Effect of age, maternal handicap, birth and survival type on five fleece and body characters of Corriedale rams

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (117) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
KM Napier ◽  
LP Jones

The effects of age, dam age, type of birth and rearing on weaning weight, clean fleece weight, hogget weight, fibre diameter and yield were estimated for 751 Corriedale rams aged 16-19 months, over three years. Twin born and reared rams were 20% lighter at weaning and 4% at hogget weighing than singles and cut 4% less wool. All characters except yield increased with the age of the ram, the effect being greatest for weaning weight with a regression coefficient of 0.17 kilogram per day of age. Of particular interest was fibre diameter, which increased with age; the regression coefficient was 0.026 pm per day of age. Clean fleece weight also increased with age; the regression coefficient was 0.0061 kilogram per day of age. The phenotypic correlation between clean fleece weight and fibre diameter was very high (0.45), other correlations were within previously published estimates. The relation between eight qualitative characters (head type, face cover, back cover, belly cover, wool quality, standard of feet, body size and classer grade) and three productive characters (clean fleece weight, weaning weight and hogget weight) was studied. Clean fleece weight was not correlated with face cover but was negatively correlated with belly cover (-0.30) and positively correlated with classer grade (0.41).

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. P. Cloete ◽  
S. J. Schoeman ◽  
J. Coetzee ◽  
J. de V. Morris

(Co)variance estimates for weaning weight, yearling liveweight, clean fleece weight and fibre diameter at yearling age were obtained for Merino, Dohne Merino and South African Meat Merino flocks maintained on the same property. Direct additive genetic variances for weaning weight [expressed as a ratio of the total phenotypic variance (h2, direct heritability)] were estimated at 0.15 for Merinos, 0.21 for Dohne Merinos and 0.32 for South African Meat Merinos. Corresponding maternal variance ratios (m2, including direct maternal variance and permanent environmental maternal variance) were estimated at 0.15, 0.30 and 0.24, respectively. The correlation between direct and maternal variance ratios was high and negative in Dohne Merinos and South African Meat Merinos (–0.72 and –0.53, respectively). Direct heritability estimates for yearling liveweight were 0.30 for Merinos, 0.33 for Dohne Merinos and 0.45 for South African Meat Merinos. Corresponding maternal variance ratios were only significant in the latter 2 breeds, amounting to 0.13 in Dohne Merinos and 0.12 in South African Meat Merinos. For yearling clean fleece weight, h2 and m2 were estimated at 0.28 and 0.12, respectively, for both Merinos and Dohne Merinos. In the case of South African Meat Merinos, only the h2 estimate was significant, at 0.68. Maternal variance ratios for yearling fibre diameter were not significant in any of the breeds, while h2 ranged from 0.58 in Merinos to 0.75 in South African Meat Merinos. Selection progress for yearling traits seems likely in all breeds, depending on the breeding objectives being strived for.


