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Breeding for Single and Twin Lamb Production^*

University of Minnesota

Abstract

A six years' experiment was conducted to determine if the twinning tendency in the Station flock of purebred Shropshires could be increased in one group, and decreased in the other, by means of selection. The flock was divided on the basis of whether the ewes were singles or twins, their past lambing record, and their ancestral disposition toward singles or twins. Each group was bred to a ram of similar ancestral tendency. Ewes were then culled for failure to perform according to the group requirement. Six lamb crops were produced and the two groups continued to differ consistently in their lambing performance. It is, therefore, apparent that a flock may be maintained on a higher level of lamb production through the culling of ewes which tend to produce singles. It is questionable, however, as to how much if any true genetic difference between the two groups was accomplished during the experiment. It is believed that the method of selecting stud rams tended to offset any effectiveness that may have been accomplished in ewe selection.

^* Paper No. 1859, Scientific Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Contribution from the Animal Genetics Section, Division of Animal and Poultry Husbandry.