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1
Shariflou, MR, CM Wade, PA Windsor, I. Tammen, JW James, and FW Nicholas. "Lethal genetic disorder in Poll Merino/Merino sheep in Australia." Australian Veterinary Journal 89, no. 7 (June 22, 2011): 254–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2011.00789.x.
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Huisman, A. E., and D. J. Brown. "Genetic parameters for bodyweight, wool, and disease resistance and reproduction traits in Merino sheep. 3. Genetic relationships between ultrasound scan traits and other traits." Animal Production Science 49, no. 4 (2009): 283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08172.
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The Australian Merino is the predominant genetic resource for both the lamb and sheep meat industries of Australia. There are very few studies that provide information on the relationships between wool and non-wool traits. This paper describes the genetic relationships between ultrasound scan traits and wool, disease resistance and reproduction traits in Merino sheep. Fleece weight and fibre diameter coefficient of variation were negatively correlated with ultrasound scanned fat and eye muscle depth (–0.10). Staple length, fibre curvature, and scrotal circumference were not correlated with scanned fat or eye muscle depth. Staple strength, number of lambs born and number of lambs weaned had a positive genetic correlation with fat and eye muscle depth (0.20–0.30). Faecal egg count had a negative genetic correlation with scanned fat (–0.10) and scanned eye muscle depth (–0.20). Results indicate that the combined improvement of carcass and wool characteristics in Merino sheep is possible.
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Parsons, Y. M., D. W. Cooper, L. R. Piper, Y. M. Parsons, and D. W. Cooper. "Genetic variation in Australian Merino sheep." Animal Genetics 27, no. 4 (April 24, 2009): 223–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.1996.tb00482.x.
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Huisman, A. E., and D. J. Brown. "Genetic parameters for bodyweight, wool, and disease resistance and reproduction traits in Merino sheep. 2. Genetic relationships between bodyweight traits and other traits." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, no. 9 (2008): 1186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08120.
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The Australian Merino is the predominant genetic resource for both the prime lamb and sheep meat industries of Australia. There are very few studies that provide good information on the relationships between wool and non-wool traits. The objective of this paper was to describe genetic relationships within bodyweight traits and between bodyweight and other traits recorded in Merino sheep. The genetic correlation between bodyweight, fleece weight and fibre diameter was positive (0.1 to 0.2). While fibre diameter coefficient of variation, staple length, staple strength, mean fibre curvature, and faecal egg count were not correlated with bodyweight. Scrotal circumference (0.4), number of lambs born (0.1), and number of lambs weaned (0.1) were positively correlated with bodyweight. Results indicate that selection for an increase in bodyweight will have a positive effect on eye muscle depth, fleece weight, and reproduction traits, while selection for an increase in bodyweight will have a negative effect on fibre diameter and fibre diameter coefficient of variation.
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Haba, M. De La, A. Moreno, D. Llanes, and E. M. Tucker. "Glutathione concentrations in the red cells of Merino sheep." Journal of Agricultural Science 110, no. 2 (April 1988): 401–3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002185960008148x.
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Tasmanian Merino sheep show a bimodal distribution in the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in their red cells, 40% of sheep having GSH values of around 27 mg GSH/100 ml red cells and 60% with values of about 92 mg GSH/100 ml red cells (Tucker & Kilgour, 1972). The GSH deficiency was shown to be due to an impaired activity of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ-GC-S), the enzyme catalysing the first step of GSH biosynthesis (Tucker, Kilgour & Young, 1976). Family data indicated that the deficiency in this strain of Merinos was under the control of a dominant gene, designated GSHL (Tucker et al. 1976). In contrast, Board, Roberts & Evans (1974) reported that a similar type of GSH deficiency in Australian Merino sheep was under the control of a recessive gene. The reasons for this apparent discrepancy remain unresolved.
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Brown, D. J., and N. M. Fogarty. "Genetic relationships between internal parasite resistance and production traits in Merino sheep." Animal Production Science 57, no. 2 (2017): 209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an15469.
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Breeding Merino sheep that are resistant to internal parasites alleviates the high costs associated with treatment of worm infestation and loss of production, as well as mitigating the development of anthelmintic resistance among the major worm species. Faecal worm egg count ((cube root transformation), wec) can be used in sheep as a measure of internal parasite resistance. Accurate estimates of genetic parameters for wec are required for calculation of Australian Sheep Breeding Values and inclusion of worm resistance in sheep breeding programs. This study provides updated estimates of heritability for wec and its genetic correlations with production traits. Data were analysed from a wide range of Australian and New Zealand Merino sheep in the MERINOSELECT database, which included 141 flocks with 801 flock years and up to 217 137 animals with wec recorded in at least one of four ages (W = weaning, P = post weaning, Y = yearling, H = hogget). The heritability estimates ranged from 0.16 ± 0.01 for Ywec to 0.29 ± 0.01 for Wwec, with generally high genetic correlations between the ages. Bivariate analyses estimated genetic correlations between wec at the various ages and growth, carcass quality, reproduction and wool production traits at various ages. These genetic correlations were generally small or close to zero, albeit with some significantly different from zero. The moderate heritability for wec (0.2–0.3) and its high phenotypic variation (coefficient of variation >30%) shows that relatively rapid selection response for worm resistance could be achieved. Inclusion of wec in sheep breeding programs to increase worm resistance would be expected to have little if any impact on other important production traits. These genetic parameters have been incorporated into MERINOSELECT by Sheep Genetics to provide Australian Sheep Breeding Values for wec and appropriate indices for wool and meat production. There is evidence that genotype × environment interactions may be important in some environments by reducing the accuracy of Australian Sheep Breeding Values for wec. Hence it may be prudent for breeders to implement strategies that manage the risk of any impact of genotype × environment on their breeding program.
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Ponnampalam, E. N., D. L. Hopkins, K. L. Butler, F. R. Dunshea, and R. D. Warner. "Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production. 2. Carcass quality traits." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, no. 10 (2007): 1147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea07001.
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The present study examines carcass quality traits in different genotypes of Australian sheep slaughtered at 4, 8, 14 and 22 months of age. Poll Dorsetgrowth × Border Leicester Merino (PDg × BLM), Poll Dorsetgrowth × Merino (PDg × M), Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino (PDm × M), Merino × Merino (M × M) and Border Leicester × Merino (BL × M) genotypes were compared. Sires were selected on the basis of growth (PDg, M and BL) and muscle (PDm) using estimated breeding values (EBVs). Approximately 150 mixed sex animals were slaughtered at each age (595 in total for the four slaughters) and carcass quality traits, including hot carcass weight, loin and semitendinosus (ST) muscle weights, GR fat, fat C, rump fat depth and eye muscle area (EMA), were determined at 45 min to 3 days postslaughter. With age, all carcass quality traits increased in magnitude. Merinos produced the lightest and leanest carcasses (P < 0.01) with lowest values in nearly all the carcass quality traits. At 4 and 8 months of age carcass and loin weights, EMA and GR fat measures were greater (P < 0.01) in second-cross PDg × BLM sheep than all other genotypes. However, traits related to muscle content were similar between first- and second-cross Poll Dorset genotypes at 14 and 22 months of age. The BL × M genotype had lower values than the PD × M genotypes for these traits, at all ages. Traits related to carcass fatness showed that sheep with Border Leicester genetics tend to deposit more fat (P < 0.001) in the carcass than those with Merino or Poll Dorset genetics from 14 months of age onwards. Most carcass quality traits did not differ (P > 0.05) between first-cross Poll Dorset genotypes selected for growth or muscling (PDg × M v. PDm × M). Sires with high muscling EBVs are associated more with shorter carcass length than low muscling EBVs. From ~8 months of age, wethers had greater values (P < 0.05) than ewes of the same age for most carcass quality traits related to size and muscle development, but no effect was present for carcass quality traits that were related to fat deposition. It was clear that the carcass weight of M × M at 8 and 14 months were similar to that observed in PDg × BLM at 4 and 8 months, respectively. Loin weights of M × M and BL × M at 13 and 8 months were similar to that weights observed in PDg × BLM at 8 and 4 months of age, respectively. Animals slaughtered to a muscle weight specification will reach the target at a younger age when they have more Poll Dorset than Border Leicester background genetics. Alternatively animals slaughtered at a specified fat score (using fat C or rump fat depth) will reach the specification at a younger age when they have more Border Leicester than Poll Dorset genetics.
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Pollott, G. E., and J. C. Greeff. "Genetic relationships between faecal egg count and production traits in commercial Merino sheep flocks." Animal Science 79, no. 1 (April 2004): 21–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1357729800054497.
