Genetic parameters for birth weight, growth, and litter size in Nordic sheep breeds

Abstract In this study, genetic parameters were estimated for the Danish populations of Danish Marsk, Finnish Landrace, Gotland Pelt and Spel for birth weight (BW), average daily gain until two months (DG2) and litter size (LS). A multivariate animal model was used for estimation of genetic parameters, including fixed effects, both direct and maternal additive genetic effects, common litter effects and permanent environmental effects. Mean birth weight and DG2 ranged from, respectively, 3.39 kg and 262 g to 4.61kg and 286 g. Litter size ranged from 1.60 to 2.07. Direct heritability for BW ranged from 0.12 to 0.24, and maternal heritability for BW was about 0.23 for all breeds. Direct heritability of DG2 ranged from 0.19 to 0.33. The heritability for LS was between 0.08 and 0.13. The significant genetic correlations between the direct and maternal effect on both BW and DG2 were negative. The genetic correlations between the growth traits and LS were not uniform.

[1]  N. Fogarty,et al.  A review of genetic parameter estimates for wool, growth, meat and reproduction traits in sheep , 2005 .

[2]  G. Erasmus,et al.  GENETIC PARAMETER ESTIMATES IN SABI SHEEP , 2003 .

[3]  G. Erasmus,et al.  Genetic parameter estimates for pre-weaning weight traits in Dorper sheep. , 2001, Small ruminant research : the journal of the International Goat Association.

[4]  L. D. Van Vleck,et al.  Genetic correlations for litter weight weaned with growth, prolificacy, and wool traits in Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep. , 2001, Journal of animal science.

[5]  C. Hagger.  Genetic and environmental influences on size of first litter in sheep, estimated by the REML method. , 2000 .

[6]  G. Erasmus,et al.  Genetic studies on the South African Mutton Merino: growth traits , 2000 .

[7]  L D Van Vleck,et al.  Genetic parameters for growth traits for a composite terminal sire breed of sheep. , 1999, Journal of animal science.

[8]  D. Notter,et al.  GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR LAMB BIRTH WEIGHT IN SPRING AND AUTUMN LAMBING , 1998 .

[9]  A. G. Larsgard,et al.  Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects on weights and ultrasonic muscle and fat depth of lambs , 1998 .

[10]  D. Notter.  Genetic parameters for growth traits in Suffolk and Polypay sheep , 1998 .

[11]  A. Näsholm,et al.  Genetic relationships of lamb weight, maternal ability, and mature ewe weight in Swedish finewool sheep. , 1996, Journal of animal science.

[12]  J. J. Olivier,et al.  Direct and maternal (co) variance components and heritability estimates for body weight at different ages and fleece traits in Afrino sheep , 1995 .

[13]  D. Notter,et al.  Heritabilities and genetic correlations of body weight, testis growth and ewe lamb reproductive traits in crossbred sheep , 1995 .

[14]  Robin Thompson,et al.  Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Variance Components for Univariate Animal Models Using Sparse Matrix Techniques and Average Information , 1995 .

[15]  N. Fogarty.  Genetic parameters for live weight, fat and muscle measurements, wool production and reproduction in sheep: a review , 1995 .

[16]  R. Kemp,et al.  Estimation of variance components for lamb weights in three sheep populations. , 1994, Journal of animal science.

[17]  D. Gianola,et al.  A comparison of normal and nonnormal mixed models for number of lambs born in Norwegian sheep. , 1994, Journal of animal science.

[18]  L. D. Van Vleck,et al.  Estimates of variances due to direct and maternal effects for growth traits of Romanov sheep. , 1993, Journal of animal science.

[19]  D. D. Kress,et al.  Direct and maternal effects on birth and weaning weight in sheep , 1993 .

[20]  J. V. Wyk,et al.  Variance component and heritability estimates of early growth traits in the Elsenburg Dormer sheep stud , 1993 .

[21]  S. Gerstmayr.  Impact of the data structure on the reliability of the estimated genetic parameters in an animal model with maternal effects , 1992 .

[22]  O. W. Robison.  The role of maternal effects in animal breeding. V. Maternal effects in swine. , 1972, Journal of animal science.