Opportunities for genetic improvement of lamb survival
F. D. Brien A B K , M. L. Hebart A B , D. H. Smith A B , J. E. Hocking Edwards A C , J. C. Greeff A D , K. W. Hart A E , G. Refshauge A F , T. L. Bird-Gardiner A G , G. Gaunt A H , R. Behrendt A I , M. W. Robertson A I , G. N. Hinch A J , K. G. Geenty A J and J. H. J. van der Werf A J
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Sheep CRC, CJ Hawkins Homestead, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B South Australian Research and Development Institute, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
C South Australian Research and Development Institute, Struan, SA 5271, Australia.
D Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
E Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Narrogin, WA 6312, Australia.
F Industry and Investment NSW (Primary Industries), Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia.
G Industry and Investment NSW (Primary Industries), Trangie, NSW 2823, Australia.
H Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.
I Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
J University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
K Corresponding author. Email: forbes.brien@sa.gov.au
Animal Production Science 50(12) 1017-1025 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN10121
Submitted: 22 July 2010 Accepted: 5 October 2010 Published: 23 November 2010
Abstract
Data on lamb survival and associated traits involving records from 15 192 lambs, 6308 dams and 284 sires from the Sheep CRC’s Information Nucleus were studied. Lamb survival to 3 days of age and to weaning was 85 and 80%, respectively, and heritability (±s.e.) was 0.014 ± 0.010 and 0.010 ± 0.010, respectively. Of the 14 traits recorded at birth, time taken for the lamb to bleat, rectal temperature and crown–rump length had the highest genetic correlations with lamb survival to weaning (–0.43 ± 0.32, 0.56 ± 0.33 and –0.38 ± 0.36, respectively). Under selection for a multi-trait objective including net reproduction rate (but not lamb survival), survival was predicted to decline genetically by 0.25 lambs weaned per 100 lambs born.year, although this was reversed to a gain of 0.20 lambs weaned per 100 lambs born.year by including the trait in the breeding objective and using 50 half-sib and 50 progeny records per selection candidate. Accuracy of selection for lamb survival was improved to 0.735 with a selection index of lamb survival to weaning, lamb ease, birth coat score, time taken to bleat, rectal temperature and crown–rump length, with the addition of 50 half-sibs and 50 progeny records per candidate. Our results suggest that unless actively incorporated into breeding objectives, lamb survival may genetically decline; however, gains are possible with direct selection using half-sib and progeny records. The addition of indirect selection criteria for lamb survival can further improve accuracy, up to 93.4%, but requires further investigation.
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