Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects on post-weaning body measurements of Muzaffarnagari sheep in India |
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Authors: | Mandal Ajoy Dass Gopal Rout P K Roy R |
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Institution: | (1) Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute, A/12 Block, Kalyani, 7412 35 Nadia, West Bengal, India;(2) Genetics and Breeding Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, 281 122, Uttar Pradesh, India |
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Abstract: | Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated for post-weaning (i.e., at 6, 9, and 12 months of age) body measurements
in Muzaffarnagari sheep maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India over a period
of 29 years (1976 through 2004). Records of 2,965 lambs descended from 162 rams and 1,213 ewes were used in the study. 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. 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. Moderate
estimates of direct heritability for body length (0.11–0.15), height at withers (0.14–0.19), and heart girth (0.14–0.24) of
lambs were observed at post-weaning stages of growth. Results suggest that only direct additive genetic effects were important
for body measurements at post-weaning stages of growth, and hence, modest rates of genetic progress were possible for post-weaning
body measurements. |
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