Genetic Analysis of Production and Reproduction Traits in Malpura Sheep
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Date
39703
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
MAFSU
Abstract
The present study was undertaken in Malpura sheep for
genetic analysis of production and reproduction traits. The data
consisting 1727 Malpura sheep spread over from 1996 to 2007,
maintained at CSWRI, Avikanagar, Rajasthan were used to estimate
LSMs, genetic parameters and sire evaluation. The traits studied were BWT, 3WT, 6WT, 9WT, 12WT, ADG1, ADG2, ADG3, GFY1, GFY2,
GFY3, AFS, WTFS and AFL. The data were subjected to LSMLMW and
MIXMDL packages of Harvey (1990) and derivative free-REML package
of Meyer (1998), taking sex, year, season as fixed effects; sire as a
random effect; ewe weight and age at shearing as covariates.
The least squares means (±S.E.) for above mentioned
traits were 3.01±0.01, 13.62±0.07, 20.69±0.11, 23.57±0.12, 26.89±0.12,
118±0.76, 77.01±0.65, 38.11±0.82, 0.586±0.004, 0.371±0.01, 0.381±0.0
(kg.), 645±7.49 days, 26.32±0.13kg and 729.15±4.57 days, respectively.
LSMs for all traits were in range. Fixed effects sex and year had
significant (p<0.01) effect on almost all traits studied as compared to
season. The males were heavier at all ages and produced more wool
than female. The sire effect was significant for almost all traits.
The estimates of heritability for growth and wool traits were
highest for 6WT (0.254±0.07) and GFY-3(0.305±0.05). Model 2 and
model 8 had higher estimates of heritability than Univariate DF-REML
procedure. The genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations
among the growth traits under study were observed positive and from
moderate to very high, except ADG 2 and ADG3. The ranking of sires
was done by estimating their breeding values under all methods. All the
rank correlations were significant.
It can be stated from the present study that the 6WT and
GFY1 can be continued for selection of animals. Also, the BLUP and
DF-REML reveals better genetic potential of animals than earlier
models, hence can be employed for ranking sires for growth and wool
traits.