Estimates of (co)variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits of Avikalin sheep

(Co)variance components and genetic parameters for various growth traits of Avikalin sheep maintained at Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India, were estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood, fitting six animal models with various combinations of direct and maternal effects. Records of 3,840 animals descended from 257 sires and 1,194 dams were taken for this study over a period of 32 years (1977–2008). Direct heritability estimates (from best model as per likelihood ratio test) for weight at birth, weaning, 6 and 12 months of age, and average daily gain from birth to weaning, weaning to 6 months, and 6 to 12 months were 0.28 ± 0.03, 0.20 ± 0.03, 0.28 ± 0.07, 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.21 ± 0.03, 0.16 and 0.03 ± 0.03, respectively. Maternal heritability for traits declined as animal grows older and it was not at all evident at adult age and for post-weaning daily gain. Maternal permanent environmental effect (c ²) declined significantly with advancement of age of animal. A small effect of c ² on post-weaning weights was probably a carryover effect of pre-weaning maternal influence. A significant large negative genetic correlation was observed between direct and maternal genetic effects for all the traits, indicating antagonistic pleiotropy, which needs special care while formulating breeding plans. A fair rate of genetic progress seems possible in the flock by selection for all traits, but direct and maternal genetic correlation needs to be taken in to consideration.     

Direct and maternal (co)variance components,genetic parameters and annual trends for growth traits of Dorper sheep in semi-arid Kenya

Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for lamb growth traits for the Dorper sheep in semi-arid Kenya using an animal model. Data on lamb growth performance were extracted from available performance records at the Sheep and Goats Station in Naivasha, Kenya. Growth traits considered were body weights at birth (BW0, kg), at 1 month (BW1, kg), at 2 months (BW2, kg), at weaning (WW, kg), at 6 months (BW6, kg), at 9 months (BW9, kg) and at yearling (YW, kg), average daily gain from birth to 6 months (ADG_0–6, gm) and from 6 months to 1 year (ADG_6–12, gm). Direct heritability estimates were, correspondingly, 0.18, 0.36, 0.32, 0.28, 0.21, 0.14, 0.29, 0.12 and 0.30 for BW0, BW1, BW2, WW, BW6, BW9, YW, ADG_0–6 and ADG_6–12. The corresponding maternal genetic heritability estimates for body weights up to 9 months were 0.16, 0.10, 0.10, 0.19, 0.21 and 0.18. Direct-maternal genetic correlations were negative and high ranging between −0.47 to −0.94. Negative genetic correlations were observed for ADG_0–6–ADG_6–12, BW2–ADG_6–12, WW–ADG_6–12 and BW6–ADG_6–12. Phenotypic correlations ranged from 0.15 to 0.96. Maternal effects are important in the growth performance of the Dorper sheep though a negative correlation exists between direct and maternal genetic effects. The current study has provided important information on the extent of additive genetic variation in the existing flocks that could now be used in determining the merit of breeding rams and ewes for sale to the commercial flocks. The estimates provided would form the basis of designing breeding schemes for the Dorper sheep in Kenya. Implications of the study to future Dorper sheep breeding programmes are also discussed.     

Direct and maternal (co)variance components and genetic parameters for growth and reproductive traits in the Boran cattle in Kenya

Direct and maternal (co)variance components and genetic parameters were estimated for growth and reproductive traits in the Kenya Boran cattle fitting univariate animal models. Data consisted of records on 4502 animals from 81 sires and 1010 dams collected between 1989 and 2004. The average number of progeny per sire was 56. Direct heritability estimates for growth traits were 0.34, 0.12, 0.19, 0.08 and 0.14 for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 12-month weight (12W), 18-month weight (18W) and 24-month weight (24W), respectively. Maternal heritability increased from 0.14 at weaning to 0.34 at 12 months of age but reduced to 0.11 at 24 months of age. The maternal permanent environmental effect contributed 16%, 4% and 10% of the total phenotypic variance for WW, 12W and 18W, respectively. Direct-maternal genetic correlations were negative ranging from −0.14 to −0.58. The heritability estimates for reproductive traits were 0.04, 0.00, 0.15, 0.00 and 0.00 for age at first calving (AFC), calving interval in the first, second, and third parity, and pooled calving interval. Selection for growth traits should be practiced with caution since this may lead to a reduction in reproduction efficiency, and direct selection for reproductive traits may be hampered by their low heritability.     

