Genetics of lamb survival: A study of merino resource flocks in South Australia
Date
2009
Authors
Brien, Forbes
Hebart, Michelle Leanne
Jaensch, Kaylene
Smith, Darryl
Grimson, Richard
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Proceedings of the eighteenth conference : Matching genetics and environment : a new look at an old topic, Barossa Valley, S. A., 28th September - 1st October 2009 / Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics: pp.492-495
Statement of Responsibility
F.D. Brien, M.L. Hebart, K.S. Jaensch, D.H. Smith and R.J. Grimson
Conference Name
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics Conference (18th : 2009 : Barossa Valley, South Australia)
AAABG 2009
AAABG 2009
Abstract
Estimates of genetic parameters and variance components were made for lamb survival and correlated traits on data from the SA Merino Resource Flock (1988-1997) and the SA Selection Demonstration Flocks (1996-2006). Very low estimates of direct heritability were obtained for lamb survival, with values of 0.071, 0.044, 0.043, 0.032 and 0.032 for surviving birth, up to 3, 7, 40 (marking) and 91 days (weaning) after birth, respectively, indicating only slow progress would be likely from genetic improvement. Birth weight had low positive phenotypic correlations with lamb survival (values from 0.112 to 0.224), with the genetic correlations being negative to near zero (values from –0.137 to –0.025), indicating little would be gained in lamb survival from genetic manipulation of birth weight. The phenotypic correlations between lamb survival and birth coat score were virtually zero in all cases, however the genetic correlations were low and consistently positive (values from 0.071 to 0.192), being highest for survival to 3 days of age.
School/Discipline
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 2009