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Journal of Animal Science, Vol 68, 45-53, Copyright © 1990 by American Society of Animal Science

Central Ram Tests in the Midwestern United States: III. Relationship Between Sire's Central Test Performance and Progeny Performance

D. F. Waldron 1, D. L. Thomas 1, J. M. Stookey 1, T. G. Nash 1, F. K. Keith 1, and R. L. Fernando 1

1 University of Illinois, Dept. of Anim. Sci., 1207 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana 61801

Eighteen Suffolk rams, purchased from three tests at two central test stations, were single-sire-mated to both Suffolk and In Dorset, 1/4 Suffolk, 1/4 Rambouillet ewes at the University of Illinois, Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, Simpson, Illinois. Rams had been centrally tested for growth for 63 d starting when they were approximately 2 mo of age. Progeny of these rams were weaned at 56 f 4 d of age and had ad libitum access to a high- energy ration in confinement postweaning. Lamb body weights were taken at birth, 28 f 4 d of age, at weaning and fortnightly postweaning until slaughter at approximately 50 kg live weight. Progeny performance (birth, 60- and 120d weights, gain between these ages and carcass measurements) was regressed on sire's central test performance (average daily gain on test and weight per day of age at end of test expressed as a deviation from the mean performance of all rams on test in the same year). None of the partial regression coefficients was significantly different from zero. The parent-offspring heritability estimates for postweaning gain between 60 and 120 d and weight per day of age at 120 d were very low (.0023 and .0187. respectively). When sire's central test performance was adjusted for type of birth and initial age on test, these parent-offspring heritability estimates increased by a factor of 9.4 and 4.0, respectively, but remained very low. These data suggest that central test performance of Suffolk rams, measured on a 63-d test starting when rams are approximately 2 mo of age, is not accurate as an indicator of breeding value for growth and carcass merit.

Key Words: Sheep • Rams • Suffolk • Station Tests • Performance Testing • USA

Submitted on February 6, 1989
Accepted on April 26, 1989




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G. D. Snowder and L. D. Van Vleck
Effect of duration of performance test on variance component estimates for lamb growth rate
J Anim Sci, August 1, 2002; 80(8): 2078 - 2084.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 1990 by the American Society of Animal Science.