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AbstractIn several countries the gastro-intestinal parasites of sheep show evidence of resistance to the commonly used anthelmintic treatments. The use of animals with genetic resistance to such parasites has been shown to be a viable alternative in a number of resource flocks. However, the genetics of host resistance to parasites in industry flocks and the effects on production traits of using resistant sheep is relatively unknown. This study addresses these questions using data from 55 commercial Merino flocks in Australia. The heritability and genetic correlations were estimated for faecal egg count (FEC), an indicator of host resistance, and eleven fleece and body production traits. The heritability of FEC (0·26 (s.e. 0·018)), using a sire model, was found to be similar to other estimates reported in the literature from resource flocks. The heritabilities of production traits were also consistent with published reports from resource flocks. The genetic correlations between FEC and the 11 production traits, calculated using a sire model, were mostly zero, except for staple strength (-0·17 (s.e. 0·096)), fat depth (-0·26 (s.e. 0·088)) and eye-muscle depth (-0·18 (s.e. 0·091)). Animal model estimates of heritability and the genetic correlations between the traits were largely similar to the sire model estimates. Correlated responses to selection for reduced FEC based on the sire model genetic parameters were calculated to be less than 0·15% of the trait mean per generation for all traits except staple strength, fat depth, muscle depth and live weight. These were expected to increase slightly under selection for reduced FEC. Thus industry-based selection programmes to increase host resistance to parasites should be effective and have no detrimental effect on production characteristics of Merino sheep in Australia. The full benefit of such industry-based schemes could be improved by a better level of recording in the flocks studied.
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Hatcher, S., K. D. Atkins, and E. Safari. "Lamb survival in Australian Merino Sheep: A genetic analysis12." Journal of Animal Science 88, no. 10 (October 1, 2010): 3198–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2009-2461.
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Barwick, S. A., D. J. Brown, B. R. Cullis, A. K. Bell, T. J. May, M. W. Lollback, I. M. Rogan, et al. "The performance of the Border Leicester in Australia." Animal Production Science 61, no. 1 (2021): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an19493.
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Aims We examine the average performance of Border Leicester (BL) flocks that are part of LAMBPLAN, Australia’s sheep performance recording and genetic evaluation system. We also summarise outcomes from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industry’s research on BL improvement, and discuss the performance required for the BL to continue to be a pivotal part of the Australian prime lamb industry. Key results Modest gains have been recorded in the BL in growth since 2000 and faecal egg counts have reduced, suggesting improved worm resistance. The net reproductive rate has slightly improved, while inbreeding continues to increase. In work conducted by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, an improved BL flock, encompassing selection for multiple births and a broadening of the breed’s genetic base, had advantages over purebred BLs in many aspects of performance, including a 19.3% advantage in the net reproductive rate. Advantages in fertility were ~5%, litter size ~7% and lamb rearing ability ~5%. BL improved × Merino and (BL improved × BL) × Merino crossbred ewes also had advantages over traditional BL × Merino ewes in their joining performance when joined to Dorset rams. Conclusions Selection in the BL needs to emphasise traits in a manner consistent with their importance to commercial lamb production. Implications Embracing this selection and broadening the BL’s genetic base will assist the BL to maintain its place in the Australian lamb industry.
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Huisman, A. E., D. J. Brown, A. J. Ball, and H. U. Graser. "Genetic parameters for bodyweight, wool, and disease resistance and reproduction traits in Merino sheep. 1. Description of traits, model comparison, variance components and their ratios." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, no. 9 (2008): 1177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08119.
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Both wool and sheep meat industries are interested in sheep that have a high reproduction performance and are resistant to internal parasites, in addition to the traditional traits. There is considerable interest in breeding sheep for wool, carcass, reproductive and internal parasite resistance traits simultaneously. The objective of this study was to estimate single trait genetic parameters for 40 traits recorded in Merino sheep, covering bodyweight, carcass, wool, reproduction and internal parasite resistance traits. This also involved determining the appropriate models. The results from this study will be used to review the genetic parameters used in the routine genetic evaluations conducted by Sheep Genetics. The most appropriate models included a maternal genetic effect and covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects for most of the bodyweight traits, greasy and clean fleece weight, fibre diameter and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter. The permanent environment due to the dam was not included for any trait. There was considerable genetic variation in most traits analysed; lowest heritabilities (0.09–0.10) were found for number of lambs born and weaned per lambing opportunity, and highest heritabilities (0.62–0.77) for fibre diameter. The estimated heritabilities and genetic variances, in combination with the estimated correlations, indicate that there is potential to make genetic improvement in most traits currently recorded in Australian Merino sheep.
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Eady, SJ, RR Woolaston, SI Mortimer, RP Lewer, HW Raadsma, AA Swan, and RW Ponzoni. "Resistance to nematode parasites in Merino sheep: sources of genetic variation." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, no. 6 (1996): 895. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9960895.
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Merino sheep representing a range of bloodlines in resource flocks located across Australia were tested for resistance to gastro-intestinal nematodes. These flocks included the JB Pye Flock (Camden, NSW), Katanning Base Flock (Katanning, WA), Turretfield Merino Resource Flock (Rosedale, SA), CSIRO Finewool Flock (Armidale, NSW), and the Trangie D Flock (Trangie, NSW). Faecal egg count (FEC) was used to measure relative resistance of sheep to nematode parasites after either natural or artificial infection with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Differences in FEC 0' 33 between strains and between and within bloodlines were examined and the heritability of this trait was estimated. A low proportion of the total variation in parasite resistance could be attributed to strain and bloodline effects (1 and 3.5%, respectively) after either natural or artificial infection. The major source of genetic variation was found within bloodlines (22.2% of total variation), with individual sires showing a wide range in parasite resistance. Paternal half-sib heritability estimates for FEC 0' 33 were significant (P < 0.05) in 9 of the 11 analyses and ranged from 0.07 to 0.42, with a weighted average of 0.22. The influence of the environmental effects of sex, age of dam, birth-rearing rank, and day of birth were also investigated, and were found to be only occasionally significant, accounting for a small proportion (0.3-2.2%) of variation. Management group effects both prior to and at the time of measurement were often significant, and accounted for 2.2-19.4% of variation in FEC. Correction of FEC for effects other than management group would seem to add little to precision of selection. These results have demonstrated that significant genetic variation for nematode parasite resistance exists within a wide range of Merino bloodlines, and within-flock selection of resistant sires appears to be an effective method of improving this trait in Merino sheep.
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Warner, R. D., D. W. Pethick, P. L. Greenwood, E. N. Ponnampalam, R. G. Banks, and D. L. Hopkins. "Unravelling the complex interactions between genetics, animal age and nutrition as they impact on tissue deposition, muscle characteristics and quality of Australian sheep meat." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, no. 10 (2007): 1229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea07229.
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The combined effects of age and genetics and Poll Dorset sire and growth path were studied in two separate experiments (n = 595 and 627, respectively). In the first experiment, containing genotype crosses typically used in Australia (Merino, Poll Dorset, Border Leicester) and sires selected for growth or muscling, sheep were slaughtered at 4, 8, 14 and 22 months. The second experiment used Poll Dorset sires selected for high muscling, fat or growth with progeny having two levels of nutrition postweaning. Border Leicesters expressed higher levels of carcass fat percentage and intramuscular fat and produced the heaviest carcass. Merinos had the lowest subcutaneous fat depth and highest carcass lean percentage when compared at the same age. The progeny of Poll Dorset sires selected for high muscling (PDm) expressed a shift toward glycolytic fibres relative to those from Merino sires, and PDm sires produced progeny with reduced spine and limb length and higher carcass muscle : mineral ratios, suggesting skeletal stunting. Genotype meat quality differences were minimal except that PDm sire topsides were tougher and Merinos produced higher pH meat. With age (4–22 months), lambs became heavier and fatter, fibres shifted towards oxidative and away from glycolytic, muscle myoglobin increased, the meat became darker and redder and tenderness declined. Early weaning had no effect on the time to reach slaughter weight, provided nutrition was not restricted. The sire genetics influence on the carcass composition far outweighed the effect of nutrition postweaning. Lambs on a restricted diet tended to have less acceptable meat quality but this was not evident in lambs from sires selected for high fatness. Sensory tenderness was improved and intramuscular fat was higher in lamb progeny from sires selected for high fatness.
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Hodge, Marnie J., Sara de las Heras-Saldana, Sally J. Rindfleish, Cyril P. Stephen, and Sameer D. Pant. "Characterization of Breed Specific Differences in Spermatozoal Transcriptomes of Sheep in Australia." Genes 12, no. 2 (January 30, 2021): 203. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes12020203.
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Reduced reproductive efficiency results in economic losses to the Australian sheep industry. Reproductive success, particularly after artificial insemination, is dependent on a number of contributing factors on both ewe and ram sides. Despite considerable emphasis placed on characterising ewe side contributions, little emphasis has been placed on characterising ram side contributions to conception success. Over 14,000 transcripts are in spermatozoa of other species, which are transferred to the ova on fertilisation. These transcripts conceivably influence early embryonic development and whether conception is successful. Semen was collected (n = 45) across three breeds; Merino, Dohne, and Poll Dorset. Following collection, each ejaculate was split in two; an aliquot was assessed utilising Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) and the remaining was utilised for RNA extraction and subsequent next-generation sequencing. Overall, 754 differentially expressed genes were identified in breed contrasts and contrast between ejaculates of different quality. Downstream analysis indicated that these genes could play significant roles in a broad range of physiological functions, including maintenance of spermatogenesis, fertilisation, conception, embryonic development, and offspring production performance. Overall results provide evidence that the spermatozoal transcriptome could be a crucial contributing factor in improving reproductive performance as well as in the overall productivity and profitability of sheep industries.