2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. P. Cloete ◽  
A. Durand

Commercial Merino ewes were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups, which were joined either to commercial Merino or South African Meat Merino rams during October 1996 and 1997. Merino rams were involved in 161 joinings, and South African Meat Merino rams in 157 joinings. The proportions of ewes that lambed were independent of the breed of the sire when expressed relative to the number of ewes joined (0.809 and 0.801 in ewes joined to South African Meat Merino and Merino rams, respectively). The proportion of multiple lambs was similarly not affected by the breed of the service sire. Lambs sired by South African Meat Merino rams were on average ( s.e.) heavier (4.17 0.07 v. 3.86 0.07 kg; P<0.01) at birth. They also tended to have a better (0.69 v. 0.59; P<0.10) survival to weaning, and were heavier (26.9 0.6 v. 22.8 0.6 kg; P<0.01) at weaning than purebred Merino contemporaries. The combined effect of the tendency towards an improved survival rate as well as the increased lamb weaning weight resulted in a 36% increase (P<0.01) in lamb output in Merino ewes joined to South African Meat Merino ewes compared with ewes joined to Merino rams. Higher (P<0.01) proportions of ram lambs sired by South African Meat Merino rams reached slaughter weight (about 40 kg) before the onset of the dry Mediterranean summer than purebred Merinos. Two-tooth ewes sired by South African Meat Merino rams were heavier (P<0.01) at 2-tooth age (53.0 0.6 v. 52.0 0.6 kg) than purebred Merinos. The 2-tooth greasy fleece weight of South African Meat Merino sired 2-tooth ewes were lower (3.85 0.08 v. 4.66 0.09 kg; P<0.01), with a lower (66.8 0.6 v. 70.5 0.7 %; P<0.01) clean yield than that of purebred Merinos. This resulted in a marked difference in clean fleece weight between the 2 types (2.56 0.06 v. 3.28 0.06 kg, respectively). Wool produced by South African Meat Merino sired 2-tooth ewes was generally broader (21.8 0.3 v. 20.3 0.3 m; P<0.01) and shorter (87.3 1.3 v. 96.4 1.4 mm; P<0.01) than that of their purebred Merino contemporaries. The coefficient of variation of fibre diameter as well as staple strength was independent of the breed of the sire. Liveweight of adult ewes and wool traits were independent of the breed of the service sire.


1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
LG Butler ◽  
BJ Horton ◽  
PM Williams ◽  
RG Banks

Tasmanian Merinos and Polwarths were mated in each of 2 years to produce 2 drops of Merino, Polwarth, and F1 reciprocal cross progeny. Polwarths had weaning weights similar to Merinos but were 14% heavier as hoggets. Polwarths grew a similar amount of wool of 11% greater (P<0.001) fibre diameter; however, wool production was 9% less efficient based on metabolic weight. Polwarths displayed an advantage in resistance to footrot. There was a marked Polwarth maternal effect of about 16% on weaning weight but no elfect on hogget weight. The Polwarth maternal effect on fleece weight and efficiency was 9% (P<0.001). In a comparison with a single-born male, ewes weighed 5% less at weaning and 7% less at hogget shearing and produced about 6% less wool (P<0.001), although of comparable fibre diameter. Twins weighed 17% less at weaning, but only 3% less at hogget shearing (P<0.001). They grew about 5% less wool, which was of 2% greater fibre diameter (P<0.001) and 5% higher wool score, but efficiency was 2.5% lower. Production was generally lower (except for yield and wool score) in the 1988 drop than the 1987 drop by 3-10%. Differences in productivity between ram sources were of only slightly lesser magnitude than differences between breeds. The number of feet affected by footrot was reduced by 17% in the 1988 drop. Severe footrot affecting more than 1 foot reduced liveweight but did not significantly reduce fleece weight. There appeared to be some heterosis for weaning weight (10%) and hogget weight (6%), but little heterosis in wool growth (2-3%) or efficiency (-2%).


Author(s):  
SPACE Lalit ◽  
Z. S. Malik ◽  
D. S. Dalal ◽  
C. S. Patil ◽  
S. P. Dahiya

Data on growth, reproduction and wool traits of 1603 Harnali sheep maintained at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar over a period of 22 years (1992-2013) were utilized for genetic analysis. The overall least squares mean for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), six month body weight (SMW), age at first lambing (AFL), weight at lambing (WL), average lambing interval (ALI), greasy fleece weight (GFW), staple length (SL) and Fibre diameter (FD) were estimated as 3.35±0.02 kg, 12.41±0.08 kg, 16.30±0.12 kg, 707.05±2.07 days, 26.91±0.10 kg and 402.85±2.40 days, 1.62±0.02 kg, 5.65±0.03 cm and 25.85±0.07 μ, respectively. The effect of year of birth, sex of lamb and dam's weight at lambing were significant for all growth traits. The effect of year of birth and dam's weight at lambing were significant for all reproduction traits and GFW. No definite trend was observed over the years for body weights and reproductive traits. The effect of sex was significant for early growth traits. The heritability estimates were moderate for all the growth traits with high genetic correlations of BW and WW with SMW. Reproduction traits had lower estimates of heritability which indicated presence of lower additive genetic variance for these traits. Heritability estimates for studied wool traits were moderate to high. Positive genetic and phenotypic correlation of BW and WW with six month body weight and grease fleece weight indicated that selection for six month body weight would increase body weight and grease fleece weight.


