Genetic and phenotypic relationships between ewe reproductive performance and wool and growth traits in Uruguayan Ultrafine Merino sheep.

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dc.citation.volume101
dc.contributor.authorRamos Z
dc.contributor.authorGarrick DJ
dc.contributor.authorBlair HT
dc.contributor.authorDe Barbieri I
dc.contributor.authorCiappesoni G
dc.contributor.authorMontossi F
dc.contributor.authorKenyon PR
dc.coverage.spatialUnited States
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-10T01:04:43Z
dc.date.available2024-09-10T01:04:43Z
dc.date.issued2023-03-07
dc.description.abstractThis study reports genetic parameters for yearling and adult wool and growth traits, and ewe reproductive performance. Data were sourced from an Uruguayan Merino flock involved in a long-term selection program focused on reduced fiber diameter (FD), and increased clean fleece weight (CFW) and live weight (LW). Pedigree and performance data from approximately 5,700 mixed-sex yearling lambs and 2,000 mixed-age ewes born between 1999 and 2019 were analyzed. The number of records ranged from 1,267 to 5,738 for yearling traits, and from 1,931 to 7,079 for ewe productive and reproductive performance. Data on yearling and adult wool traits, LW and body condition score (BCS), yearling eye muscle area (Y_EMA), and fat thickness (Y_FAT), and several reproduction traits were analyzed. The genetic relationships between FD and reproduction traits were not different from zero. Moderate unfavorable genetic correlations were found between adult CFW and ewe lifetime reproduction traits (-0.34 ± 0.08 and -0.33 ± 0.09 for the total number of lambs weaned and total lamb LW at weaning, respectively). There were moderate to strong positive genetic correlations between yearling LW and all reproduction traits other than ewe-rearing ability (-0.08 ± 0.11) and pregnancy rate (0.18 ± 0.08). The genetic correlations between Y_EMA and reproduction traits were positive and ranged from 0.15 to 0.49. Moderate unfavorable genetic correlations were observed between yearling FD and Y_FAT and between adult FD and BCS at mating (0.31 ± 0.12 and 0.23 ± 0.07, respectively). The genetic correlations between adult fleece weight and ewe BCS at different stages of the cycle were negative, but generally not different from zero. This study shows that selection for reduced FD is unlikely to have any effect on reproduction traits. Selection for increased yearling LW and Y_EMA will improve ewe reproductive performance. On the other hand, selection for increased adult CFW will reduce ewe reproductive performance, whereas selection for reduced FD will negatively impact body fat levels. Although unfavorable genetic relationships between wool traits and both FAT and ewe reproductive performance existed, simultaneous improvements in the traits would occur using appropriately designed indexes.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.edition2023
dc.format.paginationskad071-
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36881993
dc.identifier.citationRamos Z, Garrick DJ, Blair HT, De Barbieri I, Ciappesoni G, Montossi F, Kenyon PR. (2023). Genetic and phenotypic relationships between ewe reproductive performance and wool and growth traits in Uruguayan Ultrafine Merino sheep.. J Anim Sci. 101. (pp. skad071-).
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/jas/skad071
dc.identifier.eissn1525-3163
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn0021-8812
dc.identifier.numberskad071
dc.identifier.pii7071585
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71440
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherOxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science
dc.publisher.urihttps://academic.oup.com/jas/article/doi/10.1093/jas/skad071/7071585
dc.relation.isPartOfJ Anim Sci
dc.rights(c) 2023 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY-NC 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.subjectMerino
dc.subjectbody condition score
dc.subjectcorrelations
dc.subjectheritability
dc.subjectreproduction
dc.subjectwool
dc.subjectPregnancy
dc.subjectSheep
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectWool
dc.subjectReproduction
dc.subjectPhenotype
dc.subjectSheep, Domestic
dc.subjectAdipose Tissue
dc.subjectWeight Gain
dc.titleGenetic and phenotypic relationships between ewe reproductive performance and wool and growth traits in Uruguayan Ultrafine Merino sheep.
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id460116
pubs.organisational-groupCollege of Health
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