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Genetic Analysis of Preweaning and Postweaning Lamb Growth Traits¹

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74074

Abstract

Records collected over a 9-year period (1958 to 1966) on the progeny (560 twins, 511 singles) of 120 Western and 120 Dorset X; Western ewes and 39 rams were utilized to estimate heritability of birth weight (BTWT), rate of gain from birth to 70 days (RB70), 70-day weight (70WT), rate of gain from 70 days to market (R70M) and market age (MTAG), and to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations among these traits. Heritabality estimates were lower for BTWT, RB70, and 70WT than the estimates for R70M and MTAG. Thus, selection for postweaning gain would be expected to yield a greater response than selection for preweaning gain. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between MTAG and the other four traits were negative; whereas, the correlations between BTWT, RB70, 70WT and R70M were positive.

¹ Journal Article 2499 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater. Research conducted by the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry in cooperation with the Animal Science Research Division, A.R.S., U.S.D.A.

² Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.