2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
V. M. Ingham ◽  
A. R. Gilmour ◽  
L. J. Cummins ◽  
G. M. Gaunt ◽  
...  

The study evaluated post-weaning growth, carcass characteristics, and wool production of crossbred progeny of 91 sires from more than 7 maternal breeds (including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, White Suffolk, Corriedale, and Booroola Leicester). The sires were joined to Merino and Corriedale ewes at 3 sites over 3 years with 3 link sires in common at each site and year. Post-weaning weight at an average age of 200 days of 2841 ewes and 3027 wethers was analysed using mixed model procedures. The wethers were slaughtered at an average age of 214 days and carcass weight, fat, muscle, meat colour, and ultimate pH (24 h post-slaughter) were analysed. For ewes, hogget fleece weight, yield, fibre diameter, and faecal worm egg count (FEC) were analysed. Sire breed was significant (P < 0.01), with a range of 32.8–39.0 kg for post-weaning weight, 19.1–22.8 kg for hot carcass weight, and for carcass fat levels (11.1–17.2 mm at the GR site (FatGR) and 3.4–6.5 mm at the C site, adjusted to 22 kg carcass weight), with the East Friesian cross carcasses being very lean (FatGR 11.1 mm). Sire breed was significant for eye muscle area (P < 0.01) but not for eye muscle depth, meat colour L* (brightness), or ultimate pH. Sire breed was significant (P < 0.01) for greasy and clean fleece weight (CFW), yield, and fibre diameter (FD), with ranges of 0.9 kg (CFW) and 4.6 μm (FD). Sire breed was not significant for FEC. Type of birth and rearing classification was significant for most traits. National estimated breeding values for the sires that were entered by industry breeders indicated that they covered a range of genetic merit for most traits within their respective breeds and were generally representative of the maternal genetics available in the industry. Where there were large differences between the sire mean and breed mean breeding values the effects on crossbred progeny performance would be small and not expected to affect our conclusions about the breed differences reported. The results provide lamb producers with comparative information on sire breeds for growth, carcass and wool traits. The considerable variation among individual sires within the respective breeds will be reported in later papers.


Author(s):  
Ali William Canaza-Cayo ◽  
Pablo Antonio Beltrán-Barriga ◽  
Emma Quina-Quina ◽  
Francisco Halley Rodríguez-Huanca ◽  
Rodrigo Reis Mota ◽  
...  

Background: The fibre characteristics of fleece weight (FW), mean fibre diameter (MFD), coefficient of variation of mean fibre diameter (CVMFD) and common phenotypic correlations between them of Huacaya alpacas (Vicugna pacos) breed, were estimated on 959 one-year-old animals, under extensive rangeland management conditions. Methods: Samples were taken between 2005 and 2018 (male and female), of two coat colors (white and brown), at the Toccra CEDAT-DESCO Alpaca Development Center (Arequipa, Perú). Model were developed an they included year, sex and coat color and their interactions with FW, MDF and CVMDF of alpaca’s fibre under the experimental design was completely randomized with a factorial arrangement of 12×2×2. Result: Statistical significant effect was for year of birth × sex interaction when FW was analyzed while year of birth × color interaction explained MFD and CVMFD variation (p less than .001). Phenotypic correlation calculated by Pearson’s coefficient showed that FW was positively correlated with MFD (0.24) while CVMFD was positively correlated with MFD (0.10). Results from this study indicated that the FW was influenced by both year of birth and sex, while MFD and CVMFD were influenced by both year of birth and color. Overall, it was concluded that a genetic progress can be achieved in the huacaya alpaca breed of CEDAT genetic improvement program.


