Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:49:57.136Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Selection for high or low backfat depth in Coopworth sheep: breeding-ewe traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

J. C. McEwan ,
C. A. Morris ,
P. F. Fennessy ,
G. J. Greer ,
W. E. Bain  and
S. M. Hickey
J. C. McEwan
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, PB 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand
C. A. Morris*
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, PB 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
P. F. Fennessy
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, PB 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand
G. J. Greer
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, PB 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand
W. E. Bain
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, PB 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand
S. M. Hickey
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, PB 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
*
†Corresponding author. E-mail:chris.morris@agresearch.co.nz
Get access

Abstract

A breeding experiment in Coopworth sheep where selection was applied to backfat depth was evaluated after 14 years (1981-94). There were three self-replacing lines, two selected for increased or decreased subcutaneous fat depth, and an unselected control (average size = 51 ewes per line per year). Reproductive traits, ewe body weight and ewe fleece weight were monitored in each line as potential correlated responses. In the last 4 years studied, the fat (F), control (C) and lean (L) lines differed significantly in the proportion of ewes lambing (0·87, 0·93, 0·94 respectively), litter size at birth (1·64, 1·83 and 1·89), and lamb survival up to weaning, unadjusted for birth rank and sex (0·88, 0·81 and 0·74). The overall reproductive trait, lambs weaned per ewe joined (1·22, 1·33 and 1·26), did not differ significantly among lines. From pre-mating weights of ewes present in 1993 or 1994, means for mature ewes by line were 60·1, 62·4 and 63·3 kg, respectively (P < 0·01). Means for weight at scanning time (7 months of age) by line, as a proportion of mature weight were: 0·533, 0·561 and 0·559, respectively (P < 0·05). There were also significant line differences in ewe fleece weights, with the 1993 and 1994 data averaging 3·93, 4·05 and 4·27 kg respectively (P < 0·01). For weight of lamb weaned per ewe weaning at least one lamb, the L line had a 0·09 higher mean proportionally than the F line (P < 0·05), but for a composite trait which was a weighted combination of weight of lambs weaned and ewe fleece weight per ewe joined (with or without allowance for different ewe live weights), the L line was no longer significantly different from the F line. Repeatabilities and single-record heritabilities were also estimated for various ewe traits. The implications are that lean-lamb selection would be associated with only small changes in net reproduction, ewe fleece weight and live weight, but larger differences would be expected from selection in the opposite direction.

