GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC PARAMETERS OF EARLY GROWTH TRAITS OF LAMBS REARED ARTIFICIALLY IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. B. SHRESTHA ◽  
D. P. HEANEY

This study involved body weights of 6078 lambs from 525 sires of two synthetic dam strains developed at the Animal Research Centre with 50% Finnish Landrace background. Breeding was practiced in flocks A and B for lambing at 4-mo intervals under an 8-mo breeding cycle. Lambs were housed indoors in a controlled environment on expanded metal floors in windowless barns, reared artificially with milk replacer and solid diet from birth to weaning at 21 days of age. Thereafter, all lambs were fed solid diet to 70 days of age. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability for lamb weights at birth, weaning, 49 and 70 days of age were 0.25–0.26. Heritability estimates in the two synthetic dam strains were in close agreement (P > 0.05). Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates did not demonstrate any significant linear trends across lambing periods. The moderate levels of heritability estimates for lambs reared artificially under a controlled environment suggest that genetic response to selection could be enhanced by selecting lambs independent of potential maternal effects and competition among litter mates for a fixed quantity of milk. Estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations among various lamb weights ranged from 0.60 to 1.00, and from 0.51 to 0.93, respectively. Lamb weights having closer proximity in time showed higher correlations. Moderate to high genetic correlations between body weight of lambs at different ages indicated that selection for weight at one age should cause no adverse effects on body weight at other ages. Key words: Sheep, artificial rearing, lamb weights, heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 1409-1416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R Koots ◽  
John P Gibson

Abstract A data set of 1572 heritability estimates and 1015 pairs of genetic and phenotypic correlation estimates, constructed from a survey of published beef cattle genetic parameter estimates, provided a rare opportunity to study realized sampling variances of genetic parameter estimates. The distribution of both heritability estimates and genetic correlation estimates, when plotted against estimated accuracy, was consistent with random error variance being some three times the sampling variance predicted from standard formulae. This result was consistent with the observation that the variance of estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations between populations were about four times the predicted sampling variance, suggesting few real differences in genetic parameters between populations. Except where there was a strong biological or statistical expectation of a difference, there was little evidence for differences between genetic and phenotypic correlations for most trait combinations or for differences in genetic correlations between populations. These results suggest that, even for controlled populations, estimating genetic parameters specific to a given population is less useful than commonly believed. A serendipitous discovery was that, in the standard formula for theoretical standard error of a genetic correlation estimate, the heritabilities refer to the estimated values and not, as seems generally assumed, the true population values.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
M. Orunmuyi ◽  
I. A. Adeyinka ◽  
O.O Oni

A study was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters of fertility and hatchability in two strains of Rhode Island Red (RIR) Chickens denoted as Strain A and Strain B respectively using the full-sib (sire +dam variance) and maternal half-sib (dam variance) components. The birds were obtained from the selected populations of RIR Chickens kept at the poultry breeding programme of National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria. Settable eggs were collected from mating 28 cocks to 252 hens in a ratio of 1cock:9 hens from each strain. Eggs were pedigreed according to sire and dam. Results showed that values obtained for number of egg set (EGGSET), number of fertile eggs (NFERT), number of hatched chicks (NHATCH), percentage of chicks hatched from total eggs set (PHATCH) and percentage of chicks hatched from fertile eggs (PHATCHBL) were all higher in strain A than strain B. Heritability estimates obtained from the full-sib and maternal half-sib analysis ranged from medium to high for the two strains (0.24-0.96). The maternal half sib estimates were higher (0.40-0.96) than the estimates obtained from full sibs (0.24- 0.48). Genetic and phenotypic correlations obtained for both strains were positive and similar regardless of method of estimation. Genetic correlations between EGGSET and PFERT were low in strain A using both full-sib and maternal half-sib analyses (0.09-0.14). Phenotypic correlations between EGGSET and PFERT, PHATCH and PHATCHBL were also low in both strains and regardless of method of analyses. Moderate to high heritability estimates suggest that genetic improvement can be obtained by selection of these reproductive traits. The full-sib analysis for estimating heritability will be preferred since it is assumed that only additive genetic variance contributes to the covariance between family members.