2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
K. L. Butler ◽  
M. B. Ferguson

As mean fibre diameter (MFD) is the primary determinant of mohair price we aimed to quantify the lifetime changes in mohair MFD as Angora goats aged and grew. Measurements were made over 12 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and diversity of genetic origins including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of sire, dam, birthweight, birth parity, liveweight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for does and castrated males (wethers) (n = 267 animals). Fleece-free liveweights (FFLwt) were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the liveweight recorded immediately before shearing. A restricted maximum likelihood growth curve model was developed for relating MFD to FFLwt, age and other measurements. A simple way of describing the results is: MFD = κ (FFLwt)β E; where κ is a parameter that can vary in a systematic way with shearing(age), breed, weaning weight, sire, dam and individual; β is a parameter that is the same for nearly the whole study; and E are independent errors from a log-normal distribution. The analysis shows that = 0.34, with s.e. () = 0.021. Thus, mohair MFD was allometrically related to the cube root of FFLwt over the lifetime of Angora goats. However, the allometric proportionality constant differed in a systematic way with age at shearing, genetic strain, weaning weight, sire, dam and individual. For Texan-breed goats, MFD decreased as weaning weight increased (P = 0.00016). The findings indicate that management factors that affect liveweight and weaning weight have lifetime effects on mohair fibre diameter and therefore the value of mohair and the profitability of the mohair enterprise.


1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (101) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Walker ◽  
GP Hall ◽  
DH Smith ◽  
RW Ponzoni ◽  
GJ Judson

The responses in liveweight, wool weight and survival, to selenium supplementation, were studied in young sheep from weaning to yearling age. The experiment was conducted over three years. In the first year, one sodium selenite supplementation rate was used (total dose 46.5 mg). During the following two years two supplementation rates were administered (total doses 46.5 mg and 93 mg). Mean concentrations of selenium in whole blood in unsupplemented sheep varied from 0.19-0.56 pmol l-l and from 0.20-0.44 pmol l-1 in the two years in which concentrations were measured. Supplementation, which commenced at lamb marking, increased the selenium concentration in sheep at weaning and thereafter. Selenium supplementation improved the break-of-season weight (P < 0.01) and yearling weight (P < 0.01 ) but not weaning weight (0.05 < P < 0.1 ). Hogget fleece weight was improved (P < 0.01 ) and mortality reduced (P < 0.01) by selenium supplementation. There was a treatment x year interaction in mortality rates (P < 0.01 ). There were no significant differences between the two supplementation rates


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Alfredo Martínez ◽  
Juan Esteban Pérez ◽  
Teófilo Herazo

