Genetic studies of South Australian Merino sheep. 2. Environmental effects on wool and body traits at 15-16 months of age

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
IP Gregory ◽  
RW Ponzoni
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Multiple Birth ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Main Production ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Australian Merino

The effects of years, sex, type of birth (i.e. whether or not multiple birth) and age of dam on 26 wool and body traits of South Australian Merino sheep were estimated by least-squares analysis. Years and sex had highly significant effects on all traits. Of the main production traits, type of birth had a significant effect on body weight, greasy and clean fleece weight and total wool follicle number, while age of dam only had a significant effect on body weight and greasy fleece weight. The possible consequences of failing to correct body weight and greasy and clean fleece weights for type of birth and age of dam were considered and it was concluded that, although in some years correction of these traits may not be warranted, in other years correction may be necessary to prevent selection against fecundity and an increase in the generation interval. The main components contributing to the 6.0 % difference between fleece weights of singles and twins were surface area, total follicle number and wrinkle score. The difference between fleece weights of animals from older ewes and animals from maidens was only 1.5 %; surface area was the main contributor to this deviation.

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.

Genetic evaluation of production traits between and within flocks of Merino sheep. I. Hogget fleece weights, body weight and wool quality

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
SI Mortimer ◽  
KD Atkins
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Fleece Weight

Wool production traits were measured on Merino hogget ewes in an unselected multiple-bloodline flock over a 7-year period at Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, N.S.W. The traits measured were greasy fleece weight (GFW), skirted fleece weight (SKFW), yield (Y), clean fleece weight (CFW), fibre diameter (FD), body weight (BWT) and staple length (SL). These measurements were used to examine genetic differences between and within flocks of Merino sheep, and to estimate heritability of and genetic and phenotypic correlations among these traits. Significant strain, flock within strain and flock effects were present for all traits. Interactions between these effects and year were non-significant. Within-flock genetic variance was always larger than between-flock within strain genetic variance for each trait. The influence of environmental effects on these traits was also examined. The environmental effects of birth-rearing type, age at observation and age of dam together accounted for about 7-10% of the total within-flock variation in fleece weights and body weight.After adjusting for significant environmental effects, paternal half-sib heritability estimates were 0.29 �. 0.06 for GFW, 0.22 � 0.05 for SKFW, 0.35 � 0.05 for Y, 0.30 �0.06 for CFW, 0.48 �0.07 for FD, 0.34 �. 0.06 for BWT and 0.44 �0.07 for SL. Estimates for genetic and phenotypic correlations were in agreement with published estimates except for the genetic correlation between CFW and FD (0.40 �. 0.11), and the genetic correlations involving BWT, which were essentially zero. The implications of the results of this study for the genetic improvement of Merino sheep for wool production are discussed.

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.

REML estimates of variance and covariance components for production traits in Australian Merino sheep, using an animal model. 1. Body weight from birth to 22 months

1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torshizi R Vaez ◽  
FW Nicolas ◽  
HW Raadsma
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Additive Genetic Effects ◽  
Australian Merino

Variance components for direct additive genetic, maternal additive genetic, and maternal environmental effects, and the covariance between direct and maternal additive genetic effects, were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedures, using an animal model, for body weight between birth and 22 months of age in Australian Merino sheep. Direct heritability was estimated to be 0.30 for birth weight, 0.28 for weaning weight, 0.24 for body weight at 10 months, 0.34 for body weight at 16 months, and 0.34 for body weight at 22 months. Maternal heritability estimates were 0.29, 0.41, 0.14, 0.07, and 0.07 for the same performances, respectively. Our results suggested that for birth weight and weaning weight, maternal additive genetic effects and the covariance between direct and maternal additive genetic effects were important. Following weaning, maternal additive genetic effects were the only significant maternal effects. Genetic correlations between direct and maternal additive effects were -0.43, -0.59, and -0.29 for birth weight, weaning weight, and body weight at 10 months, respectively. Direct and maternal additive genetic correlations between birth weight and body weight performances at later ages were positive and moderate, ranging from 0.17 to 0.52 and from 0.06 to 0.65, respectively, whereas they were positive and high between weaning weight and later weights, ranging from 0.59 to 0.77 and from 0.61 to 0.85, respectively. A carry-over of maternal influence after weaning was shown. Early (indirect) selection for body weight at weaning or 10 months will achieve a substantial proportion (between 53 and 81%) of direct response for performance at later ages (16 and 22 months).

