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Correlations between weaning weight, carcass traits and ultrasonic body measurements in Welsh Mountain sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

M. Saatci
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW
I. Ap Dewi
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW
Z. Ulutas
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW
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Extract

Selection in the CAMDA breeding group for Welsh Mountain sheep has been based since the start of the scheme on an index that includes litter size, maternal ability, lamb growth and mature size. Since 1987 fat and muscle depths have also been recorded in candidate replacement rams by ultrasonic scanning. Current consumer pressure to improve carcass quality suggests that emphasis be placed on developing an index that incorporates scanning results with other production traits. Construction of such an index requires estimates of the genetic and phenotypic correlations between traits in the selection objectives and criteria. Analyses were conducted to estimate these parameters based on data recorded in the nucleus of the CAMDA breeding group.

Type
Programme
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1998

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References

Boldman, K.G., Kriese, L.A., Van Vleck, L.D., Van Tassel, C.P. and Kachman, S.D. 1995. A manual for use of MTDFREML. U.S Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.Google Scholar