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Environmental and genetic influences on hill lamb performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

J Conington ,
G Simm ,
S Bishop  and
A Waterhouse
J Conington
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, SAC Edinburgh West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
G Simm
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, SAC Edinburgh West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
S Bishop
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
A Waterhouse
Affiliation:
Department of Grassland and Ruminant Science, SAC Alpha Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF
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Extract

Fat reserves are often perceived as essential to the hill ewe, so that they may be mobilised in adverse conditions to meet energy deficits. However, deer and some primitive breeds of sheep are remarkably lean animals which survive and thrive/reproduce in such conditions. The consequence of using genetically lean sheep in hill environments to meet the ultimate goal of reducing carcass fat is largely unknown. It is possible that the ewes' maternal ability, performance and welfare are in some way compromised. An SAC/IAPGR Hill Sheep Project was instigated: (1) to investigate if selection for differing fat levels under intensive concentrate feeding has any effect on progeny reared in extensive situations; (2) to determine the relationships between growth, carcass, reproduction, wool and survival traits, and to investigate which traits would be useful in an index of overall merit; and (3) to investigate if selection for improved carcass and growth characteristics affect maternal performance and survivability.

Type
Genetics
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1993: Winter meeting , March 1993 , pp. 36
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1993

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References

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