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Qiu, Xiaoyan, Xiong Xiao, Nan Li, Wenhui Ling, Mingyu Wang, and Yuemin Li. "Association of steroid 17-alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (CYP17) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 628 and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) SNP939 genotypes with sheep reproductive performance." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 31, no. 4 (2019): 743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd18069.
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In a previous study we investigated the association between two single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes, namely steroid 17-alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (CYP17) SNP628 and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) SNP939, with two temperaments (calm and nervous) in Australian Merino sheep and concluded that the DRD2 SNP939 T/T genotype combined with the CYP17 SNP628 G/G genotype is associated with a calm temperament and could be used as a potential marker for calm sheep, whereas the DRD2 SNP939C allele combined with the CYP17 SNP628 A/A genotype is associated with a nervous temperament and could be used as a potential marker for nervous sheep. In sheep, the association between temperament and reproductive performance has been determined, but the association of these two SNP genotypes with sheep reproduction has not been investigated. Therefore, using Chinese Sinkiang Merino sheep, the present study investigated the association of the two CYP17 SNP628 and DRD2 SNP939 genotypes with sheep reproductive performance. Sheep with the DRD2 SNP939 T/T genotype combined with the CYP17 SNP628 G/G genotype had a higher ovulation rate, multiple gestation rate, better maternal behaviour and lower lamb mortality. Thus, the results of this study contribute to our knowledge of the association between genotypes and reproduction in sheep, which is beneficial for sheep genetics and breeding.
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Ponnampalam, E. N., D. L. Hopkins, F. R. Dunshea, D. W. Pethick, K. L. Butler, and R. D. Warner. "Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production. 4. Carcass composition predicted by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, no. 10 (2007): 1172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea07008.
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This study compares the carcass composition of different genotypes of Australian sheep slaughtered at four ages (110, 236, 412 and 662 days of age, or 4, 8, 14 and 22 months of age). The genotypes used were Poll Dorsetgrowth × Border Leicester Merino (PDg × BLM), Poll Dorsetgrowth × Merino (PDg × M), Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino (PDm × M), Merino × Merino (M × M) and Border Leicester × Merino (BL × M). Approximately 150 mixed sex animals were slaughtered at each age and the right sides (half carcass) were scanned by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for chemical lean, fat and bone mineral percentages of the carcass. Carcass lean percentage decreased (P < 0.001) across sire groups from Merino to Poll Dorset to Border Leicester at each age, while fatness increased (P < 0.001) in the opposite direction. With age, the magnitude of difference between genotypes for fatness became greater. There was a marked increase (P < 0.01) in ash mineral percentages in M × M and PDg × M genotypes relative to other genotypes in the 14- and 22-month groups. There were no differences (P > 0.1) between PDg × M and PDm × M in either chemical lean or fat percentages at any age but ash mineral percentage was higher in the PDg × M genotype at older ages (P < 0.05). This in turn led to differences in chemical lean : ash mineral content at later ages between PDg × M and PDm × M. Wethers had higher chemical lean (P < 0.05) and lower fat (P < 0.05) percentages in the carcass than ewes at all ages but ash mineral and chemical lean : ash mineral content did not differ between sexes. It was clear that the level of chemical lean or fat or ash mineral composition reached by some genotypes at one age was equivalent to that reached by other genotypes at the next measurement age. Those genotypes that reach a specification at younger ages will be more productive for meat production. Purebred Merino genetics will always be less productive in terms of carcass weight and muscle related productive traits (loin weight, semitendinosus muscle weight, eye muscle area) than BL and PD genetics, but the relative productivity of PD and BL genetics will depend on the traits used in the specification [see also Ponnampalam EN, Hopkins DL, Butler KL, Dunshea FR, Warner RD (2007) Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production. 2. Carcass quality traits. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculure 47, 1147–1154]. The results suggest that selection for muscling had a greater impact on reducing ash mineral content associated with bone mineral mass than on increasing lean mass in the carcass.
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Swan, Andrew A., Daniel J. Brown, and Julius H. J. van der Werf. "Genetic variation within and between subpopulations of the Australian Merino breed." Animal Production Science 56, no. 1 (2016): 87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an14560.
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Genetic variation within and between Australian Merino subpopulations was estimated from a large breeding nucleus in which up to 8500 progeny from over 300 sires were recorded at eight sites across Australia. Subpopulations were defined as genetic groups using the Westell–Quaas model in which base animals with unknown pedigree were allocated to groups based on their flock of origin if there were sufficient ‘expressions’ for the flock, or to one of four broad sheep-type groups otherwise (Ultra/Superfine, Fine/Fine-medium, Medium/Strong, or unknown). Linear models including genetic groups and additive genetic breeding values as random effects were used to estimate variance components for 12 traits: yearling greasy and clean fleece weight (ygfw and ycfw), yearling mean and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (yfd and ydcv), yearling staple length and staple strength (ysl and yss), yearling fibre curvature (ycuv), yearling body wrinkle (ybdwr), post-weaning weight (pwt), muscle (pemd) and fat depth (pfat), and post-weaning worm egg count (pwec). For the majority of traits, the genetic group variance ranged from approximately equal to two times larger than the additive genetic (within group) variance. The exceptions were pfat and ydcv where the genetic group to additive variance ratios were 0.58 and 0.22, respectively, and pwec and yss where there was no variation between genetic groups. Genetic group correlations between traits were generally the same sign as corresponding additive genetic correlations, but were stronger in magnitude (either more positive or more negative). These large differences between genetic groups have long been exploited by Merino ram breeders, to the extent that the animals in the present study represent a significantly admixed population of the founding groups. The relativities observed between genetic group and additive genetic variance components in this study can be used to refine the models used to estimate breeding values for the Australian Merino industry.
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Dominik, S., and A. A. Swan. "Genetic and phenotypic parameters for reproduction, production and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep." Animal Production Science 58, no. 2 (2018): 207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an15738.
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The present study estimated phenotypic and genetic relationships between wool production, reproduction and bodyweight traits in Australian fine-wool Merino sheep. The data for the study originated from the CSIRO Fine Wool Project, Armidale, Australia. Data on wool characteristics, measured at ~10 and 22 months of age, bodyweight and several reproduction traits across consecutive lambing opportunities were analysed. The genetic correlations were moderately negative between fibre diameter measured as yearling and adult, and lamb survival (rg = –0.34 ± 0.15 and rg = –0.28 ± 0.14 respectively) and total number of lambs weaned (rg = –0.32 ± 0.21 and rg = –0.40 ± 0.21 respectively). The genetic correlations of yearling and adult greasy and clean fleece weights with number of lambs weaned and fecundity showed moderately to highly negative relationships and a moderately negative correlation with the number of fetuses at pregnancy scanning. Phenotypic correlations between reproduction and wool production traits were estimated to be zero, with the exception of bodyweight showing low to moderate positive phenotypic correlations with total number of lambs born and weaned. Genetic variances were generally low for the reproduction traits and resulted in low heritability estimates (from h2 = 0.03 ± 0.01 to h2 = 0.12 ± 0.13), with the exception of total number of lambs born (h2 = 0.25 ± 0.03). The study indicated that parameter estimation and trait definition of lifetime reproduction records require careful consideration and more work in this area is required.
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Newton, J. E., D. J. Brown, S. Dominik, and J. H. J. van der Werf. "Genetic and phenotypic parameters between yearling, hoggetand adult reproductive performance and age of first oestrus in sheep." Animal Production Science 54, no. 6 (2014): 753. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an13245.
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The aims of this study were to quantify the relationship between age of first oestrus and yearling reproductive performance in maternal-cross ewes in the Information Nucleus Flock data and to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between early and later reproductive performance defined as three ages, yearling, hogget and adult in both Merino and maternal-cross ewes. Information on 2218 yearling records, 2047 hogget records and 910 age of first oestrus records were used in the analysis of maternal-cross ewes, whereas 3286 hogget and 2518 adult reproductive records were used in analysis of Merino ewes. Heritability estimates for yearling reproductive performance in maternal-cross ewes ranged from 0.08 ± 0.09 for ewe fecundity to 0.16 ± 0.05 for number of lambs born and were generally higher than hogget heritability estimates for both maternal-cross and Merino ewes. Age at first oestrus was found to have a low heritability, 0.02 with standard errors of 0.07 and 0.06 with and without weight fitted as a covariate. Genetic correlations between age at first oestrus with and without weight fitted as a covariate and yearling reproductive performance were positive, ranging from 0.07 ± 0.49 with lamb survival to 0.94 ± 0.39 with number of lambs born, which was unexpected. Correlations between traits from the same age class were high in both breed groups. Genetic correlations between yearling and hogget performance in maternal-cross ewes were generally lower than one, ranging from 0.46 ± 0.68 for lamb survival and 0.79 ± 0.50 for fertility suggesting that yearling and later reproductive performance are related but genetically different traits. In Merino ewes, the genetic correlations between hogget and adult performance followed a similar pattern. The small number of records in this study generated high standard errors for estimates, which restricts the conclusions that can be drawn. Overall, this study supports current practice used by ‘Sheep Genetics’, the Australian genetic evaluation system for sheep, in considering yearling reproductive performance as a trait separate from later parities for genetic evaluation purposes.