Direct and maternal (co)variance components and heritability estimates for body weights in Chokla sheep

Estimates of (co)variance components were obtained for weights at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age in Chokla sheep maintained at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India, over a period of 21 years (1980–2000). Records of 2030 lambs descended from 150 rams and 616 ewes were used in the study. Analyses were carried out by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Six different animal models were fitted for all traits. The best model was chosen after testing the improvement of the log-likelihood values. Direct heritability estimates were inflated substantially for all traits when maternal effects were ignored. Heritability estimates for weight at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0.20, 0.18, 0.16, 0.22 and 0.23, respectively in the best models. Additive maternal and maternal permanent environmental effects were both significant at birth, accounting for 9% and 12% of phenotypic variance, respectively, but the source of maternal effects (additive versus permanent environmental) at later ages could not be clearly identified. The estimated repeatabilities across years of ewe effects on lamb body weights were 0.26, 0.14, 0.12, 0.13, and 0.15 at birth, weaning, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, respectively. These results indicate that modest rates of genetic progress are possible for all weights.     

Variance components due to direct genetic, maternal genetic and permanent environmental effect for growth and feed-efficiency traits in young male Japanese Black cattle

Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated using data recorded on 740 young male Japanese Black cattle during the period from 1971 to 2003. Traits studied were feed intake (FI), feed‐conversion ratio (FCR), residual feed intake (RFI), average daily gain (ADG), metabolic body weight (MWT) at the mid‐point of the test period and body weight (BWT) at the finish of the test (345 days). Data were analysed using three alternative animal models (direct, direct + maternal environmental, and direct + maternal genetic effects). Comparison of the log likelihood values has shown that the direct genetic effect was significant (p < 0.05) for all traits and that the maternal environmental effects were significant (p < 0.05) for MWT and BWT. The heritability estimates were 0.20 ± 0.12 for FI, 0.14 ± 0.10 for FCR, 0.33 ± 0.14 for RFI, 0.19 ± 0.12 for ADG, 0.30 ± 0.14 for MWT and 0.30 ± 0.13 for BWT. The maternal effects (maternal genetic and maternal environmental) were not important in feed‐efficiency traits. The genetic correlation between RFI and ADG was stronger than the corresponding correlation between FCR and ADG. These results provide evidence that RFI should be included for genetic improvement in feed efficiency in Japanese Black breeding programmes.     

Estimation of (co)variance components and genetic parameters of greasy fleece weights in Muzaffarnagari sheep

Variance components and genetic parameters for greasy fleece weights of Muzaffarnagari sheep maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, over a period of 29 years (1976 to 2004) were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML), fitting six animal models including various combinations of maternal effects. Data on body weights at 6 (W6) and 12 months (W12) of age were also included in the study. Records of 2807 lambs descended from 160 rams and 1202 ewes were used for the study. Direct heritability estimates for fleece weight at 6 (FW6) and 12 months of age (FW12), and total fleece weights up to 1 year of age (TFW) were 0.14, 0.16 and 0.25, respectively. Maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects did not significantly influence any of the traits under study. Genetic correlations among fleece weights and body weights were obtained from multivariate analyses. Direct genetic correlations of FW6 with W6 and W12 were relatively large, ranging from 0.61 to 0.67, but only moderate genetic correlations existed between FW12 and W6 (0.39) and between FW12 and W12 (0.49). The genetic correlation between FW6 and FW12 was very high (0.95), but the corresponding phenotypic correlation was much lower (0.28). Heritability estimates for all traits were at least 0.15, indicating that there is potential for their improvement by selection. The moderate to high positive genetic correlations between fleece weights and body weights at 6 and 12 months of age suggest that some of the genetic factors that influence animal growth also influence wool growth. Thus selection to improve the body weights or fleece weights at 6 months of age will also result in genetic improvement of fleece weights at subsequent stages of growth.     