Response to partial selection on clean fleece weight in South Australian strong-wool Merino sheep

1970 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Mayo ◽  
DW Cooper ◽  
RE Brady ◽  
CW Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Blood Group ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Australian Merino ◽  
Staple Length

The associations between 10 production characters and fertility at the R blood group, haemoglobin, and transferrin loci have been examined in two flocks of South Australian Merino sheep. The production characters were birth weight, hogget body weight, hogget wrinkle score, greasy fleece weight, clean fleece weight, staple length, degree of crimp, fibre diameter, fleece density, and skin thickness. No evidence of any real association was found. The significant associations which were found are ascribed either to chance or to the impossibility of eliminating sire effects from the analysis.

Across population genetic parameters for wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Australian Merino sheep. 2. Estimates of heritability and variance components

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Safari ◽  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
A. R. Gilmour ◽  
K. D. Atkins ◽  
S. I. Mortimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Effects ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Australian Merino

Precise estimates of genetic parameters are required for genetic evaluation systems. This study combined data from 7 research resource flocks across Australia to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for production traits in the Australian Merino sheep. The flocks were maintained for several generations and represented contemporary Australian Merino fine, medium, and broad wool bloodlines over the past 30 years. Over 110 000 records were available for analysis for each of the major wool traits, and 50 000 records for reproduction and growth traits with over 2700 sires and 25 000 dams. A linear mixed animal model was used to analyse 6 wool traits comprising clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), fibre diameter (FD), yield (YLD), coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (CVFD), and standard deviation of fibre diameter (SDFD), 4 growth traits comprising birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), yearling weight (YWT), and hogget weight (HWT), and 4 reproduction traits comprising fertility (FER), litter size (LS), lambs born per ewe joined (LB/EJ), and lambs weaned per ewe joined (LW/EJ). The range of direct heritability estimates for the wool traits was 0.42 ± 0.01 for CFW to 0.68 ± 0.01 for FD. For growth traits the range was 0.18 ± 0.01 for BWT to 0.38 ± 0.01 for HWT, and for reproduction traits 0.045 ± 0.01 for FER to 0.074 ± 0.01 for LS. Significant maternal effects were found for wool and growth, but not reproduction traits. There was significant covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects for all wool and growth traits except for YWT. The correlations between direct and maternal effects ranged from –0.60 ± 0.02 for GFW to –0.21 ± 0.10 for SDFD in the wool traits and from –0.21 ± 0.03 for WWT to 0.25 ± 0.08 for HWT in the growth traits. Litter effects were significant for all wool and growth traits and only for LS in reproduction traits. The mating sire was fitted in the models for reproduction traits and this variance component accounted for 21, 17, and 8% of the total phenotypic variation for FER, LB/EJ, and LW/EJ, respectively. The implications of additional significant variance components for the estimation of heritability are discussed.

The efficiency of conversion of feed to wool in Merino flocks selected for and against fleece weight

1963 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Ahmed ◽  
RB Dun ◽  
RJ Winston
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Cent Increase ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fleece Weight