1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
SI Mortimer ◽  
KD Atkins

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.


1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Guirgis ◽  
E. A. Afifi ◽  
E. S. E. Galal

SUMMARYA study using 1150 lambs to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters of some weight and fleece traits was carried out on coarse-wool Barki sheep. The weight traits were birth, weaning, yearling weights and daily gains whereas fleece traits included kemp score, staple length and greasy-fleece weight.Heritability estimates of weight traits were within the range 0·25–0·30. Those of fleece traits were 0·16, 0·21 and 0·43. The repeatability estimates of fleece traits were 0·18, 0·38 and 0·53 for staple length, greasy-fleece weight and kemp score respectively.Phenotypic correlations between body weight and fleece traits were mostly positive. Genetic correlations between greasy-fleece weight and body weights were mostly positive and of medium values. Those between kemp score and body weights were mostly negative, ranging from medium-high to high.


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. LEE ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER

The relationships between reproduction traits, body weight and milk yield were investigated using data from 1611 heifers and 733 cows from two lines of the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project. The data were analyzed separately for heifers and cows within lines using a mixed linear model containing fixed effects for station, year of birth, season of birth and random effect of sires. Heritability estimates and genetic correlations were estimated by a paternal half-sib analysis. Heritability estimates for heifer and cow reproduction traits ranged between 0 and 26% while those of body weights at calving and 112 d postpartum and milk yield ranged from 24 to 43%. Heifers with difficult calving had a higher incidence of retained placenta than those with normal calving. Phenotypic correlations between heifer reproduction traits and milk yield during first lactation were small. High milk production in cows was associated with longer calving interval. Phenotypic correlations between heifer's and cow's reproduction traits were small. Difficult calving in heifers impairs reproductive performance after calving resulting in greater number of days from calving to first and last breeding and leading to a longer calving interval. Key words: Reproduction traits, heifers, cows, milk yield, dairy cattle


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. B. SHRESTHA ◽  
A. FORTIN ◽  
D. P. HEANEY

Genetic and phenotypic relationships among carcass traits were calculated for 654 ram lambs from 210 sires of three synthetic strains developed at the Animal Research Centre. Lambs were housed indoors in a controlled environment on expanded metal floors and reared artificially with milk replacer and solid diets. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability at 36-kg body weight and 116 of age were moderate to high ranging from 0.38 to 0.67 for shoulder and leg (trimmed and lean), total trimmed retail cuts, total lean, chilled carcass weight and lean weight per day (P < 0.01). Estimates of phenotypic and genetic correlations between the above traits showed a significantly favorable relationship indicating their usefulness as criteria in selection for meatiness. Heritability estimates for front, back and total in rough retail cuts, trimmed loin cuts, lean in rack and loin, kidney fat weight and dressing percentage ranged from −0.19 to 0.27 (P > 0.05). Estimates involving loin, rack, front, back, total retail cuts, kidney fat wt, dressing percentage and chilled carcass weight per day showed lower and nonsignificant relationships with total trimmed retail cuts or total lean. Key words: Sheep, heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations, lamb carcass traits


1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 1523 ◽  
Author(s):  
SI Mortimer ◽  
KD Atkins

Components of the fleece and wool quality traits were measured or assessed 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 recorded were face cover score (FC), leg cover score (LC), neck fold score (NF), body fold score (BF), wax content (W), suint content (S), vegetable matter content (VM), dust penetration (D), follicle density (N) and follicle ratio (RA). Genetic differences within and between flocks of Merino sheep were examined for the traits, and estimates of heritability and within-flock genetic and phenotypic correlations and between-flock genetic correlations among the traits were obtained. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were also estimated between these traits and the major wool production traits: greasy fleece weight (GFW), clean fleece weight (CFW), fibre diameter (FD), body weight (BWT) and staple length (SL). Significant strain. flock within strain and flock effects were wresent for all traits. The influence of environmental effects (birth-rearing type, age at measurement and age of dam) on the traits was estimated, with the birth-rearing type being significant and the largest effect for most traits. Paternal half-sib heritability estimates were 0.44� 0.06 for FC, 0.35� 0.06 for LC, 0.24�0.05 for NF, 0.23�0.05 for BF, 0.38�0.07 for W, 0.42�0.07 for S, 0.06�0.04 for VM, 0.22�0.06 for D, 0.20� 0.07 for N and 0.21�0.07 for RA. Estimates of within-flock phenotypic and genetic correlations were in broad agreement with available published estimates. The implications of the results for Merino breeding programs are discussed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 829 ◽  
Author(s):  
RP Lewer ◽  
RR Woolaston ◽  
RR Howe