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Walkom, S. F., F. D. Brien, M. L. Hebart, S. I. Mortimer, and W. S. Pitchford. "Season and reproductive status rather than genetics factors influence change in ewe weight and fat over time. 3. Analysis of Merino ewes." Animal Production Science 54, no. 6 (2014): 821. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an13249.
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The profitability of southern Australian sheep production systems depends on the optimisation of stocking rates by meeting the nutritional demands of the breeding ewe while effectively utilising grown pasture. The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic variation in liveweight and body condition of Merino ewes across their breeding life within a wool-based enterprise. The results were consistent with findings in crossbred ewes and showed that the genetic component of weight and body condition remained constant across the production cycle and age. The overall additive genetic effect accounted for 92% of the genetic variation in weight of Merino ewes bred across five production cycles. A genetic correlation of 0.85 suggested that ewes that were superior at maintaining their condition when rearing a single lamb would maintain this superiority when rearing multiple lambs. To improve weight and condition of Merino ewes during the ‘tough’ times, when nutrient requirements are not met by the pasture, selection can be made at any time and this will result in increased genetic condition at all times.
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Eady, S. J., R. R. Woolaston, R. W. Ponzoni, R. P. Lewer, H. W. Raadsma, and A. A. Swan. "Resistance to nematode parasites in Merino sheep: correlation with production traits." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, no. 8 (1998): 1201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/a98069.
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Merino sheep representing a range of bloodlines in resource flocks located across Australia were tested for resistance to gastro-intestinal nematodes. These flocks included the JB Pye Flock (Camden, NSW), Katanning Base Flock (Katanning, WA), Turretfield Merino Resource Flock (Rosedale, SA), and the CSIRO Finewool Flock (Armidale, NSW) and included a total of 328 sire groups. Resistance to nematodes was measured by faecal egg count (FEC). Data were also available for greasy and clean fleece weight (GFW and CFW, respectively), fibre diameter (FD), and body weight (BW) at a range of ages from weaning to 21 months. Variance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, fitting an animal model and estimating covariances in a series of bivariate analyses. Phenotypic correlations between FEC0·33 and production traits were all close to zero ( –0·09–0·02). Genetic correlations between FEC0·33 and production traits were –0·20, –0·18, and –0·26 for weaning weight, 10-month BW, and 16-month BW, respectively; 0·21, –0·06, and 0·21 for 10-month GFW, 16-month GFW, and 21-month GFW; 0·21, –0·05, and 0·07 for 10-month CFW, 16-month CFW, and 21-month CFW; and –0·09, –0·12, and 0·04 for 10-month FD, 16-month FD, and 21-month FD. When estimates were pooled for all fleece traits and all BW traits, the genetic correlations between FEC0·33 and GFW, CFW, FD, and BW were 0·15, 0·10, –0·06, and –0·21, respectively. Using pooled estimates for CFW, FD, and BW, selection for a breeding objective based on production traits alone would lead to an unfavourable correlated response in FEC0·33 of approximately 1% per year.
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Safari, E., N. M. Fogarty, A. R. Gilmour, K. D. Atkins, S. I. Mortimer, A. A. Swan, F. D. Brien, J. C. Greeff, and J. H. J. van der Werf. "Across population genetic parameters for wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Australian Merino sheep. 1. Data structure and non-genetic effects." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, no. 2 (2007): 169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar06161.
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Accurate estimates of adjustment factors for systematic environmental effects are required for genetic evaluation systems. This study combined data from 7 research resource flocks across Australia to estimate genetic parameters and investigate the significance of various environmental factors for production traits in Australian Merino sheep. The flocks were maintained for several generations and represented contemporary Australian Merino fine, medium, and broad wool bloodlines over the past 30 years. Over 110 000 records were available for analysis for each of the major wool traits, with over 2700 sires and 25 000 dams. Univariate linear mixed animal models were used to analyse 6 wool, 4 growth, and 4 reproduction traits. This first paper outlines the data structure and the non-genetic effects of age of the animal, age of dam, birth-rearing type, sex, flock, bloodline, and year, which were significant with few exceptions for all production traits. Age of dam was not significant for reproduction traits and fleece yield. Generally, wool, growth, and reproduction traits need to be adjusted for age, birth-rearing type, and age of dam before the estimation of breeding values for pragmatic and operational reasons. Adjustment for animal age in wool traits needs to be applied for clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), and fibre diameter (FD) with inclusion of 2 age groups (2 years old and >2 years old), but for reproduction traits, inclusion of all age groups is more appropriate. For GFW, CFW, and hogget weight (HWT), adjustment for only 2 dam age groups of maiden and mature ewes seems sufficient, whereas for birth (BWT), weaning (WWT), and yearling (YWT) weights, adjustments need to be applied for all dam age groups. Adjustment for birth-rearing type (single-single, multiple-single, multiple-multiple) is appropriate for wool, growth, and reproduction traits. The implications of adjustment for non-genetic effects are discussed.
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Butler, LG, SR Corkrey, IJ Knox, G. Hannan, and RP Thomson. "Perceptions and knowledge of measurement in selection programs: a survey of stud Merino breeders in Australia." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, no. 6 (1995): 681. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9950681.
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A total of 329 (25%) stud Merino breeders returned a survey designed to evaluate their knowledge of, and attitudes to, objective measurement in sheep breeding and performance recording. The data were analysed by log-linear regression techniques. There was overwhelming agreement that performance records were not as valid as traditional methods, but there was general agreement that measurement improves accuracy of selection, increases genetic gain, assists ram buyers and breeders, and increases flock earnings. There is a significant concern regarding the accuracy of fleece tests. Most respondents (60%) intend to increase their use of measurement, although the common attitude was that measurement only gives back-up to visual assessment. Some answers demonstrated a lack of understanding of the principles of applying measurement. There appears to be a difference between breeders and those more closely involved with technical genetics in interpretation of the term 'breeding objective'. Department of Agriculture Officers and Stock Agents rated poorly as sources of information. Rural newspapers and magazines are confirmed as useful media for awareness. It was concluded that a number of barriers to adoption of objective measurement and performance recording need to be overcome, including suspicion about the accuracy of the fleece tests, and the ram age at which testing can be conducted with confidence.
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Britt, AG, CL Cotton, BH Kellett, IH Pitman, and JA Trask. "Structure of the Epidermis of Australian Merino Sheep Over a 12-Month Period." Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 38, no. 1 (1985): 165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bi9850165.
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Light-microscopic examination of frozen sections of skin taken from the dorsal thoraco-Iumbar region of Australian Merino sheep in winter revealed that the thickness of the epidermis plus a sudanophilic layer was 24�9 !tm in the interfollicular region. The uncornified epidermis (10�9 !till) was separated from the sudanophilic layer (14�0 !tm) by a thin stratum corneum. It was concluded that the bulk of the sudanophilic layer was emulsified sebum in which was embedded a disorganized collection of desquamated cornified cells. Although large variances were observed in the thickness of the uncornified epidermis and of the sudanophilic layers between sheep and both within the between blocks of tissue obtained from individual sheep, there were no strong seasonal effects on either epidermal structure or layer thickness over a 12-month period. These results suggest that the Australian Merino differs from Finnish Landrace x Dorset Horn ewes, which are reported to possess, at least in winter, a thicker uncornified epidermis and a thicker stratum corneum that could be divided into two zones and was uniformly permeated by lipid.
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Benavides, M. V., S. Damak, and A. P. Maher. "A putative resistant DNA marker for wool yellowing susceptibility in sheep." Genetics and Molecular Biology 23, no. 2 (June 2000): 341–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1415-47572000000200017.
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An Australian Merino flock was screened for low (resistant) and high (susceptible) yellow predictive colour (YPC) breeding values in order to compare extreme individuals using the differential display of mRNA technique. One differentially expressed cDNA band was visualised only in the resistant group. This band showed no identity with the DNA sequences of public databases; however, they showed short homologies with three database sequences related to transmembrane signalling functions. The use of these candidate genes as DNA markers needs to be confirmed against sheep with a wide range of susceptibility to wool yellowing to verify the results.
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Brown, D. J., A. A. Swan, and J. S. Gill. "Within- and across-flock genetic relationships for breech flystrike resistance indicator traits." Animal Production Science 50, no. 12 (2010): 1060. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10102.