The efficiency of conversion of feed to wool was measured in three jocks of Peppin Merino sheep, namely : Fleece Plus-Selected for nine years on high clean fleece weight ; Fleece Minus-Selected for nine years on low clean fleece weight ; Random-An unselected, control flock. Ten 18 month old ewes from each of these flocks were individually housed and fed ad lib on hammer-milled lucerne hay for 54 weeks. Highly significant differences between flocks were observed in feed intake, wool growth, and efficiency of conversion of feed to wool. The relative productive levels for the Fleece Plus, Random and Fleece Minus flocks were-for feed intake, 108 : 100 : 88-for clean fleece weight, 118 : 100 : 70-and for efficiency 109 : 100 : 79. The correlation between efficiency and daily feed intake was very highly significant and negative within each flock, (-0.918, -0.929 and -0.924, for Fleece Plus, Random and Fleece Minus flocks respectively), whereas the correlation between jocks was significantly positive, r = 0.997. The relative importance of the factors determining the 18 per cent increase in clean fleece weight of the Fleece Plus over the Random flock was : efficiency, 55 per cent and feed intake, 45 per cent-and comparing the Random to the Fleece Minus flock : efficiency, 60 per cent and feed intake, 40 per cent. Approximately half the difference in feed intake was independent of body weight.

Across population genetic parameters for wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Australian Merino sheep. 1. Data structure and non-genetic effects

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Safari ◽  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
A. R. Gilmour ◽  
K. D. Atkins ◽  
S. I. Mortimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Growth And Reproduction ◽  
Australian Merino

Accurate estimates of adjustment factors for systematic environmental effects are required for genetic evaluation systems. This study combined data from 7 research resource flocks across Australia to estimate genetic parameters and investigate the significance of various environmental factors for production traits in Australian Merino sheep. The flocks were maintained for several generations and represented contemporary Australian Merino fine, medium, and broad wool bloodlines over the past 30 years. Over 110 000 records were available for analysis for each of the major wool traits, with over 2700 sires and 25 000 dams. Univariate linear mixed animal models were used to analyse 6 wool, 4 growth, and 4 reproduction traits. This first paper outlines the data structure and the non-genetic effects of age of the animal, age of dam, birth-rearing type, sex, flock, bloodline, and year, which were significant with few exceptions for all production traits. Age of dam was not significant for reproduction traits and fleece yield. Generally, wool, growth, and reproduction traits need to be adjusted for age, birth-rearing type, and age of dam before the estimation of breeding values for pragmatic and operational reasons. Adjustment for animal age in wool traits needs to be applied for clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), and fibre diameter (FD) with inclusion of 2 age groups (2 years old and >2 years old), but for reproduction traits, inclusion of all age groups is more appropriate. For GFW, CFW, and hogget weight (HWT), adjustment for only 2 dam age groups of maiden and mature ewes seems sufficient, whereas for birth (BWT), weaning (WWT), and yearling (YWT) weights, adjustments need to be applied for all dam age groups. Adjustment for birth-rearing type (single-single, multiple-single, multiple-multiple) is appropriate for wool, growth, and reproduction traits. The implications of adjustment for non-genetic effects are discussed.

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for body weight and greasy fleece weight at weaning in Australian Merino sheep

1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 997 ◽  
Author(s):  
SSY Young ◽  
GH Brown ◽  
Turner H Newton ◽  
CHS Dolling
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Indirect Selection ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Sampling Errors ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Australian Merino

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for body weight and greasy fleece weight at weaning were estimated in a flock of Australian Merinos. Maternal handicaps were found to be more severe at weaning than at the older age of 15–16 months. Lambs born to 2-year-old ewes were 2–3 lb lighter in body weight at weaning and 0.2 lb lighter in greasy fleece weight than the offspring of adult ewes. Twin lambs were on the average 6–7 lb lighter than singles and cut 0.5 lb less greasy wool. Greasy fleece weight at weaning was found to be fairly highly heritable but only moderately repeatable. The repeatability and heritability of weaning body weight were both low. The genetic correlations estimated here were associated with appreciable sampling errors, but the estimates strongly suggested high and positive correlations between measurements at weaning and at 15–16 months for both traits. A general consideration of the relative efficiency of direct versus indirect selection, based on the information obtained in this study, leads to the conclusion that for greater genetic gains, mass selection for greasy wool weight and body weight at weaning should be carried out on measurements at 15–16 months of age, rather than at weaning.

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