Genetic Analysis of Growth Traits in Muzaffarnagari sheep

Data on 4112 Muzaffarnagari sheep, maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, and recorded between 1976 and 1999, were analysed to study the growth-related traits and their genetic control. The average weights at birth, and at 12 months of age were 3.1±0.2 and 28.0±0.6 kg, respectively. The pre- and post-weaning average daily weight gains were 127.8±3.3 g and 49.4±1.6 g, and the associated growth efficiencies were 3.59±0.08 and 0.95±0.03. Significant differences associated with the year of lambing were observed in body weight, weight gain and efficiency in weight gain at different stages of growth. The lambs born in the dam's second parity were generally of heavier weight and higher daily weight gain than those born in other parities. Males were heavier and had a higher weight gain than females at almost all stages of growth and the differences tended to increase with age. Single-born lambs had a distinct advantage over those born in multiple births at all stages of growth. The heritabilities of all body weights, weight gains and efficiency in weight gains at different stages of growth were moderate (0.18–0.26), except for birth weight, which was of low heritability (0.068±0.01). The phenotypic and genetic correlations among the different body weights were positive and high, except for birth weight. The genetic correlation of the pre- and post-weaning average daily weight gains with body weights were high and positive.     

Genetic parameter estimates for growth traits in Horro sheep

Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated for growth traits: birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), 6‐month weight (6MWT) and yearling weight (YWT) in indigenous Ethiopian Horro sheep using the average information REML (AIREML). Four different models: sire model (model 1), direct animal model (model 2), direct and maternal animal model (model 3) and direct–maternal animal model including the covariance between direct and maternal effects (model 4) were used. Bivariate analysis by model 2 was also used to estimate genetic correlation between traits. Estimates of direct heritability obtained from models 1–4, respectively, were for BWT 0.25, 0.27, 0.18 and 0.32; for WWT, 0.16, 0.26, 0.1 and 0.14; for 6MWT 0.18, 0.26, 0.16 and 0.16; and for YWT 0.30, 0.28, 0.23, and 0.31. Maternal heritability estimates of 0.12 and 0.23 for BWT; 0.19 and 0.24 for WWT; 0.09 and 0.09 for 6MWT and 0.08 and 0.14 for YWT were obtained from models 3 and 4, respectively. The correlations between direct and maternal additive genetic effects for BWT, WWT, 6MWT and YWT were –0.64, –0.42, 0.002 and –0.46, respectively. On the other hand, the genetic correlations between BWT and the rest of growth traits (WWT, 6MWT and YWT, respectively) were 0.45, 0.33 and 0.31, whereas correlations between WWT and 6MWT, WWT and YWT and 6MWT and YWT were 0.98, 0.84 and 0.87, respectively. The medium to high direct and maternal heritability estimates obtained for BWT and YWT indicate that in Horro sheep faster genetic improvement through selection is possible for these traits and it should consider both (direct and maternal) h² estimates. However, since the direct‐maternal genetic covariances were found to be negative, caution should be made in making selection decisions. The high genetic correlation among early growth traits imply that genetic improvement in any one of the traits could be made through indirect selection for correlated traits.     