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Flystrike is a major cost for the Australian sheep industry. The industry is currently implementing selection strategies for flystrike resistance to reduce the need for breech flystrike prevention. The following indicator traits are used to select for breech flystrike resistance: wool cover, skin wrinkle on the body and breech, scouring (dags) and wool colour. The aims of this study were to estimate genetic correlations between these indicator traits and production traits using the Sheep Genetics database, to distinguish between within- and across-flock genetic relationships, and to quantify responses to selection using indexes that include breech wrinkle as a proxy trait for flystrike resistance. Breech flystrike indicator traits are all heritable; however, there are significant antagonisms between wrinkle score and some production traits, primarily fleece weight and fibre diameter. Thus, simultaneous improvement in both flystrike resistance and production will be most efficient when index selection is used. Our results show that, depending on the level of emphasis placed on breech wrinkle in the index, reductions in breech wrinkle score of 0.4–0.9 units can be achieved over a 10-year period. As across-flock relationships are generally stronger than within-flock relationships, breeders will be able to take advantage of this additional variation, depending on the relative merit of their flocks. Therefore, ram breeders should combine within-flock selection with across-flock selection where possible. Sheep Genetics released early breech wrinkle Australian Sheep Breeding Values in September 2009 to assist Merino breeders in making faster progress towards reducing breech wrinkle by using flock selection.
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Entwistle, K. W., L. J. Cummins, M. A. Hillard, J. E. Kinder, T. O'Shea, L. R. Piper, J. Thimonier, and J. F. Wilkins. "Bernard Michael Bindon — reproductive physiologist, animal scientist, research leader." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, no. 2 (2006): i. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea05222.
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This paper is a foreword to a series of papers commissioned on ‘the impact of science on the beef industry’, where the Beef CRC-related collaborative scientific work of Professor Bernard Michael Bindon will be reviewed. These papers will be presented in March 2006, as part of a ‘festschrift’ to recognise his wider contributions to the Australian livestock industries for over 40 years. Bindon’s career involved basic and applied research in many areas of reproductive physiology, genetics, immunology, nutrition, meat science and more recently genomics, in both sheep and cattle. Together with his collaborators, he made large contributions to animal science by improving the knowledge of mechanisms regulating reproductive functions and in elucidating the physiology and genetics of high fecundity livestock. His collaborative studies with many colleagues of the reproductive biology and genetics of the Booroola Merino were amongst the most extensive ever conducted on domestic livestock. He was instrumental in the development of immunological techniques to control ovulation rate and in examining the application of these and other techniques to increase beef cattle reproductive output. This paper tracks his investigations and achievements both within Australia and internationally. In the later stages of his career he was the major influence in attracting a large investment in Cooperative Research Centres for the Australian cattle industry, in which he directed a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate, develop and disseminate science and technology to improve commercial cattle productivity.
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Safari, E., N. M. Fogarty, A. R. Gilmour, K. D. Atkins, S. I. Mortimer, A. A. Swan, F. D. Brien, J. C. Greeff, and J. H. J. van der Werf. "Across population genetic parameters for wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Australian Merino sheep. 2. Estimates of heritability and variance components." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, no. 2 (2007): 177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar06162.
Full textAbstract:
Precise estimates of genetic parameters are required for genetic evaluation systems. This study combined data from 7 research resource flocks across Australia to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for production traits in the Australian Merino sheep. The flocks were maintained for several generations and represented contemporary Australian Merino fine, medium, and broad wool bloodlines over the past 30 years. Over 110 000 records were available for analysis for each of the major wool traits, and 50 000 records for reproduction and growth traits with over 2700 sires and 25 000 dams. A linear mixed animal model was used to analyse 6 wool traits comprising clean fleece weight (CFW), greasy fleece weight (GFW), fibre diameter (FD), yield (YLD), coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (CVFD), and standard deviation of fibre diameter (SDFD), 4 growth traits comprising birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), yearling weight (YWT), and hogget weight (HWT), and 4 reproduction traits comprising fertility (FER), litter size (LS), lambs born per ewe joined (LB/EJ), and lambs weaned per ewe joined (LW/EJ). The range of direct heritability estimates for the wool traits was 0.42 ± 0.01 for CFW to 0.68 ± 0.01 for FD. For growth traits the range was 0.18 ± 0.01 for BWT to 0.38 ± 0.01 for HWT, and for reproduction traits 0.045 ± 0.01 for FER to 0.074 ± 0.01 for LS. Significant maternal effects were found for wool and growth, but not reproduction traits. There was significant covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects for all wool and growth traits except for YWT. The correlations between direct and maternal effects ranged from –0.60 ± 0.02 for GFW to –0.21 ± 0.10 for SDFD in the wool traits and from –0.21 ± 0.03 for WWT to 0.25 ± 0.08 for HWT in the growth traits. Litter effects were significant for all wool and growth traits and only for LS in reproduction traits. The mating sire was fitted in the models for reproduction traits and this variance component accounted for 21, 17, and 8% of the total phenotypic variation for FER, LB/EJ, and LW/EJ, respectively. The implications of additional significant variance components for the estimation of heritability are discussed.
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Blumer, S. E., G. E. Gardner, M. B. Ferguson, and A. N. Thompson. "Environmental and genetic factors influence the liveweight of adult Merino and Border Leicester × Merino ewes across multiple sites and years." Animal Production Science 56, no. 4 (2016): 775. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an14419.
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Variation in liveweight change in the ewe flock during periods of poor nutrition can affect farm profitability through the effects of liveweight loss on potential stocking rate, management interventions including supplementary feeding, and ewe and lamb survival and productivity. There is variation between individual animals in their ability to manage periods of poor nutrition, but the links between liveweight change and breeding values in the adult ewe flock have not been quantified. We analysed 5216 liveweight profiles for 2772 ewes managed over 3 years at eight sites across Australia, to define the relative effects of environment, reproductive performance and breeding values on liveweight change. The range in liveweight loss varied from 1.3 kg to 21.6 kg, and for liveweight gain from 0.4 kg to 28.1 kg. Site and year had the largest influence on liveweight change, which demonstrates that seasonal conditions and management were the most important factors influencing liveweight change. Liveweight loss was influenced by previous and current reproductive performance but these effects were small in comparison to the effects of site and year. There were mixed associations with sire breeding values for growth, fat and muscle depending on site. An increase in sire breeding values for fat by 1 mm was associated with a reduction in liveweight loss by up to 1.3 kg regardless of ewe breed, and this was more evident at sites where ewes lost a greater proportion of their liveweight. While management had the greatest effect on liveweight change, there appears to be scope to use breeding values to select sheep that will lose less weight during periods of poor nutrition in some environments.
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McCrabb, G. J., G. Bortolussi, L. M. Hennoste, and B. J. McDonald. "The thermal response of sheep to a hot environment in different years." Journal of Agricultural Science 125, no. 1 (August 1995): 153–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600074608.
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SUMMARYThe aim of this experiment was to determine whether the thermal responses ofsheep exposed to a hot environment were similar in different years. Rectal temperaturesofsheep were measured during the hot months (between November and March) of three consecutive years (1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93) in a flock of Merino sheep (n = 151) in the semi–arid tropics of northern Australia. Mean daily maximum temperatures in these months were 36±0·4, 39±0·3 and 37±0·3°C in Years 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In Year 1, rectal temperatures were measured on 3 consecutive days;the repeatability was 0·47 at 08·00 h and 0·64 at 16·00 h. In Year 1, two sub-groups were identified according to measurements of rectal temperature, low body temperature(LBT; n = 35) sheep, whose rectal temperature was ≤ 39·8°C at 16·00 h on each of the 3 consecutive measurement days, and high body temperature (HBT; n = 32) sheep, whose rectal temperature was ≥ 39·9°C. The rectal temperatures of LBT and HBT sheep were then measured during the subsequent 2 years. Rectal temperatures of HBT sheep were significantly higher than those of LBT sheep at both 08·00 and 16·00 h, in both Year 2 and Year 3. Rectal temperatures at 16·00 h in Year 1 were correlated (P < 0.001) with rectal temperatures at 16·00 h in both Year 2 (r = 0·79) and Year 3 (r = 0.82), respectively. It was concluded that measurement of rectal temperature in sheep exposed to a hot environment in any oneyear is an accurate index of their rectal temperatures during subsequent years.
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Sawyer, Gregory, Danielle Webster, and Edward Narayan. "Measuring wool cortisol and progesterone levels in breeding maiden Australian merino sheep (Ovis aries)." PLOS ONE 14, no. 4 (April 8, 2019): e0214734. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214734.
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Joy, Aleena, Frank R. Dunshea, Brian J. Leury, Iain J. Clarke, Kristy DiGiacomo, Pragna Prathap, Minghao Zhang, and Surinder S. Chauhan. "275 Access to Shade Mitigate Heat Stress and Improves Growth Performance in Lambs During Summer." Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_3 (October 8, 2021): 143–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.263.
