Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science
Paginering:
Jaargang 58 (2008) nr. 2 pagina's 61-64
Jaar:
2008-06
Inhoud:
Heritability estimates of gestation length, age at first service, lambing rate and first-, second- and third-year breeding season weights in Lohi sheep were estimated utilizing 1068 gestation records, 1003 records for age at first service, 922 lambing records and breeding season records, respectively. The collected data present the performance in a purebred flock maintained at an institutional sheep farm for the period 1972-2001 and was analysed by paternal half-sib correlation method using Harvey's Mixed Model Least Squares and Maximum Likelihood (LSMLMW) computer software. The heritability estimates for first and second gestation length, age at first service and lambing rate were 0.248±0.078, 0.261±0.081, 0.532±0.215 and 0.691±0.137, respectively. Heritability for weight at first-, second- and third-year breeding seasons were estimated as 0.523±0.108, 0.472±0.113 and 0.499±0.129, respectively. The heritability estimates for gestation length were moderate whereas higher for other traits studied. This suggests a good potential for genetic improvement in these traits which can be exploited through selecting best performing individuals amongst the Lohi flocks.
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