scholarly journals Breeding and exploitation of prolific breeds in Czechoslovakia

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-510
Author(s):  
V. Jakubec ◽  
J. Křižek
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Production Increase ◽  
Daily Gain

In the years 1971—1979 many experiments were conducted in order to elucidate problems of meat production increase in sheep. Ewes of native breeds (Mutton Merino = M, Improved Wallachian = I) were mated to rams of prolific breeds (Finnsheep = F, Romanov = R), producing F1 crossbred females. The crossbred ewes were mated to rams of a third mutton breed (Texel, Dorset Down, M) to produce meat lambs. In experiments from 1980 to 1987on the basis of the I and the R and F crossbred combinations were produced to provide contemporary comparison of purebreds, F1, F2 and backcrosses, both to I and to F and R. The purebred and crossbred populations were analysed for the estimation of crossbreeding parameters necessary for the optimization of the formation of a synthetic dam breed. The reproduction characters which were analysed were fertility, prolificacy, mortality rate, litter size (born and weaned) and milk production. From the wool production characters the greasy wool production, clean wool production and mean fibre diameter were of interest. From the production characters the following were analysed: birth, weaning and slaughter weights, daily gain from birth to weaning or slaughter, carcass weight and other carcass value traits.

Survival, growth and wool production of South Australian strong-wool Merino and first-cross Merino lambs from birth to 16 months of age

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (122) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
DO Kleemann ◽  
MLH South ◽  
CHS Dolling ◽  
RW Ponzoni
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Body Growth ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Lower Grade ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
The Difference

South Australian strong-wool Merino, Poll Dorset and Border Leicester rams were joined to 766 South Australian strong-wool Merino ewes at Minnipa Research Centre, South Australia. The survival, body growth and carcasses of the wether progeny were assessed at 3-4 1/2 months of age. The survival, body growth and wool growth of the ewe progeny were measured from birth to 16 months of age. There were no significant differences between breeds in lamb survival at birth or from 3 to 16 months of age. Merino lambs had the lowest lamb survival between birth and three months of age, the difference being significant (Pt0.05) with Border Leicester x Merino (BL x M) lambs and close to significance (P-0.07) with Poll Dorset x Merino (PD x M) lambs. At three months of age PD x M and BL x M lambs were 19 and 11% heavier respectively than Merino lambs (all differences P < 0.05). Corresponding differences at 16 months of age were 31 and 28% respectively (PD x M and BL x M did not differ significantly from each other; other differences P < 0.05). A greater percentage of BL x M (92 .5) and PD x M (89 .5) lambs grew to a marketable weight (27 kg or greater) than did Merino (63.8) lambs (P < 0.001). Dressing percentage and carcass weights were higher and mean grade scores lower for both PD x M and BL x M breeds compared with the Merino (P < 0.05). PD x M lambs had higher dressing percentages and lower grade scores than BL x M lambs (P < 0.05). Carcass weight, adjusted for differences in fasted liveweight, and carcass grade score, adjusted for differences in carcass weight, were higher in the PD x M breed than either the Merino or BL x M (P< 0.05). BL x M and strong-wool Merino ewe hoggets grew similar amounts of clean wool, and 26-31% more clean wool than the PD x M. There were differences (P< 005) between all breeds for both staple length and fibre diameter, the BL x M having the longest staples and greatest fibre diameter. We concluded that PD x M lambs were superior to the South Australian strong-wool Merinos for meat production, but BL x M and Merinos grew more wool to hogget age. The relative economic merit of the breeds may vary with the prices of the products measured in this study and with the value of the ewes for sale at hogget age.