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Abstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of provision of shade on behavior, physiology, and growth of Merino lambs exposed to natural Australian summer conditions. Sixty Merino lambs were randomly allocated to either pasture with shade (n = 30;paddock with trees) or a pasture without shade (n = 30;paddock without any trees) for one month during southern-Australian summer (February-2021). Sheep were grazing on the pastures as per standard protocols followed on the farm with ad libitum access to water. Lambs were monitored twice daily between 0900-1000h and 1400-1600h to record their behavior, and physiological parameters were recorded on hot days (environmental temperature (T) >30°C). Behavioral patterns were represented as the proportion of animals doing specific activities in each treatment group. Grazing was the most frequent activity observed in animals during morning measurement (> 60% in both groups). However, high temperature (T > 30°C) decreased grazing behavior in sheep to < 5% in both treatments. Standing behavior was significantly greater (65.2 vs 21.6%; P < 0.05) for animals under non-shade treatment, while lying behavior was more frequent (17.3 vs 76.3%; P < 0.01) in animals having access to shade. Significantly more animals were seeking water troughs (P < 0.05) in the non-shade group (33.2%) compared to the shade group (10.3%). On an average hot day (T >28°C), most lambs in the shade group were seeking shade (P < 0.01), and when the temperature exceeded >32°C, 90% of the lambs were seeking tree shade. Sheep with access to shade exhibited lower (P < 0.01) respiration rate (117breaths/min) and rectal temperature (39.7°C) than non-shade group (151breaths/min;40.2°C). Overall, access to shade improved (P < 0.001) average daily gain (+0.047kg/day) in sheep compared to the non-shade group (-0.028kg/day). In conclusion, our research confirms that providing access to shade is an effective ameliorative strategy to mitigate heat-stress in sheep during summer heatwaves.
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Ash, A. J., and B. W. Norton. "Effect of DL-methionine supplementation on fleece growth by Australian cashmere goats." Journal of Agricultural Science 109, no. 1 (August 1987): 197–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600081168.
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Australian feral goats have recently been found to produce commercially viable quantities of the luxury fibre cashmere (Smith, Clarke & Turner, 1973). Cashmere is the fine down produced by secondary follicles as an undercoat during winter. Fibre diameter ranges from 8 to 24 μm with a mean diameter of 16 μm. Unlike modern breeds of sheep such as the Merino which exhibit almost continuous wool growth, cashmere growth is distinctly seasonal with fibre growth commencing in summer (long daylength) and reaching a maximum length in early winter (short daylength) (McDonald, 1985). The cashmere is cast in spring with growth recommencing again in summer.
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Shakhin, Alexey V., Arsen V. Dotsev, Tatiana E. Deniskova, Gottfried Brem, and Natalia A. Zinovieva. "PSXII-2 Identification of candidate SNPs associated with high prolificacy in Romanov sheep." Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_3 (October 8, 2021): 254–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.465.
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Abstract Prolificacy is a very important trait in sheep. Romanov sheep, the well-known Russian sheep breed, are characterized by very high prolificacy; however, the genetic basis of this unique property of Romanov sheep is still unknown. It was reported that Ovine BMPR1B gene, located on the OAR6, is associated with prolificacy in several sheep breeds. The aim of our study was to identify candidate SNPs within BMPR1B gene, related to prolificacy. To achieve this goal, using NGS technology, we sequenced ovine BMPR1B gene in Romanov sheep (n = 6), which are characterized by high prolificacy (about 270 lambs per 100 ewes). The sequences of BMPR1B gene of Noire du Velay, Tan, Southdown and Australian Horned Merino sheep breeds as well as Asiatic mouflon (n = 1), which are characterized by significantly lower prolificacy (from 110 to 180 lambs per 100 ewes) were derived from publicly available sources and used for comparison. FST analysis performed in PLINK 1.9 program revealed 10 SNPs with values higher than 0.8. The majority of candidate SNPs under putative selection were localized in the region from 29,382,098 to 29,430,387 on OAR6 of Ovine reference genome (Oar_v3.1 (Ensembl release 98). Thus, we can suggest, that this region of the BMPR1B gene can be considered as the putative region, associated with high prolificacy of Romanov sheep. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the effect of identified candidate SNPs on prolificacy traits. The research results will be useful for artificial selection of sheep with higher prolific capacity, including the introduction of desired alleles in sheep populations using genome editing technologies. This work was supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 0445-2019-0024 and RFBR No. 20-516-56002.
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Morton, K. M., S. L. Catt, F. K. Hollinshead, W. M. C. Maxwell, and G. Evans. "280LAMBS BORN AFTER IN VITRO EMBRYO PRODUCTION FROM PREPUBERTAL LAMB OOCYTES AND FROZEN-THAWED UNSORTED AND SEX-SORTED SPERMATOZOA." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 16, no. 2 (2004): 260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rdv16n1ab280.
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Developments in sperm sexing technology have resulted in the birth of a number of offspring after IVF of oocytes from adult animals (Johnson LA, 2000 An. Reprod. Sci. 60–61, 93–107). The aim of this study was to combine sperm sexing technology with juvenile breeding. Merino lambs, 2–3 weeks (n=43) were hormone stimulated (Morton KM et al., 2003 Proc. Soc. Reprod. Fert., P18), and COCs were matured in TCM-199 (Sigma) with 10μgmL−1 p-FSH (Folltropin-V; Bioniche Animal Health Australasia), 10μgmL−1 pLH (Bioniche), and 20% sheep serum (v/v) in a humidified 6% CO2, 5% O2, 89% N2 atmosphere for 22h. Semen collected from Merino rams was diluted and frozen as pellets (Unsorted), or stained with H33342, separated into X and Y sperm using a SX MoFlo (Cytomation Inc., Fort Collins, CO, USA), and frozen as pellets (Sorted). Sperm were prepared for IVF by swim-up under 0.5mL of SOF with 2% sheep serum (v/v; SOF+) for 45min (Unsorted), or diluted in 0.5mL of Sydney IVF Sperm Buffer (Cook IVF, Brisbane, Australia) and centrifuged at 650g for 3min (Sorted). After IVM, oocytes were transferred to SOF+, and cultured with 0.5×106mL−1 (Unsorted) or 1.0×106mL−1 (Sorted) motile sperm for 18h. Presumptive zygotes were transferred to Sydney IVF cleavage and blastocyst medium (Cook IVF) for 3 and 5 days, respectively. Oocyte maturation and fertilization were assessed by orcein staining 18h post-insemination (hpi). Two Day-7 blastocysts were transferred to each recipient ewe (n=9; 3 per group) and pregnancies diagnosed by ultrasound on Day 57 of gestation. Data were analyzed by chi-square test. Oocyte maturation was 83.9% (73/87), and monospermic fertilization did not differ for Unsorted (22/32; 68.7%), X- (6/14; 42.8%), and Y-sperm groups (15/27; 55.6%). Polyspermic fertilization was 9.4% (3/32) and 7.4% (2/27) for the Unsorted and Y groups. Cleavage was reduced with X- and Y-sperm compared with Unsorted, but blastocyst formation (from cleaved oocytes) did not differ (Table 1). There were three (100%), zero (0%), and one (33.3%) pregnancies from Unsorted, X- and Y-embryos, respectively, all of which survived to birth, demonstrating that juvenile breeding can be successfully combined with sperm sexing. Table 1 Cleavage and blastocyst formation after IVF with Unsorted, X- or Y-sperm. Values in parenthesis are percentages
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Sawyer, Gregory, Dylan Russell Fox, and Edward Narayan. "Pre- and post-partum variation in wool cortisol and wool micron in Australian Merino ewe sheep (Ovis aries)." PeerJ 9 (April 27, 2021): e11288. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11288.
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An individual merino sheep’s output of wool production is influenced by synergistic interactions of sheep genetics, climate, farm management, and nutrition available to the whole flock. The price paid to the producer for this wool commodity is determined via numerous tested parameters and /or subjective appraisal of the raw greasy wool. This research investigated the level of variation in wool cortisol (a physiological stress biomarker) and wool micron (MIC) in Merino ewes (Ovis aries), pre-partum and post-lambing (lactation/lambs at foot), using maiden ewe (n = 38) managed in an outdoor paddock in a commercial farm. The key findings of this study are; (1) wool quality indicators showed a significant variation between pre- and post- parturition including significant reduction in MIC and (2) there was a negative correlation between wool cortisol levels and wool micron pre-parturition (rs = − 0.179, p < 0.05). This relationship between wool cortisol and wool micron was positive (rs = + 0.29, p < 0.05) during post-parturition suggesting that ewes with lambs at foot ended up with finer wool (reduction in fibre diameter) but they also maintained high levels of wool cortisol. Furthermore, the comfort factor, curvature, standard deviation and spin fineness of the wool were also significantly reduced post-parturition. The results of this study show that metabolic resources partitioning in ewe associated with pregnancy and lambing can result in a reduction in wool quality indices. The activity of the HPA-axis is attenuated during late gestation and parturition as a maternal adaptation; however, the results of our study show that wool cortisol remained similar between pre- and post- lambing. This result indicates that environmental stressors that may have been operating on farm (e.g., cold winter period) could influence on maternal physiological stress response however the exact level of influence of environment conditions on ewe stress levels and productivity traits (e.g., lambing success and wool quality) warrants further investigation. In conclusion, the use of top-knot wool sampling in combination with wool cortisol analysis provides researchers with a convenient method to quantify wool quality and physiological stress simultaneously under commercial sheep production.