Model definition for genetic evaluation of purebred and crossbred lambs including heterosis

Crossbreeding is a common practice among commercial sheep producers to improve animal performance. However, genetic evaluation of U.S. sheep is performed within breed type (terminal sire, semi-prolific, and western range). While incorporating crossbred records may improve assessment of purebreds, it requires accounting for heterotic and breed effects in the evaluation. The objectives of this study were to: 1) describe the development of a paternal composite (PC) line, 2) determine the effect of direct and maternal heterosis on growth traits of crossbred lambs, 3) estimate (co)variance components for direct and maternal additive, and uncorrelated maternal environmental, effects, and 4) provide an interpretation of the estimates of random effects of genetic groups, and to use those solutions to compare the genetic merit of founding breed subpopulations. Data included purebred and crossbred records on birth weight (BN; n = 14,536), pre-weaning weight measured at 39 or 84 d (WN; n = 9,362) depending on year, weaning weight measured at 123 d (WW; n = 9,297), and post-weaning weight measured at 252 d (PW; n = 1,614). Mean (SD) body weights were 5.3 (1.1), 16.8 (3.9) and 28.0 (7.6), 39.1 (7.2), and 54.2 (8.7) kg for BN, WN (at the two ages), WW, and PW, respectively. In designed experiments, the Siremax, Suffolk, Texel, Polypay, Columbia, Rambouillet, and Targhee breeds were compared within the same environment. Estimates of heterotic effects and covariance components were obtained using a multiple trait animal model. Genetic effects based on founders’ breeds were significant and included in the model. Percent estimates of direct heterosis were 2.89 ± 0.61, 2.60 ± 0.65, 4.24 ± 0.56, and 6.09 ± 0.86, and estimates of maternal heterosis were 1.92 ± 0.87, 4.64 ± 0.80, 3.95 ± 0.66, and 4.04 ± 0.91, for BN, WN, WW, and PW, respectively. Correspondingly, direct heritability estimates were 0.17 ± 0.02, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.17 ± 0.02, and 0.46 ± 0.04 for BN, WN, WW, and PW. Additive maternal effects accounted for trivial variation in PW. For BN, WN, and WW, respectively, maternal heritability estimates were 0.16 ± 0.02, 0.10 ± 0.02, and 0.07 ± 0.01. Uncorrelated maternal environmental effects accounted for little variation in any trait. Direct and maternal heterosis had considerable impact on growth traits, emphasizing the value of crossbreeding and the need to account for heterosis, in addition to breed effects, if crossbred lamb information is included in genetic evaluation.     

Estimation of additive and non-additive genetic parameters for reproduction, growth and survival traits in crosses between the Moroccan D'man and Timahdite sheep breeds

Genetic breed differences, heterosis, recombination loss, and heritability for reproduction traits, lamb survival and growth traits to 90 days of age were estimated from crossing D'man and Timahdite Moroccan breeds. The crossbreeding parameters were fitted as covariates in the model of analysis. The REML method was used to estimate (co)variance components using an animal model. The first estimation of crossbreeding effects for Timahdite and D'man breeds shows that breed differences in litter traits are mainly of maternal genetic origin: +1.04 lambs, +1.88 kg, +0.60 lambs, and +2.23 kg in favour of D'man breed for litter size at lambing, litter weight at lambing, litter size at weaning, and litter weight at 90 days, respectively. The breed differences in lamb growth and survival are also of maternal genetic origin for the majority of traits studied, but in favour of the Timahdite breed: +3.48 kg, +45 g day⁻¹ and +0.19 lambs for weight at 90 days, for average daily gain between 30 and 90 days of age, and for lamb survival to 90 days, respectively. The D'man direct genetic effect was low and negative for survival and birth weight of lambs during the first month of life. All traits studied showed positive heterosis effects. Recombination loss effects were not significant. Therefore, crossbreeding of Timahdite with D'man breeds of sheep can result in an improved efficiency of production of saleable lambs. Heritability estimates were medium for litter size but low for the other reproduction traits. Direct heritabilities were low for body weights and lamb survival at 90 days and the corresponding maternal heritabilities showed, however, low to moderate estimates. For litter traits, the estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations were positive and particularly high for genetic correlations.     