Genetic improvement of wool production in Spanish Merino sheep: genetic parameters and simulation of selection strategies

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Valera ◽  
F. Arrebola ◽  
M. Juárez ◽  
A. Molina
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Selection Criterion ◽  
Selection Combining ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Staple Length

Wool production of the Spanish Merino breed was analysed after several decades of genetic selection to improve meat production. Genetic parameters (heritability and correlations) were estimated for greasy fleece weight, staple length, crimp frequency and fibre diameter of 1869 Spanish Merino purebred sheep. Heritabilities ranged from 0.08 ± 0.050 (fibre diameter) to 0.22 ± 0.060 (staple length), and the genetic correlations ranged from –0.63 ± 0.159 (crimp frequency – staple length) to 0.75 ± 0.222 (fibre diameter – staple length). Genetic simulations were developed to show the consequences of eight selection strategies, which included single trait selection on wool traits and liveweight (the current selection criteria) and index selection combining traits. The results show that it is possible to improve wool and growth traits at the same time. Also, our results show there is indirect genetic progress for wool characteristics using the current liveweight selection criterion.

scholarly journals Effect of selected factors on basic reproduction, growth and carcass traits and meat production in Texel sheep

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 247-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladislav Štolc ◽  
Martin Ptáček ◽  
Luděk Stádník ◽  
Marek Lux
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of lambing year, sire effect, parity of ewes’ lambing (PL) and gender on selected indicators of meat production and fertility in a Texel sheep herd. The evaluation proceeded for a period of 5 years, when 356 ewe – lambs and 321 Texel ram – lambs were monitored. Processing of the data set was done by the SAS program, GLM procedure. The lambing year had a significant effect (P < 0.05; 0.01) on all indicators observed except litter size. The sire effect was found to be significantly (P < 0.05; 0.01) related to all indicators monitored. The significant differences (P < 0.01) were found in fat thickness and lambs’ muscularity. The frequency of lambs’ gender was not significantly affected by the litter size and number of lambs weaned. Lambs’ gender affected the MLLT depth of lambs nonsignificantly. Litter size, as well as the number of weaned lambs, increased with the higher PL (1.44 with primiparas, 2.17 with ewes at the 5th and subsequent lambings, P < 0.01; resp. 1.31 with primiparas, 2.01 with ewes at the 5th and subsequent lambings, P < 0.01). The live weight at 100 days of age was significantly lower in lambs from the 5th and following litters, as well as the daily gain from birth till 100 days of age (DG 100) and MLLT depth in comparison to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th litters (P < 0.05). On the average, ram – lambs reached a higher live weight at 100 days of age (+1.79 kg, P < 0.01), and DG 100 in contrast to female (+17.22 g, P < 0.01).

scholarly journals PRODUCTION ON AN OLD IRRIGATED PASTURE

1987 ◽  
pp. 215-218
Author(s):  
R.A. Moss
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Heavy Weight ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Lamb Meat ◽  
Stocking Rates

Lamb meat production from an irrigated old ryegrass pasture farmlet is reported for the following conditions in successive years:- Year 1 and 2: Stocked at 18 ewes plus 5 ewe replacements/ha - dry summers Year 3: Same stocking rate as year 1 - moist summer Year 4: Stocking rate reduced to 15 ewes plus 4 replacements/ha - dry summer Year 5: Same stocking rate as year 4 - wet summer Mean carcass weight for all lambs in years l-5 was respectively 12.0, 12.4, 13.4, 12.0 and 14.2 kg; lamb meat production was respectively 241, 257, 252, 214 and 262 kg/ha. At high stocking rates, in the years with dry summers, early drafting of light weight lambs was necessary so that other lambs could achieve a target carcase weight of 13-16 kg. However ewe lambs did not reach that target. For two years with reduced stocking rate, dry summer weather in one of these years still precluded ewe lambs from reaching the target. In the other year with wet summer weather, production per lamb and per hectare was satisfactory. Further management means of increasing production of heavy weight lamb are discussed. Keywords: Pasture yields, lamb production, carcase weight, wool production

Feed efficiency for meat and wool production by Merino and F1 Dohne×Merino lambs fed pelleted diets of different nutritive value