Data from a Western Australian experimental flock of Merino sheep were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), average fibre diameter (FD), and clean yield (Y) from hogget fleeces as well as liveweights at birth (BWT), weaning (3WT), 8-9 months (8WT), 11-12 months (11WT) and 14-15 months (14WT) of age. The estimates were derived for male and female hoggets using restricted maximum likelihood REML. Simple models were fitted in which most environmental effects were omitted for comparison with results from models containing all recorded significant environmental effects. There were no significant differences amongst heritability estimates between models or sexes. Genetic correlations were calculated between sexes for each trait, with none being significantly different to unity. Ranges of heritability estimates across models and sexes were: GFW, 0.30-0-42; CFW, 0.26-0.44; Y, 0.46-0.59; FD, 0.47-0.59; BWT, 0.16-0.33; 3WT, 0.32-0.39; 8WT, 0.22-0.36; llWT, 0-27-0.44; 14WT, 0.27-0.50. Estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations were in reasonable agreement with other literature values. As with the heritability estimates, the model fitted did not result in important differences in either genetic or phenotypic correlations.


1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. More O'Ferrall

SUMMARYRecords from a selection flock of Galway ewes collected over a 6-yr period (1966 to 1971) were used to obtain estimates of the phenotypic and genetic parameters of ewe productivity. The number of lambs born (NLB) and weaned (NLW), the weight of lamb weaned (WLW), ewe body weight (EBW) and greasy fleece weight (GFL) were used as measures of productivity, mean values being 1·25, 0·88, 25·6 kg, 52·8 kg and 2·8 kg, respectively. Each ewe's annual performance was adjusted to a 4-yr-old ewe equivalent and expressed as a deviation from the appropriate flock × year subgroup mean; these deviations were combined into a single index value for each ewe for NLB, NLW and WLW. Records for 975 individual ewes representing 84 sires which had three or more progeny were used in a half sib analysis of variance.Estimates of heritability were 0·18, 0·24 and 0·25 for NLB, NLW and WLW based on index record and 0·07, 0·16 and 0·30 respectively for 2-yr-old ewes. Heritability estimates of EBW and GFL were 0·73 and 0·52 respectively. The genetic correlations between EBW and NLB2, NLW2, WLW2 and GFL were 0·85, 0·42, 0·62 and 0·53 respectively; those between EBW and index records were slightly negative. Phenotypic correlations were generally lower than the corresponding genetic ones.Ewes born as multiples were more productive than singles. They were 1·8 kg lighter (P < 0·01) at 18 mo and weaned 2·5 kg more lamb (P < 0·05) at 2 yr of age. The repeatability of NLB ranged from 0 to 0·2.


2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211
Author(s):  
I. Yousif ◽  
A. Fadlelmoula ◽  
A. Ismail

Abstract. Data on 586 kids from 30 bucks and 120 does of Sudan desert goats was used in the present study. The study aimed at investigating the genetic variations of body weight at various ages. Range of heritability estimates for body weight from birth to 6th month was 0.04–0.54. The estimates from dam component ranged 0.28–0.68 which was higher than that from sire component estimates. The genetic correlations for body weight at various ages were substantially high, ranged from 0.51–0.99 as sire, dam and dam nested in sire components. Phenotypic correlations of body weight at various ages ranged from 0.43–0.99 with differences being significant (P<0.01). Low to high environmental correlations (0.10–0.33) were encountered as dam component. However, the random effect of sire was found to be significantly (P<0.01) positively correlated.


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