Variance components and genetic parameters for weight and size at birth in the Boer goat

Variance components, heritability (direct additive and maternal) and correlations (additive genetic, phenotypic, maternal genetic and environmental) of body weight (BW) and body size including length (BL), height (BH) and chest girth (BCG) at birth in Boer goats were estimated on the basis of 5096 records obtained from a Boer Goat Breeding Station in Yidu, China, during 2001–2005. The parameters were estimated using a DFREML procedure by excluding or including maternal genetic or permanent maternal environmental effects, four different analysis models were fitted in order to determine the optimum model for each trait. The environmental factors such as year, season, sex and litter size (LS, number of kids) were investigated as the fixed effects. The results showed that the maternal effects were important determinants of estimated the genetic parameters for birth traits. Year and season had significant effect on birth traits. Single births and male kids had the heaviest live weight and the largest body size at birth. The mean values and standard deviation (SD) of BW, BL, BH and BCG were 3.87 ± 0.85 kg, 31.67 ± 2.87 cm, 32.92 ± 2.80 cm, 33.46 ± 3.21 cm. The mean values and standard error (SE) of direct additive heritability estimates for BW, BL, BH and BCG calculated with the optimum model were 0.19 ± 0.08, 0.14 ± 0.07, 0.24 ± 0.09 and 0.25 ± 0.10, respectively. For all the birth traits, estimates of the correlations between direct additive and maternal genetic (r_a–m) were negative. The estimates of additive genetic and phenotypic correlations among the birth traits were high and positive, and implied no genetic antagonisms among these traits analyzed. The estimates of maternal genetic correlations also were high and positive. Medium and positive environmental correlations indicated the important effects of environmental factors on early growth traits.     

Influence of maternal and additive genetic effects on offspring growth traits in Beetal goat

The purpose of the present study was to obtain estimates of variance components and genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects on various growth traits in Beetal goat by fitting four animal models, attempting to separate direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects under restricted maximum likelihood procedure. The data of 3,308 growth trait records of Beetal kids born during the period from 2004 to 2019 were used in the present study. Based on best fitted models, the direct additive h² estimates were 0.06, 0.27, 0.37, 0.17 and 0.10 for birth weight (BWT), weight at 3 (WT3), 6 (WT6), 9 (WT9) and 12 (WT12) months of age, respectively. Maternal permanent environmental effects significantly contributed for 10% and 7% of total variance for BWT and WWT, respectively, which reduced direct heritability by 40 and 10% for respective traits from the models without these effects. For average daily gain (ADG1) and Kleiber ratios (KR1) up to weaning period (3 months) traits, maternal permanent environmental effects accounted for 7% and 8% of phenotypic variance, respectively, and resulted in a reduction of 6.6% and 5.4% in direct h² of respective traits. For post-weaning traits, the maternal effects were non-significant (p > .05) which indicates diminishing influence of mothering ability for these traits. High and positive genetic correlations were obtained among WT3-WT6, WT6-WT9 and WT9-WT12 with correlations of 0.96 ± 0.25, 0.84 ± 0.23 and 0.90 ± 0.13, respectively. Thus, early selection at weaning age can be practised taking into consideration maternal variation for effective response to selection in Beetal goat.     

Genetic parameters for growth traits in Mexican Nellore cattle

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for growth traits in Mexican Nellore cattle. A univariate animal model was used to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters. The traits evaluated were birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and yearling weight (YW). Models used included the fixed effects of contemporary groups (herd, sex, year, and season of birth) and age of dam (linear and quadratic) as a covariate. They also included the animal, dam, and residual as random effects. Phenotypic means (SD) for BW, WW, and YW were 31.4 (1.6), 175 (32), and 333 (70) kg, respectively. Direct heritability, maternal heritability, and the genetic correlation between additive direct and maternal effects were 0.59, 0.17, and −0.90 for BW; 0.29, 0.17, and −0.90 for WW; and 0.24, 0.15, and −0.86 for YW, respectively. The results showed moderate direct and maternal heritabilities for the studied traits. The genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects were negative and high for all the traits indicating important tradeoffs between direct and maternal effects. There are significant possibilities for genetic progress for the growth traits studied if they are included in a breeding program considering these associations.     