<p>Se establecieron componentes de varianza, así como parámetros fenotípicos y genéticos, respecto de las variables ‘peso al nacimiento’, ‘peso al destete’ (ajustado a los 270 días) y ‘peso a los 480 días’ en un hato del ganado criollo colombiano Costeño con Cuernos. Se analizaron 2.281 registros de pesos al nacer, 1.722 de pesos al destete  y 1.086 de pesos ajustados a los 480 días utilizando la metodología de máxima verosimilitud restringida (DFREML). También se ajustó un modelo animal que incluyó efectos genéticos directos, maternos y de ambiente permanente, asumiendo como efectos fijos el año de nacimiento, el sexo del ternero y el número de partos de la madre; finalmente, se estimaron los parámetros genéticos ‘heredabilidad’, ‘repetibilildad’ y se establecieron correlaciones genéticas y fenotípicas. Se reportan bajas estimaciones de heredabilidad de los efectos directos, que varían entre 0,17 ± 0,001 y 0,21 ± 0,074 para los pesos al nacer y al destete, respectivamente; así mismo, fue baja la heredabilidad de los efectos genéticos maternos con relación al peso al nacimiento, aunque estos estimados aumentaron respecto de los pesos al nacer y al destete. Las correlaciones entre efectos directos y maternos fueron negativas, pero el mayor valor se encontró para el peso al nacimiento (-0,89). La contribución del ambiente permanente como proporción de la varianza fenotípica total fue baja y disminuyó a medida que aumentó la edad del animal.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Genetic and phenotypic evaluation to characterize growth traits of the native Colombian breed Costeño con Cuernos</strong></p><p>For a herd of native Colombian breed of cattle -Costeño con Cuernos (CCC)- estimates of variance components for phenotypic and genetic parameters were obtained for birth weight, weight at weaning (adjusted to 270 days) and weight at 480 days. Using the restricted maximum likelihood (REMI) methodology, 2281 birth weight records (PN), 1722 weaning weight records and 1086 weight records adjusted to 480 days were analyze by fitting a model which included direct and maternal genetics effects as well as permanent environmental effects, assuming that fixed effects were year of birth weight, calf gender and the mother number of births. The genetic parameters for heritability, repeatability, genetic and phenotypic correlation were estimated and genotypic and phenotypic correlation was established. Heritability estimates for direct effects are low and range from 0.17 ± 0.001 and 0.21 ± 0.074 for birth and weaning weight respectively; while estimates for maternal genetics effects were also low for PN, they were higher for weaning weight and weight at 480 days. There was a negative correlation between direct and maternal effects, and the higher value was for PN (-0.89). The contribution of the variable permanent environment measured as the contribution of the phenotypic variance was low and diminished as animal age increased.</p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 794 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
M. B. Ferguson ◽  
D. J. Gordon ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
C. M. Oldham ◽  
...  

Nutrition of ewes during pregnancy can have permanent impacts on the production potential of their progeny. The hypothesis tested in the experiments reported in this paper was that improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy and lactation increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny’s wool during their lifetime. In addition, that these effects on the progeny’s wool production can be predicted from the ewe’s liveweight profile. At sites in Victoria and Western Australia in each of 2 years, a wide range in the liveweight and condition score profiles of Merino ewes was generated by varying the amount of supplements fed from joining to Day 100 of pregnancy and the amount of feed on offer grazed from Day 100 to weaning. The site in Victoria was based on perennial pastures and included both single- and twin-bearing ewes whereas the site in Western Australia was based on annual pastures and included single-bearing ewes only. The production and characteristics of wool from the progeny were measured until 51 months of age at the site in Victoria and 33 months of age at the site in Western Australia. The nutritional treatments and the resulting changes in ewe liveweight had significant impacts on the fleece weight and to a lesser extent the fibre diameter of wool produced by their progeny, but there were no consistent effects on other characteristics of progeny fleece wool. The fleece weight of the progeny was related to the liveweight change during pregnancy of their mothers (P < 0.05) and the relationships were similar for the two experiments at each site. At the site in Victoria, a loss of 10 kg in ewe liveweight between joining and Day 100 of pregnancy reduced fleece weight by ~0.2 kg at each shearing until 51 months of age whereas gaining 10 kg from Day 100 of pregnancy to lambing had the opposite effect. The effect of changes in ewe liveweight during late pregnancy on the fleece weight of their progeny at each shearing was of similar magnitude at the site in Western Australia. When evident, the effect of the ewe liveweight profile on the fibre diameter of progeny wool was opposite to the effect on clean fleece weight and the effect of poor nutrition in early to mid pregnancy could be completely overcome by improving nutrition during late pregnancy. Twin-born and reared progeny produced ~0.3 kg less clean wool at each shearing (P < 0.001) that was 0.3-μm broader (P < 0.001) than that from single-born progeny at the site in Victoria. However, the effects of varying ewe nutrition and ewe liveweight change during pregnancy on fleece weight and fibre diameter of progeny wool were similar (P > 0.05) for both single- and twin-born or reared progeny. Overall, these results supported our hypothesis and it is clear that the nutritional management of Merino ewes during pregnancy is important for optimal wool production from their progeny during their lifetime.


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