Keywords

backfatleannessreproductionselectionsheep
Type
Breeding and genetics
Information
Animal Science , Volume 73 , Issue 2 , October 2001 , pp. 241 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander, G. 1984. Constraints to lamb survival. In Reproduction in sheep (ed. Lindsay, D. R. and Pearce, D. T.), pp. 199–209. Australian Wool Corporation Technical Publication, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT.Google Scholar
Alfonso, J. J. M. 1992. Changes in body composition in sheep during growth, pregnancy and lactation. Ph.D. thesis, University of New England, Armidale, Australia.Google Scholar
Althen, T. G. and Gerrits, R. J. 1976. Pituitary and serum growth hormone levels in Duroc and Yorkshire swine genetically selected for high and low backfat. Journal of Animal Science 42: 1490–1497.Google Scholar
Anonymous. 1994. Selecting rams for lean meat production. In Breeding matters. New Zealand Animal Breeding Trust, no. 2.Google Scholar
Baker, R. L., Clarke, J. N., Meyer, H. H., Harvey, T. G. and Bigham, M. L. 1987. Genetic variation among six strains of Romneys and Border Leicester and Coopworth crosses. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 47: 101–105.Google Scholar
Ball, A. J. and Thompson, J. M. 1995. The effect of selection for differences in ultrasonic backfat depth on feed utilisation for maintenance and biological efficiency in sheep. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 11: 403–407.Google Scholar
Bennett, G. L., Clarke, J. N., Rattray, P. V. and MacLean, K. S. 1984. Relationship of subcutaneous fat depth and weight changes induced by stocking rate in 4 lines of lambs. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 44: 215–218.Google Scholar
Botkin, M. P., Riley, M. L., Field, R. A., Johnson, C. L. and Roehrkasse, G. P. 1971. Relationship between productive traits and carcass traits in lambs. Journal of Animal Science 32: 1057–1061.Google Scholar
Brash, L. D., Fogarty, N. M. and Gilmour, A. R. 1994. Genetic parameters for Australian maternal and dual purpose meatsheep breeds. III. Live weight, fat depth and wool production in Coopworth sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45: 481–486.Google Scholar
Buonomo, F. C. and Klindt, J. 1993. Ontogeny of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and IGF binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) in genetically lean and obese swine. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 10: 257–265.Google Scholar
Charlton, H. M. 1984. Mouse mutants as models in endocrine research. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 69: 655–676.Google Scholar
Chehab, F. F., Lim, M. E. and Lu, R. 1996. Correction of the sterility defect in homozygous obese female mice by treatment with the human recombinant leptin. Nature Genetics 12: 318–320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clarke, J. N. 1982. The place of crossbreeding in sheep improvement programmes. Proceedings of the world congress on sheep and beef cattle breeding, vol. 2 (ed. Barton, R. A. and Smith, W. C.), pp. 157–173. Dunmore Press, Palmerston North, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Clarke, J. N., Atkins, K. D., Geenty, K. G., Johnson, D. L., Hickey, S. M. and Wilson, J. A. 1982. Evaluation of dam breeds and crosses for export lamb production. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 42: 133–135.Google Scholar
Clarke, J. N., Dobbie, J. L., Jones, K. R., Wrigglesworth, A. L. and Hickey, S. M. 2000. Genetic parameters for improvement of dual-purpose flock productivity with constraints on mature ewe body weight. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 60: 203–206.Google Scholar
Conington, J., Bishop, S. C., Waterhouse, A. and Simm, G. 1995. A genetic analysis of early growth and ultrasonic measurements in hill sheep. Animal Science 61: 85–93.Google Scholar
Dalton, D. C., Knight, T. W. and Johnson, D. L. 1980. Lamb survival in sheep breeds on New Zealand hill country. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 23: 167–173.Google Scholar
Dodds, K. G. 1991. Genetic parameters when traits are adjusted for a correlated trait. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 9: 480–483.Google Scholar
Duff, X. J., McCutcheon, S. N. and McDonald, M. F. 1982. Central nervous system injury as a determinant of lamb mortality. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 46: 15–17.Google Scholar
Fogarty, N. M. 1995. Genetic parameters for live weight, fat and muscle measurements, wool production and reproduction in sheep: a review. Animal Breeding Abstracts 63: 101–143.Google Scholar
Francis, S. M., Veenvliet, B. A., Littlejohn, R. P., Stuart, S. K. and Suttie, J. M. 1995. Growth hormone (GH) secretory patterns in genetically lean and fat sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 55: 272–274.Google Scholar
Genstat. 1994. Statistical package: Genstat 5, release 3·1. Lawes Agricultural Trust, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden.Google Scholar
Gregory, N. G., Wood, J. D., Enser, M., Smith, W. C. and Ellis, M. 1980. Fat mobilisation in Large White pigs selected for low backfat thickness. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 31: 567–572.Google Scholar
Hall, D. G., Fogarty, N. M. and Gilmour, A. R. 1995. Performance of crossbred progeny of Trangie Fertility Merino and Booroola Merino rams and Poll Dorset ewes. 1. Lamb birth weight, survival and growth. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35: 1069–1074.Google Scholar
Hawker, H., Dodds, K. G., Andrews, R. N. and McEwan, J. C. 1988. Production and characteristics of wool from the hogget progeny of sheep intensively screened for fleece weight. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 48: 207–212.Google Scholar
Hinch, G. N., Crosbie, S. F., Kelly, R. W., Owens, J. L. and Davis, G. H. 1985. Influence of birth weight and litter size on lamb survival in high fecundity Booroola-Merino crossbred flocks. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 28: 31–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, D. L. and Thompson, R. 1995. Restricted maximum likelihood estimation of variance components for univariate animal models using sparse matrix techniques and average information. Journal of Dairy Science 78: 449–456.Google Scholar
Jopson, N. B., McEwan, J. C., Dodds, K. G. and Young, M. J. 1995. Economic benefits of including computed tomography measurements in sheep breeding programmes. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 11: 194–197.Google Scholar