The effect of ewe maternal behaviour score on lamb and litter survival

The study was carried out on a commercial New Zealand sheep farm with high ewe reproductive rates and lamb survival produced through intensive selection in its Coopworth flock for maternal ability.Heritability and repeatability estimates were derived for ewe maternal behaviour score (MBS) and litter survival (LIS). Heritability estimates were derived for lamb survival as a trait of the lamb (LAS) for all lambs, for twin (LAS2) and for triplet (LAS3) lambs.MBS and LIS were measured on 1954 dams, for a maximum of four parities: 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. MBS was measured at tagging on a 5-point scale (1=poor, 5=excellent) when the dam's lambs were between 12 and 36 h old. The mean MBS in this study was 3.3 and increased with litter size. LIS was measured from birth to weaning. Mean litter survival was 83%. LIS increased significantly as MBS increased (P<0.01). LIS decreased as the size of the litter increased (P<0.01). Age of dam was a nonsignificant effect on LIS (P>0.05).LAS was measured from birth to weaning on 4171 Coopworth lambs. Mean LAS was higher for lambs born as twins compared to lambs born as singles and lowest for lambs born as triplets (P<0.01). LAS was lower for lambs born to dams aged 2 years. This effect was significant for all lambs, regardless of litter size at birth and for the triplet lamb data set (P<0.01). The effects of age of dam and sex of lamb on twin lamb survival were not significant (P>0.05). Ewe lamb survival rate was higher when compared to ram lambs in the full data set, however the relationship was reversed for the triplet lamb data set where ram lamb survival was greatest (P<0.01). LAS decreased as the MBS of its dam increased (P<0.01). The relationship was significant for lambs in the full data set and the twin data set (P<0.05).MBS and LIS were under minimal genetic control. The heritability and repeatability for MBS were both 0.09. The heritability and repeatability for dam LIS were 0.0 and 0.11. Heritability for LAS over all lambs attributed to direct effects was 0.14, while the heritability attributed to maternal effects was 0.11. The heritability for twin (LAS2) and triplet (LAS3) lamb survival differed. Heritability attributed to direct and maternal effects were 0.0 and 0.21, respectively, for twin lambs and 0.08 and 0.16, respectively, for triplets.The genetic correlation between maternal and direct effect for LAS was −0.74. It is possible that the genes that regulate physiological and biochemical processes for survival are incompatible with the genes that enhance ewe-lamb bonding. For example, the genes that regulate the physiological factors to reduce gregariousness at parturition may in fact be the same genes that encourage isolation in the neonate from its littermates and dam.There is minimal genetic variation in this flock for lamb survival and maternal traits. Low genetic variation suggests that selection will be ineffective, and that farmers must consider environment and management techniques for improving lamb survival.     

Parameter estimates for number of lambs born at different ages and for 18-month body weight of Rambouillet sheep

Genetic parameters were estimated using REML with animal models for number of lambs born and 18-mo body weight in Rambouillet sheep. Number of lambs born was modeled either as repeated measurements on the same trait or as different traits at different ages. The original data for number of lambs born were separated according to age of the ewe into two classes: 2 and 3 yr, and older than 3 yr. Numbers of ewes with lambing records for the age classes were 653 and 466 with 1,106 and 1,118 records, respectively. For the data set that included all ages, the number of ewes was 684 with 2,224 records, and for 18-mo body weight the number of ewes measured was 557. For number of lambs born, the animal model included random genetic, permanent environmental, and residual environmental effects and fixed effects for age of ewe, year of lambing, and month of year of lambing. Lambing day within season was used as a covariate. For 18-mo body weight, year of birth of ewe was used as a fixed effect. Actual age in days when the ewe was weighed was used as a covariate. Estimates of heritability for number of lambs born by age group were .04, for 2- and 3-yr old ewes, and .06, for ewes greater than 3 yr old, from the two-trait (two age of ewe classes) analyses and .06 when all ages were included. Estimates of heritability for number of lambs born from the single-trait analyses were somewhat less than estimates from two-trait analyses. Estimate of genetic correlation between number of lambs born for the 2 and 3 yr and the >3 yr classes was near unity (1.00), which suggests that a repeated measures model for number of lambs born is adequate for making selection decisions. Estimate of genetic correlation between number of lambs born and 18-mo body weight was .35 with a heritability estimate of .48 for 18-mo body weight. The estimate of genetic correlation suggests that selection for increased number of lambs born would result in increased 18-mo body weight.     