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Walkom, S. F., and D. J. Brown. "Impact of liveweight, fat and muscle sire breeding values on ewe reproduction is minimal but variable across Australian grazing systems." Animal Production Science 57, no. 9 (2017): 1952. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an15574.
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Australian sheep producers have the potential to improve reproductive rates through optimising ewe body condition across the production cycle. Managing ewe body condition can become costly when supplementary feeding is required due to poor pasture growth or rainfall and by using appropriate genetics, producers can theoretically reduce the flock’s dependency on supplementary feed and improve reproductive rates. Reproductive records from the Information Nucleus Flock and Sheep Genetics Merino and maternal breed datasets were analysed to examine the influence of sire breeding values for liveweight (post-weaning, yearling and adult assessments), fat and eye muscle depths (post-weaning and yearling assessments) and number of lambs weaned on reproductive performance (fertility, litter size and number of lambs born) across a variety of production environments. To determine the impact of environmental conditions on the relationship between weight, ultrasound body composition, and reproduction traits the daughters’ adjusted reproductive performances were regressed on the sire’s breeding value across flocks, within flocks and within flock × year. Irrespective of age at assessment, sire breeding values for liveweight, fat and eye muscle depths had very little association with the reproductive performance of their daughters, on average. The regressions of reproduction on weight, and fat and eye muscle depth traits varied across flocks from unfavourable to favourable estimates. The very small overall impact of weight, and fat and eye muscle depth traits, on average suggests that using sire breeding values for number of lambs weaned, which had a large impact on reproduction, will provide the most viable method to genetically improve reproductive performance within the production system in question.
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Prathap, Pragna, Surinder S. Chauhan, Brian J. Leury, Jeremy J. Cottrell, Aleena Joy, Bereket Z. Tunkala, Kristy DiGiacomo, et al. "292 Reducing the Fermentability of Wheat with a Starch Binding Agent Has the Potential to Ameliorate Heat Stress in Sheep." Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_3 (October 8, 2021): 161–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.296.
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Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine whether a starch binding agent could (1) reduce the rate of fermentation of wheat grain and (2) improve heat tolerance in sheep. Firstly, fermentation kinetics and buffered rumen fluid pH variation were measured during in vitro incubation of wheat with 0, 1, 2, and 4% Bioprotect® (Feedworks Pty Ltd, Australia). Bioprotect® reduced gas production at 12 h in a dose-dependent manner (-6.4, -11 and -20% respectively; P < 0.001) and increased pH (P < 0.001), indicating slower ruminal fermentation. In a randomized control experiment, Merino lambs (n = 24) were fed either 50% wheat (WD, fast fermenting), corn (CD, slow fermenting), or wheat treated with 2% Bioprotect® (BD), with the balance of the diets being forage. Lambs were housed in climate-controlled rooms and exposed to 3 experimental periods: period 1 (P1: 7 days of thermoneutral conditions [18–21°C and 40–50% relative humidity (RH)] and fed 1.7×maintenance); period 2 [P2: 7 days of HS (28–40°C and 30–50% RH) and fed 1.7×maintenance]; and period 3 (P3: 7 days of HS as in P2, and 2×maintenance) with ad libitum water. Increases in respiration rate (RR), heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT) and left and right flank skin temperature (P < 0.001) occurred during HS, particularly during P3 (P < 0.001). Lambs fed CD and BD had lower RR (150, 137 and 140 breaths/min for WD, CD and BD, P < 0.001), HR (91.3, 85.3 and 85.9 beats/min, P < 0.001 and RT (39.7, 39.7 and 39.7°C P < 0.05). While there was no effect of diet, lambs reduced feed intake (-4%, P < 0.05) during P2 but consumed more (+16%) during P3. These data confirm that feeding corn or Bioprotect® treated wheat can be used as an ameliorative strategy to reduce the thermal load in lambs during summer.
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Morrison, M., R. M. Murray, and A. N. Boniface. "Nutrient metabolism and rumen micro-organisms in sheep fed a poor-quality tropical grass hay supplemented with sulphate." Journal of Agricultural Science 115, no. 2 (October 1990): 269–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600075237.
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SUMMARYA feeding trial was performed during 1986, in Townsville, Australia, to describe alterations in nutrient metabolism, and the coincident gross changes in rumen microbiology, when a sulphurdeficient diet was supplemented with inorganic sulphur. Eight Merino sheep were fedad libituma spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) hay of low sulphur content (0·4 g/kg DM), supplemented with all other essential minerals. Upon supplementation, daily sulphur intake was increased toc.0·75 g and four animals continued to be fedad libitum(group A) whilst the remaining animals were restricted in feed intake (group B). Sulphur supplementation caused a twofold increase in the feed intake of group A (P< 0·05). In both groups of animals, sulphur supplementation increased the fermentation of cotton thread cellulose (P< 0·05), as well as of ground plant dry matter (P< 0·05), suspended in the rumen in nylon bags for 24 and 48 h. The apparent digestibility of organic matter (AOMD) was also increased by sulphur supplementation; from 30·6 to 39·3% in group A (P< 0·05) and from 35·1 to 41·5% in group B (P> 0·05). The difference in AOMD between groups with sulphur supplementation was not significant, despite group B maintaining a longer retention of fluid digesta in the rumen (20·7 v. 25·3 h) with a significantly lowered rumen volume (4·68 v 3·67 litres,P< 0·05) and outflow of fluid digesta from this site (5·31 v 3·58 litres/day,P< 0·05). Sulphur supplementation increased the molar proportion of acetic acid in rumen fluid (P< 0·05) but lowered propionic and butyric acids in group A (P< 0·05). Only the molar proportion of propionic acid in rumen fluid was significantly lowered in group B (P< 0·05). In both groups of animals, counts of fluid-borne rumen bacteria, protozoa and sporangia of rumen anaerobic fungi (RAF) all increased significantly with sulphur supplementation (P< 0·05 in all instances), but no significant differences were observed between groups in microbial counts, despite the different feeding regimes. The increase in sporangial forms of RAF was most marked; no sporangial forms were detectable until the diet was supplemented with sulphate and measurable concentrations of rumen sulphide were observed. This is the first account of nondetectable concentrations of RAF brought about by the nutritional status of the diet.
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Lakota, E. А. "PRESERVATION OF GENETIC POTENTIAL OF STAVROPOL SHEEP BREED FOR POVOLZHYE DREY STEPPE ZONE." Vestnik of Ulyanovsk state agricultural academy, no. 3(50) (September 8, 2020): 179–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.18286/1816-4501-2020-3-179-184.
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In conditions of Povolzhye steppe zone development of productive qualities of Stavropol breed sheep was conducted by meat merino sheep. Experimental research was carried out in ZAO «Novaya Zhizn» in Novouzensky district of Saratov region, located in semi desert zone, bordering upon South-West Khazakhstan. The research aim was the increase and maintenance of genetic potential of Stavropol breed sheep of Povolzhye population. Working procedure is based on guidelines of the All-Union Academy of Agricultural sciences, All Union research institute of sheep and goat breeding. The study materials were Stavropol pure breed sheep and 1/8 –thoroughbred cross breed with Australian meat merino herdmates. As the result of stepped breeding of local Stavropol ewe with half bred by Australian meat merino ram- breeder of Stavropol breed animals of 1/2 ,1/4, 1/8 –blood were obtained, which then one- shear tupped by breeding «inter se». It is proved that in applying such selective method 1/8-blood by Australian meat merino sheep were characterized with higher body weight, better wool quality in contrast to Stavropol pure –breed herdmates. So, in 1/8-blood by Australian meat merino of hybrid ewe during breeding «inter se» live body at birth was higher than at pure breed herdmates for 5,56 %, during ablactation –at the age of 4 months - for 6,38 % (difference isn’t accurate). According to sharing of wool in grease, superiority of ewe of hybrid origin over pure breed was 5,6 % (Р≥0,99), but in terms of washed fiber it increases to 8,3 % (Р≥0,999). So, in dry steppe zone of Povolzhye new improved, according to its productive qualities, genotype of Stavropol breed sheep is created with retention of genetic resource that is essential economic factor for the modern maintenance of fine-wool sheep breeding field.
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Allingham, P. G., W. Barris, A. Reverter, V. Hilsenstein, R. van de Ven, and D. L. Hopkins. "Sire and growth-path effects on sheep meat production. 3. Fascicular structure of lamb loin muscle (m. longissimus lumborum) and the impact on eating quality." Animal Production Science 49, no. 3 (2009): 239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08163.