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 879 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Van Beem ◽  
D. Wellington ◽  
B. L. Paganoni ◽  
P. E. Vercoe ◽  
J. T. B. Milton
Keyword(s):  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Pelleted Diet ◽  
Western Australian

There is anecdotal evidence from Western Australian breeders that Dohne sheep maintain a higher level of meat and wool production than Australian Merinos. Feed efficiency, carcass and wool attributes are moderately heritable so we hypothesised there would be differences in these traits between Merino and F1 Dohne × Merino lambs. Two groups of 15 Merino and 15 F1 Dohne × Merino wether lambs (29–40 kg) were fed a pelleted diet of either moderate or high energy and protein content for 48 days. Ad libitum pellet intake and liveweight gain were measured and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) for both wool growth and liveweight were calculated. Wool growth and quality were measured and the lambs were slaughtered to measure carcass and meat quality attributes. The F1 Dohne lambs were heavier at the start of the study and grew faster than the Merinos (P < 0.05) irrespective of diet. Consequently, the carcasses of the F1 Dohne lambs were heavier than the Merinos (P < 0.001), but the differences in FCR were not significant. Merino lambs produced more clean wool of lower fibre diameter from less feed than the F1 Dohne lambs (P < 0.05). These results suggest that F1 Dohne × Merino lambs may have an economic advantage in terms of meat production, but this is traded-off against wool production.

The intake and production of lactating Merino ewes and their lambs grazed at different stocking rates

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Milk Consumption ◽  
Total Organic Matter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Maintenance Requirement ◽  
Stocking Rates

Grass and milk consumption and liveweight changes of lambs grazed at stocking rates ranging from 9 to 35 sheep/ha were measured during a 105 day lactation. Grass consumption and wool production of their mothers and of similar ewes without lambs were also determined. The forage and total organic matter intakes of the lamb increased with time while milk consumption declined; all three variables were negatively correlated with stocking rate. The intake of the ewe and its liveweight gain were not sensitive to increasing stocking rate, but wool production declined at higher stocking rates. The maintenance requirement of the ewes was estimated to be 218 kJ metabolizable energy/kg liveweight, and the efficiency with which metabolizable energy was utilized for milk production was 66%. Lactation increased the intake of the ewe but reduced its wool production.

A comparison of the growth of Brahman and F1 Senepol × Brahman steers in an Indonesian feedlot

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 2096 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Schatz
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Crossbred Cattle ◽  
Brahman Steers ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Live Export

This study compares the performance of F1 Senepol × Brahman steers (F1 SEN) to Brahman (BRAH) steers in an Indonesian feedlot. The focus was to address concerns that crossbred cattle are discriminated against by live export cattle buyers due to a perception that they do not perform as well as Brahmans in Indonesian feedlots. F1 SEN (n = 54) and BRAH (n = 32) steers that had grazed together since weaning at Douglas Daly Research Farm (Northern Territory) were exported to Indonesia and fed for 121 days in a feedlot near Lampung (Sumatra, Indonesia). The average daily gain of the F1 SEN steers over the feeding period was 0.17 kg/day higher (P < 0.001) than the BRAH steers (1.71 vs 1.54 kg/day). As a result the F1 SEN put on an average of 21.6 kg more over the 121-day feeding period and they did not have a higher mortality rate. Consequently, F1 SEN steers performed better than BRAH in an Indonesian feedlot and these results should encourage live export cattle buyers to purchase this type of cattle (Brahman crossed with a tropically adapted Bos taurus breed) with confidence that they can perform at least as well as Brahmans in Indonesian feedlots, although it should be noted that growth rates are usually higher in F1 crosses than in subsequent generations.

scholarly journals Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals the Effects of Recent Artificial Selection on Litter Size of Bamei Mutton Sheep

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Yaxin Yao ◽  
Zhangyuan Pan ◽  
Ran Di ◽  
Qiuyue Liu ◽  
Wenping Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Artificial Selection ◽  
Estrogen Signaling ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Domestic Sheep ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Nonsynonymous Mutation ◽  
Demethylase Activity ◽  
Mongolian Sheep

Bamei mutton sheep is a Chinese domestic sheep breed developed by crossing German Mutton Merino sheep and indigenous Mongolian sheep for meat production. Here, we focused on detecting candidate genes associated with the increasing of the litter size in this breeds under recent artificial selection to improve the efficiency of mutton production. We selected five high- and five low-fecundity Bamei mutton sheep for whole-genome resequencing to identify candidate genes for sheep prolificacy. We used the FST and XP-EHH statistical approach to detect the selective sweeps between these two groups. Combining the two selective sweep methods, the reproduction-related genes JUN, ITPR3, PLCB2, HERC5, and KDM4B were detected. JUN, ITPR3, and PLCB2 play vital roles in GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone), oxytocin, and estrogen signaling pathway. Moreover, KDM4B, which had the highest FST value, exhibits demethylase activity. It can affect reproduction by binding the promoters of estrogen-regulated genes, such as FOXA1 (forkhead box A1) and ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1). Notably, one nonsynonymous mutation (p.S936A) specific to the high-prolificacy group was identified at the TUDOR domain of KDM4B. These observations provide a new opportunity to research the genetic variation influencing fecundity traits within a population evolving under artificial selection. The identified genomic regions that are responsible for litter size can in turn be used for further selection.

THE ACCUMULATIVE EFFECT OF FINNSHEEP BREEDING IN CROSSBREEDING SCHEMES: REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOHAMED H. FAHMY ◽  
JACQUES J. DUFOUR
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Size At Birth

Reproductive performance and body weight were studied on 361 ewes, representing Finnsheep (F), DLS (a population of 1/2 Dorset, 1/4 Leicester, 1/4 Suffolk) and seven combinations ranging from 1/8 to 7/8 Finnsheep breeding. Conception rate in yearlings was 61.5% for DLS compared to 89.0% for F with the crosses being intermediate. Conception rate in older ewes was similar in the different genetic groups (avg. 94%). Ovulation rate and litter size at birth of DLS ewes were 1.72 and 1.44 lambs, which was less than half those of F ewes (3.51 and 2.86 lambs, respectively). Both traits increased progressively with an increase in F breeding in crosses and with advances in age. DLS ewes weaned 1.22 lambs compared to 2.03 lambs for F ewes and 1.84 lambs for 4/8 F ewes. The heaviest litters at weaning (31.7 kg) were raised by 4/8 F ewes, followed by 7/8 F (30.8 kg) while those raised by DLS ewes weighed 23.0 kg and F ewes 29.1 kg. Percentage of ova lost per ewe mated averaged 24% and ranged between 18% (DLS and 1/8 F) and 29% (6/8 F). About 3.6% of lambs were born dead and a further 13.8% died before weaning. Preweaning mortality rate was highest in F (22.9%) and lowest in 3/8 F (9.4%). Average kilograms of lambs weaned per ewe exposed was highest in 4/8 F (27.6 kg) followed by F (26.0 kg), whereas that of DLS was the lowest at 18.1 kg. The 4/8 F cross showed 25% heterosis in kg of lambs weaned per ewe exposed and 52.5% increase over DLS. Significant positive linear regressions were calculated for ovulation rate, litter size and preweaning mortality rate on proportion of Finnsheep breeding in crosses. The relation was quadratic for percent ova lost and lamb mortality at weaning. Yearling DLS females weighted 36 kg compared to 44 kg for F yearlings. However, at 5 yr of age DLS ewes weighed 62 kg, 5 kg heavier than F ewes. The heaviest ewes at all ages were the 4/8 F (45 kg at 1 yr, 65 kg at 5 yr). Key words: Reproduction, DLS sheep, Finnsheep, crossbreeding, heterosis, repeatabilities

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