Estimation of direct and maternal (co)variance components for pre-weaning growth traits in Muzaffarnagari sheep

Genetic parameters and (co)variance components were estimated for weight at birth and at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days of age for a flock of Muzaffarnagari sheep maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura over a period of 27 years (1976–2002). Records on 5201 lambs descended from 1568 ewes and 170 rams were included in the analysis. Analyses were carried out by REML fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Six different animal models were fitted for all traits, and the best model was chosen after testing improvements in log-likelihood values. Direct heritability estimates were inflated substantially for all traits when maternal effects were ignored. Direct heritability estimates were 0.08 ± 0.02 for birth weight and 0.02 ± 0.02, 0.02 ± 0.02, 0.27 ± 0.08, 0.09 ± 0.04, and 0.29 ± 0.08 for weights at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days, respectively. Maternal genetic effects contributed only 4 to 8% of the total phenotypic variance from birth to 30 days of age, and this effect diminished further with increasing age. Maternal heritability was low for pre-weaning growth traits and should have only a small effect on selection response. Estimates of the fraction of variance due to maternal permanent environmental effects were 0.09 ± 0.02, 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.12 ± 0.03, 0.11 ± 0.04, 0.14 ± 0.02, and 0.08 ± 0.04 for body weights at birth and at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days, respectively. These results indicate that selecting for improved maternal and/or direct effects in Muzaffarnagari sheep would generate only slow genetic progress in early growth traits.     

Direct and maternal genetic parameters for measures of feed consumption and feed efficiency in young male Japanese Black cattle

Direct and maternal genetic parameters for measures of feed consumption and feed efficiency were estimated using data recorded on 514 performance tested young male Japanese Black cattle during the period from 1978–2004. Measures of feed consumption were daily feed intake, concentrate intake, ratio of roughage intake to feed intake, total digestible nutrient intake, digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and metabolizable energy intake. Feed efficiency traits included feed conversion ratio (FCR), total digestible nutrient conversion ratio (TCR), digestible crude protein conversion ratio (DCR) and residual feed intake. Data were analyzed using three alternative animal models (including direct and direct plus maternal genetic effects (including or excluding covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects)). The direct heritability estimates for all the measures of feed consumption and feed efficiency were moderate to high, suggesting that sufficient genetic variation exists in these traits which should respond to selection. All the measures of feed consumption were genetically more strongly correlated with residual feed intake than with other measures of feed efficiency. Maternal heritability estimates for DCPI, FCR and TCR were not significantly different from zero, while the corresponding estimates for all the studied traits were low (ranged from 0.07 to 0.24). The estimates of direct heritability for measures of feed consumption were reduced up to 34% when maternal genetic effect was considered in the model. An antagonistic relationship existed between direct and maternal genetic effect (r_am) for FCR and DCR, which biased the estimates of direct heritability downwards. The results indicate that maternal effects play an important role in measures of feed consumption and most of the feed efficiency traits, which should be accounted for these traits in genetic evaluation system.     

Genetic and environmental factors affecting perinatal and preweaning survival of D’man lambs

