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Genetic conservation of rare British sheep: the Portland, Manx Loghtan and Hebridean breeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

S. J. G. Hall
S. J. G. Hall
Affiliation:
Research Group in Mammalian Ecology and Reproduction, Physiological Laboratory, Downing Street, Cambridge, GB2 3EO
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Summary

Pedigree analyses were conducted of the Portland, Manx Loghtan and Hebridean sheep. These breeds are kept in small flocks, usually with only one ram active. Total population, and number of flocks have grown since registration started in 1975. Gene flow among flocks arisesfrom transfers of rams and of ewes: about 70% of breeding rams and 40% of breeding ewes have been transferred. Between half and three-quarters of the 1984 lamb crop were measurably inbred. More ram lambs are registered than would be expected in commercial practice.

About a third of flocks supplied rams to other flocks showing that these breeds do not have a very hierarchical structure. There is, however, a tendency towards hierarchical structure in the Manx Loghtan. A high proportion of the animals registered as foundation stocks in the earlyyears of the Combined Flock Book were represented in the pedigrees of recent lamb crops, i.e. genetic conservation has, on the whole, been achieved.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 107 , Issue 1 , August 1986 , pp. 133 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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