Kumar, B., Francis, S. M., Suttie, J. M. and Thompson, M. P. 1998. Expression of obese mRNA in genetically lean and fat selection lines of sheep. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 120: 543–548.Google Scholar
McClelland, T. H. and Russel, A. J. F. 1972. The distribution of body fat in Scottish Blackface and Finnish Landrace lambs. Animal Production 15: 301–306.Google Scholar
McCutcheon, S. N., Blair, H. T. and Purchas, R. W. 1993. Body composition and organ weights in fleeceweight-selected and control Romney rams. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 36: 445–449.Google Scholar
McCutcheon, S. N., Holmes, C. W., McDonald, M. F. and Rae, A. L. 1983. Resistance to cold stress in the newborn lamb. 2. Role of body weight, birth rank, and some birth coat characters as determinants of resistance to cold stress. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 26: 175–181.Google Scholar
McEwan, J. C., Clarke, J. N., Hickey, S. M. and Knowler, K. J. 1993. Heritability of ultrasonic fat and muscle depths in Romney sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 53: 347–350.Google Scholar
McEwan, J. C., Davis, G. H., Dodds, K. G., Fennessy, P. F., Clarke, J. N., Bruce, G. D. and Hishon, M. G. 1992. Comparison of growth, hogget fleece weight and reproductive traits of three sheep breeds from a flock selected for prolificacy and a Romney control flock. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 52: 211–215.Google Scholar
McEwan, J. C., Davis, G. H., Fennessy, P. F. and Clarke, J. N. 1995. Sires for more valuable lambs. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 55: 324–326.Google Scholar
McEwan, J. C., Dodds, K. G., Davis, G. H., Fennessy, P. F. and Hishon, M. 1991. Heritability of ultrasonic fat and muscle depths in sheep and their correlations with production traits. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 9: 276–279.Google Scholar
McEwan, J. C., Fennessy, P. F., Clarke, J. N., Hickey, S. M. and Knowler, M. A. 1984. Selection for productive traits on backfat depth in ewe lambs. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 44: 249–252.Google Scholar
Merrick, N. C., Baird, D. B., McEwan, J. C. and Purchas, R. W. 2000. Differences in wool characteristics for lines of sheep with high or low levels of backfat thickness. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 60: 159–161.Google Scholar
Morris, C. A., Hickey, S. M. and Clarke, J. N. 2000. Genetic and environmental factors affecting lamb survival at birth and through to weaning. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 43: 515–524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, C. A., Johnson, D. L., Sumner, R. M. W., Hight, G. K., Dobbie, J. L., Jones, K. R., Wrigglesworth, A. L. and Hickey, S. M. 1996. Single trait selection for yearling fleece weight or liveweight in Romney sheep — correlated responses in liveweight, fleece traits, and ewe reproduction. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 39: 95–106.Google Scholar
Morris, C. A., McEwan, J. C., Fennessy, P. F., Bain, W. E., Greer, G. J. and Hickey, S. M. 1997. Selection for high or low backfat depth in Coopworth sheep: juvenile traits. Animal Science 65: 93–103.Google Scholar
Olesen, I. and Husabo, J. O. 1994. Effect of using ultrasonic muscle depth and fat depth on the accuracy of predicted phenotypic and genetic values of carcass traits on live ram lambs. Acta Agriculturæ Scandinavica 44: 65–72.Google Scholar
Palsson, H. 1939. Meat qualities in the sheep with special reference to Scottish breeds and crosses. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 29: 544–626.Google Scholar
Parratt, A. C. and Simm, G. 1987. Selection indices for terminal sires to improve lean meat production from sheep in the United Kingdom. Animal Production 45: 87–96.Google Scholar
Purser, A. F. 1982. Implications of sheep selection experiments. Proceedings of the world congress on sheep and beef cattle breeding, vol. 1 (ed. Barton, R. A. and Smith, W. C.), pp. 239–248. Dunmore Press, Palmerston North, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Samson, D. E. and Slee, J. 1981. Factors affecting resistance to induced body cooling in newborn lambs of 10 breeds. Animal Production 33: 59–65.Google Scholar
Simm, G., Young, M. J. and Beatson, P. R. 1987. An economic selection index for lean meat production in New Zealand sheep. Animal Production 45: 465–475.Google Scholar
Solis-Ramirez, J., Blair, H. T. and Purchas, R. W. 1993. Direct and correlated responses to selection for high or low ultrasonic backfat depth in Southdown sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 36: 133–141.Google Scholar
Standal, N., Vold, E., Trygstad, O. and Foss, I. 1973. Lipid mobilization in pigs selected for leanness or fatness. Animal Production 16: 37–42.Google Scholar
Suttie, J. M., Lord, E. A., Gluckman, P. D., Fennessy, P. F. and Littlejohn, R. P. 1991. Genetically lean and fat sheep differ in their growth hormone response to growth hormone releasing factor. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 8: 323–329.Google Scholar
Suttie, J. M., Veenvliet, B. A., Littlejohn, R. P., Gluckman, P. D., Corson, I. D. and Fennessy, P. F. 1993. Growth hormone pulsatility in ram lambs of genotypes selected for fatness and leanness. Animal Production 57: 119–125.Google Scholar
Thompson, M. P., Singh, K., Canham, M., Grigor, M. R. and McEwan, J. C. 1989. Brown adipose tissue in lean and fat selection lines identified by immunodetection of uncoupling protein in western blots of tissue homogenates. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 94B: 493–498.Google Scholar
Turner, H. N. and Young, S. S. Y. 1969. Quantitative genetics in sheep breeding. Macmillan, Australia.Google Scholar
Waldron, D. F., Clarke, J. N., Rae, A. L., Kirton, A. H. and Bennett, G. L. 1992. Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for selection to improve lamb carcass traits. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 35: 287–298.Google Scholar
Williams, D. R. 1978. Partition and distribution of fatty tissues. In Current topics in veterinary medicine, vol. 2, patterns of growth and development in cattle (ed. Boer, H. de and Martin, J.), pp. 219–229. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague.Google Scholar
Wolff, J. E., Baker, R. L., Dobbie, P. M., Ford, A. J. and Jordan, R. B. 1987. Genetic aspects of cold resistance in newborn lambs. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 47: 93–98.Google Scholar
Wood, J. D., McFie, H. J. H., Pomeroy, R. W. and Twinn, D. J. 1980. Carcass composition in four sheep breeds: the importance of type of breed and stage of maturity. Animal Production 30: 135–152.Google Scholar