis

SUMMARYThe effects of selection for increased or decreased body weight in mice, at 5 or 10 weeks of age, on the fibre number, fibre diameter and weight of the m. sternomastoideus and m. anterior tibialis muscles were studied. Unselected control mice were also included. Significant effects were detected in the case of each of the traits. However, the magnitude of any particular correlated response to selection varied between muscles and between selection ages in an unsystematic fashion. Most of the changes in muscle weight resulting from selection were attributable to positively correlated changes in fibre number but they were also accompanied by changes in fibre diameter in some cases.The correlated responses described indicate the difficulty of predicting how selection for body weight changes will influence cellular structure of any given muscle.Phenotypic correlations between muscle fibre number and diameter were essentially zero. The phenotypic correlations between muscle weight and fibre number and fibre diameter were positive.Sex had no effect on fibre number but had an effect on fibre diameter which depended on the particular muscle and the age of the animal.

scholarly journals Effect Of Vitamine AND Selenum On Immune Response Of CO - Baghdad Vaccine In Sheep.

2004 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-66
Author(s):  
A. M.H. AL-Judi ◽  
R. H. Hameed ◽  
A. D. Salman
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Vitamin E ◽  
Antibody Titer ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fourth Group ◽  
The Third ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control

This study was done on 57 Awassi pregnant ewes, divided in to 5 groups, the 1st control group, the second group received  E (900 mg) and Selenium (3mg), twicel.M.injections of vitamin the third group received one injection of vitamin E (900mg) and  feed  via selenium ( 3 mg), the fourth group received vitamin E block (1 gm) daily for two weeks, the fifth group received  vitamin E via feed block for one week (1gm daily), and all groups injected with C Baghdad vaccine.  This study had been shown a significant difference in antibody titer between treated groups and the control group, from2weeks post  titre vaccination There were significant difference in antibody (p<0.05) between lambs of treated and control group. While there were no significant difference in body weight of ewes and lambs,  production of treated and but was a significant difference in milk control group. 

The influence of the poll gene on certain production characters of Merino sheep

1958 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Dun
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Deleterious Effect ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Horn Growth ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Staple Length

The results of a series of matings of Merino sheep of the form heterozygous poll rams (Pp) x knobbed ewes (pp), are presented. The phenotypic ratio poll progeny : horned progeny was 75:73 for rams and 81:94 for ewes. These were not significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio. The 75 Pp rams had horn growth varying in length from 1/2 in. to 13 in. One known poll ram phenotype, depressions at the horn sites, was not seen. Comparisons were made within sires of Pp and pp progeny for a series of production measurements. Pp rams cut 4.09 per cent. more clean fleece weight than pp rams, while Pp ewes cut 4.47 per cent. less than pp ewes. This genotype-sex interaction was further examined by comparing sexes for the ratio of positive to negative within-sire differences. There were highly significant chi-square values for greasy fleece weight, clean fleece weight, and body weight. The differences in clean fleece weight were largely accounted for by differences in body weight and staple length. Fold score differences were negligible. The hypothesis suggested as an explanation for these results is that the Merino poll gene P is associated with a small deleterious effect when heterozygous. The effect is apparent only in ewes where the specific effect is the removal of small bony knobs. A subsidiary hypothesis is that in rams the deleterious effect of P is over-compensated by the nutritive benefits derived from the absence of the large ram horns. The practical importance of these findings is discussed.

Genetic studies of South Australian Merino sheep. 3. Heritabilities of various wool and body traits

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
IP Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Main Production ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Australian Merino ◽  
Staple Length

Heritabilities have been estimated for a large number of quantitative and qualitative wool and body traits recorded on two flocks of South Australian Merino sheep over a 12-year period. Data were unadjusted for fixed environmental effects and so the estimates are applicable to the heterogeneous populations found in most practical situations. Dam-offspring heritabilities of quantitative traits ranged from 0.15 for primary follicle number to 0.63 for body weight. Greasy and clean fleece weights, percentage clean yield, staple length, crimps per inch, fibre diameter, secondary and total follicle number, skin thickness, coefficient of variation of fibre diameter and secondary/primary follicle ratio had moderate to high heritabilities. Dam-offspring heritabilities of qualitative traits ranged from 0.12 for weather damage of the fleece to 0.75 for birthcoat. Total folds, face cover and hocks had high heritabilities, and wool character, type of staple formation and wool quality had moderate heritabilities. The main production traits (body weight, greasy fleece weight, yield, clean fleece weight, staple length, fibre diameter and total follicle number) were corrected for variation due to type of birth and age of dam and their heritabilities re-estimated. No change occurred in the half-sib heritabilities; dam-offspring heritabilities increased by an average of 0.05.

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