Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-mzp66 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-06T11:25:12.606Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Practical breeding developments and future prospects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. K. Curran
M. K. Curran
Affiliation:
Wye College, University of London, Wye, Ashford TN25 5AH
Get access

Abstract

This paper is a review of practical sheep breeding improvement schemes and techniques in the UK. Recent breed population changes in each of the broad categories of hill, longwool/crossing, longwool ewe, terminal sire and shortwool ewe breeds are outlined. Current or planned improvement programmes are reported for Welsh Mountain, Beulah, Scottish Blackface, Border Leicester, Cambridge, Friesland, Romney, Texel, Suffolk, Lleyn and Merino breeds. The techniques of genetic improvement currently available are discussed including some costs and likely genetic gains; techniques include group breeding schemes, artificial insemination, multiple ovulation and embryo transplant, best linear unbiased prediction and transgenic methods. The application of these techniques and contribution they could make to future sheep improvement are assessed.

Type
Research Article
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 14: New Developments in Sheep Production , January 1990 , pp. 13 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1990

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

REFERENCES

Anderson, S. 1987. Responses to selection for prolificacy in sheep within a group breeding scheme nucleus flock. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Anonymous. The French Texel. L'Elevage Francais Adetef-Sopeya, Paris.Google Scholar
Bhuiyan, A. K. F. H. 1989. Estimation of direct and conducted responses in sheep selected for prolificacy in a group breeding scheme. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Bichard, M. 1971. Dissemination of genetic improvement through a livestock industry. Animal Production 13: 401–411.Google Scholar
Bradford, G. E., Torrell, D. T., Lasslo, L. and Neira, R. 1981. Selection for growth and reproduction in Targhee sheep. In Sheep and Wool Days, Special Report No. 613, pp. 43–55. Oregan State University, Corvallis.Google Scholar
Clarke, J. N. 1972. Current levels of performance in the Ruakura fertility flock of Romney sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 32: 99–111.Google Scholar
Hanrahan, J. P. 1976. Response to selection for litter size in Galway sheep. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 15: 291–300.Google Scholar
Hanrahan, J. P. 1982. Selection for increased ovulation rate, litter size and embryo survival. Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress of Genetics applied to Livestock Production, Vol. V, pp. 294–309.Google Scholar
Hight, G. K. and Rae, A. L. 1970. Large-scale sheep breeding: its development and possibilities. Sheep Farming Annual 1970, 73–85.Google Scholar
Hill, W. G. and Meyer, K. 1988. Developments in methods for breeding value and parameter estimation in livestock. In Animal Breeding Opportunities — Occasional Publication, British Society of Animal Production, No. 12, pp. 81–95.Google Scholar
Jackson, N. and Turner, H. N. 1972. Optimal structure for a co-operative nucleus breeding system. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 9: 55–64.Google Scholar
James, J. W. 1976. The theory behind breeding schemes. In Sheep Breeding (ed. Thomas, J., Robertson, D. E. and Lightfoot, R. J.), pp. 205–213. W.A.I.T., Perth.Google Scholar
James, J. W. 1977. A note on selection differential and generation length when generations overlap. Animal Production 24: 287–305.Google Scholar
Land, R. B., Atkins, K. D. and Roberts, R. C. 1983. Genetic improvement of reproductive performance. In Sheep Production (ed. Haresign, W.), pp. 515–535. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Mann, T. L. J., Taplin, D. E. and Brady, R. E. 1978. Response to partial selection for fecundity in Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 18: 635–642.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1972. Sheep Improvement. Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1986. Sheep Yearbook 1986. Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1987. Sheep Yearbook 1987. Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1988. Sheep in Britain. Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1989. Sheep Yearbook 1989. Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Parker, A. G. H. and Rae, A. L. 1982. Underlying principles of co-operative group breeding schemes.Proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Sheep and Beef Cattle Breeding,Paris, Vol. 11, pp. 95–101.Google Scholar
Rae, A. L. 1974. The development of group breeding schemes, some theoretical aspects. In Sheep Farming Annual, pp. 121–127.Google Scholar
Rae, A. L. 1977. Group breeding schemes in sheep improvement in New Zealand. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 37: 206.Google Scholar
Schaeffer, L. R. and Kennedy, B. W. 1986a. Computing solutions to mixed model equations. Proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vol. XII, pp. 382–393.Google Scholar
Schaeffer, L. R. and Kennedy, B. W. 1986b. Computing strategies for solving mixed model equations. Journal of Dairy Science 69: 575–579.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simm, G. 1987. Carcass evaluation in sheep breeding programmes. In New Techniques in Sheep Production (ed. Fayez, I., Marai, M. and Owen, J. B.), pp. 125–144. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simm, G. and Dingwall, W. S. 1988. Selection indices for lean meat production in sheep. Livestock Production Science 21: 223–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, C. 1988. Integration of transgenes in breeding programs. In Animal Breeding Opportunities — Occasional Publication, British Society of Animal Production, No. 12, pp. 71–80.Google Scholar
Smith, C., Meuwissen, T. H. E. and Gibson, J. P. 1987. On the use of transgenes in livestock improvement. Animal Breeding Abstracts 55:1–10.Google Scholar
Steane, D. E., Simm, G. and Guy, D. R. 1988. The use of embryo transfer in terminal sire sheep breeding schemes.Proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Sheep and Beef Cattle Breeding,Paris, Vol. I, pp. 211–213.Google Scholar
Turner, H. N. 1978. Selection for reproduction rate in Australian Merino sheep: direct responses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29: 327–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar