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Heritability of Wool, Lamb and Total Ewe Productivity in Sheep¹

University of Minnesota, Saint Paul

Abstract

Heritability of wool, lamb and total ewe productivity was studied in five Minnesota breeds of sheep. An intra-group regression of the record of the daughter on the record of her dam was used to estimate heritability. A total of 730 daughter-dam comparisons were made.

Pooled heritability estimates for wool, lamb and total ewe productivity were 0.31±0.07, 0.19±0.07 and 0.23±0.07, respectively.

The heritability estimates for lamb and total ewe productivity declined with age of ewe. The decline in heritability estimates with age was attributed to a decline in additive genetic variance. Implications of these results with respect to selection are discussed.

¹ Paper No. 5993, Scientific Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with the A.H.R.D., A.R.S., NC-50 of the U.S.D.A.