This study examined the viability of 4,554 D’man lambs born alive at Errachidia research station in south-eastern Morocco between 1988 and 2009. Lamb survival to 1, 10, 30 and 90 days old was 0.95, 0.93, 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. The majority of deaths (85.7 %) occurred before 10 days of age. Type and period of birth both had a significant effect on lamb survival traits, whereas age of dam and sex of lamb did not. The study revealed a curvilinear relationship between lamb’s birth weight and survival traits from birth to 90 days, with optimal birth weights for maximal perinatal and preweaning survival varying according to type of birth from 2.6 to 3.5 kg. Estimation of variance components, using an animal model including direct and maternal genetic effects, the permanent maternal environment as well as fixed effects, showed that direct and maternal heritability estimates for survival traits between birth and 90 days were mostly low and varied from 0.01 to 0.10; however, direct heritability for survival at 1 day from birth was estimated at 0.63. Genetic correlations between survival traits and birth weight were positive and low to moderate. It was concluded that survival traits of D’man lambs between birth and 90 days could be improved through selection, but genetic progress would be low. However, the high proportion of the residual variance to total variance reinforces the need to improve management and lambing conditions.     

Genotypic expression with different ages of dams: III. Weight traits of sheep.

Correlations between genetic expression in lambs when dams were young (1 yr), middle-aged (2 and 3 yr), or older (older than 3 yr) were estimated with three-trait analyses for weight traits. Weights at birth (BWT) and weaning (WWT) and ADG from birth to weaning were used. Numbers of observations were 7,731, 9,518, 9,512, and 9,201 for Columbia (COLU), Polypay (POLY), Rambouillet (RAMB), and Targhee (TARG) breeds of sheep, respectively. When averaged, relative estimates for WWT and ADG were similar across breeds. Estimates were variable across breeds. On average, direct heritability was greater when environment was young dams (.44 for BWT and .34 for WWT) than when environment was dams of middle age or older (.24 and .28 for BWT and .20 and .16 for WWT, respectively). Maternal heritability was greater when dams were middle-aged or older (.28 and .22 vs .18) for BWT but was greater when dams were younger (.10 vs .05 and .04) for WWT. The estimates of genetic correlations for direct effects across age of dam environments averaged .32 for birth weight and averaged .70 for weaning weight. Average estimates of maternal genetic correlations across age of dam classes were .36 or less for both BWT and WWT. Average estimates of correlations among maternal permanent environmental effects were .49 or less across age of dam classes. Total maternal effects accounted for .33 to .42 of phenotypic variance for BWT and for .09 to .26 of phenotypic variance for WWT. The average estimates of genetic correlations between expressions of the same genotypes with different ages of dams suggest that measurements of BWT of lambs with dams in young, middle, and older age classes should be considered to be separate traits for genetic evaluation and that for WWT measurements with young age of dam class and combined middle and older age of dam classes should be considered to be separate traits for genetic evaluation.     

Nuclear, cytoplasmic, and environmental effects on growth, fat, and muscle traits in suffolk lambs from a sire referencing scheme

Maternal effects are an important source of variation in early growth and body traits in sheep but are often excluded from genetic analyses. Maternal additive genetic, maternal environmental, and cytoplasmic effects were investigated in a large Suffolk breeding scheme using a range of models involving different combinations of these effects with the direct additive genetic effect. Weights at 8 wk of age and at scanning (mean age 146 d) and ultrasonically measured muscle and fat depth were analyzed using an animal model on 55,683 (8-wk weight) and 28,947 (scanning traits) lamb records. Simple additive models always overestimated the heritability of all traits when compared to more complex models. The successive inclusion of maternal environmental, maternal genetic, and the covariance between direct and maternal additive effects in the model significantly improved the fit for almost all models and all traits, as indicated by a likelihood ratio test. Under the full model, the heritability of both weight traits was low (0.14 and 0.20 for 8-wk and scanning weight, respectively). The maternal additive and maternal environmental effects, as a proportion of the phenotypic variance, were similar (0.10 and 0.08 for 8-wk weight and 0.07 and 0.06 for scanning weight). The two scanning traits had higher heritabilities (0.29 and 0.27 for muscle depth and fat depth, respectively) with low levels of maternal genetic and maternal environmental variance. No evidence was found of a cytoplasmic effect on any of the traits studied under the full model. Breeding schemes for early growth and body traits in sheep should account for maternal effects in their genetic evaluations in order to improve their accuracy. The exact model to use will depend on the trait and individual circumstances of the scheme.