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The effects of sire genetics and growth path on the fascicular structure (FS) of lamb loin muscle (m. longissimus lumborum; LL) and the consequences for eating quality were studied in progeny (n = 299) of 20 Poll Dorset sires and Merino ewes. Sires were selected on the basis of their Australian sheep breeding values (ASBV) for post-weaning growth (PWWT), loin eye muscle depth (PEMD) and subcutaneous fat (PFAT). Growth of lambs was varied by time of weaning (early or late) and by feeding level within weaning group, where lambs were either fully fed throughout or were feed restricted for 55 days then re-alimented to achieve liveweight of ~45 kg at slaughter. The FS variables were determined in differentially stained histological sections of LL by using automated image segmentation and circle geometry methodology and were defined as percentage connective tissue, perimysial seam thickness and fascicular width. Sire ASBV was not a significant covariate to measures of FS, despite ASBV-related effects on growth, carcass leanness and fatness. Independent of weaning time, faster growth was induced by re-alimentation of feed-restricted lambs, resulting in LL with less connective tissue as a percentage of cross-sectional area and larger fascicles than for fully fed peers. The direction of the perimysial seam thickness response varied with treatment and time of weaning. Rapid growth of re-alimented early weaned restricted lambs resulted in thinner seams than for fully fed peers, whereas the opposite response was observed in the late-weaned lamb contrast. This suggests that the weight and age of the lamb at the time of nutritional compromise and re-alimentation are important factors in determining the thickness of perimysial connective-tissue seams. Whilst the evidence confirms differential accretion of the myofibrillar and connective tissues and despite reports of positive effects on tenderness brought about by such changes, variation in structural measures was not associated with variation in either objective measures (compression) or sensory scores for tenderness of the loin muscle. The data from the present study support the tenet that rapid growth before slaughter, combined with appropriate sire genetics, will not compromise the physical characteristics and sensory qualities of the meat.
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Fogarty, N. M., E. Safari, P. J. Taylor, and W. Murray. "Genetic parameters for meat quality and carcass traits and their correlation with wool traits in Australian Merino sheep." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, no. 7 (2003): 715. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar03047.
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Estimates of genetic parameters for carcass traits in Merino sheep are presented, including muscle pH and colour, which are indicators of meat quality. The inclusion of these in the parameter set for genetic evaluation will provide the basis for more accurate estimated breeding values and the design of better breeding programs for improving meat traits in straightbred Merino sheep and crossbred lamb production. Data from 1045, nineteen-month-old Merino rams, the progeny of 125 sires from 3 strains that are representative of the industry, were used. Heritability and genetic correlations were estimated by fitting an animal model using a REML procedure in univariate and multivariate analyses. The traits included fasted pre-slaughter liveweight; dressing %; carcass tissue depth at the GR site (FATGR); fat depth at the C site (FATC); eye muscle depth (EMD), width (EMW), and area (EMA); ultimate pH and colour (L*, a*, b*) of the eye muscle. Multivariate analyses were used to estimate genetic correlations among meat traits and between wool traits (clean wool weight and mean fibre diameter) and selected carcass and meat traits. Estimates of heritability were: liveweight 0.51 (±0.10), dressing % 0.39 (±0.10), FATGR 0.33 (±0.09), FATC 0.20 (±0.08), EMD 0.27 (±0.08), EMW 0.15 (±0.07), EMA 0.23 (±0.08), muscle pH 0.27 (±0.09), and 0.14 (±0.07), 0.02 (±0.06), and 0.04 (±0.06) for the meat colour measurements L*, a*, and b* respectively. There was a favourable genetic correlation between muscle pH and colour L* of –0.56 (±0.23). There were also significant genetic correlations between wool weight and FATGR (–0.34 ± 0.16) and between mean fibre diameter and muscle colour L* (–0.66 ± 0.27). The study indicates that there is genetic variation for carcass traits, including indicators of meat quality, with scope for selection to improve meat production and quality in Merino sheep.
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Mortimer, S. I., J. H. J. van der Werf, R. H. Jacob, D. W. Pethick, K. L. Pearce, R. D. Warner, G. H. Geesink, et al. "Preliminary estimates of genetic parameters for carcass and meat quality traits in Australian sheep." Animal Production Science 50, no. 12 (2010): 1135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10126.
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Using performance from progeny born in 2007 and 2008 generated by the Information Nucleus program of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, preliminary estimates of heritability were obtained for a range of novel carcass and meat attributes of lamb relevant to consumers, including carcass characteristics, meat quality and nutritional value of lamb. Phenotypic and genetic correlations of live animal traits with carcass composition and meat quality traits were also estimated. The data were from progeny located at eight sites, sired by 183 rams from Merino, maternal and terminal meat breeds and were representative of the Merino, Border Leicester × Merino, Terminal × Merino and Terminal × Border Leicester-Merino production types of the Australian sheep industry. Data were available from 7176 lambs for weaning weight, 6771 lambs for ultrasound scanning and 4110 lambs for slaughter traits. For the novel meat quality traits, generally moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for meat quality measures of shear force (0.27 aged 1 day, 0.38 aged 5 days), intramuscular fat (0.39), retail meat colour (range of 0.09 to 0.44) and myoglobin content (0.22). The nutritional value traits of omega-3 fatty acids and iron and zinc contents tended to have low to moderate heritabilities (0.11–0.37), although these were based on fewer records. Fresh meat colour traits were of low to moderate heritability (0.06–0.21) whereas measures of meat pH were of low heritability (~0.10). For the carcass traits, estimates of heritability were moderate to high for the various measures of carcass fat (0.18–0.50), muscle weight (0.22–0.35), meat yield (0.24–0.35), carcass muscle dimensions (0.25–0.34) and bone weight (0.27). Results indicate that for most lamb carcass and meat quality traits there is sufficient genetic variation for selection to alter successfully these characteristics. Additionally, most genetic correlations of live animal assessments of bodyweight, muscle and subcutaneous fat with the carcass and meat quality traits were favourable. Appropriate definition of breeding objectives and design of selection indexes should be able to account for the small unfavourable relationships that exist and achieve the desired outcomes from breeding programs.
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Fozi, M. Asadi, J. H. J. Van der Werf, and A. A. Swan. "Modelling genetic covariance structure across ages of mean fibre diameter in sheep using multivariate and random regression analysis." Animal Production Science 52, no. 11 (2012): 1019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an12139.
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Mean fibre diameter measurements from yearling to 5-year-old Australian fine- and medium-wool Merino sheep were analysed using several multivariate models that varied in covariance structure. A pre-structured multivariate model was found to be the most parsimonious model in comparison with the other models fitted such as banded, autoregressive and random regression. In the preferred model, the ages of mean fibre diameter for fine-wool data were genetically partitioned into yearling, 2 years, 3 years and later ages and for medium-wool data into hogget, 2 years and later ages. The estimates of genetic correlations between mean fibre diameter measured at different ages for medium-wool sheep were higher (0.89–1.00) than those for fine-wool Merino (0.75–1.00).
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Al-Atiyat, R., W. Flood, I. Franklin, B. Kinghorn, and A. Ruvinsky. "Microsatellite-based genetic variation and differentiation of selected Australian Merino sheep flocks." Small Ruminant Research 136 (March 2016): 137–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.01.018.
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Daetwyler, H. D., J. M. Hickey, J. M. Henshall, S. Dominik, B. Gredler, J. H. J. van der Werf, and B. J. Hayes. "Accuracy of estimated genomic breeding values for wool and meat traits in a multi-breed sheep population." Animal Production Science 50, no. 12 (2010): 1004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10096.
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Estimated breeding values for the selection of more profitable sheep for the sheep meat and wool industries are currently based on pedigree and phenotypic records. With the advent of a medium-density DNA marker array, which genotypes ~50 000 ovine single nucleotide polymorphisms, a third source of information has become available. The aim of this paper was to determine whether this genomic information can be used to predict estimated breeding values for wool and meat traits. The effects of all single nucleotide polymorphism markers in a multi-breed sheep reference population of 7180 individuals with phenotypic records were estimated to derive prediction equations for genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) for greasy fleece weight, fibre diameter, staple strength, breech wrinkle score, weight at ultrasound scanning, scanned eye muscle depth and scanned fat depth. Five hundred and forty industry sires with very accurate Australian sheep breeding values were used as a validation population and the accuracies of GEBV were assessed according to correlations between GEBV and Australian sheep breeding values . The accuracies of GEBV ranged from 0.15 to 0.79 for wool traits in Merino sheep and from –0.07 to 0.57 for meat traits in all breeds studied. Merino industry sires tended to have more accurate GEBV than terminal and maternal breeds because the reference population consisted mainly of Merino haplotypes. The lower accuracy for terminal and maternal breeds suggests that the density of genetic markers used was not high enough for accurate across-breed prediction of marker effects. Our results indicate that an increase in the size of the reference population will increase the accuracy of GEBV.
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Walkom, S. F., A. N. Thompson, E. Bowen, and D. J. Brown. "Weaner survival is heritable in Australian Merinos and current breeding objectives are potentially leading to a decline in survival." Animal Production Science 59, no. 1 (2019): 35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an17151.
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There is little evidence to show that mortality rates during the period after weaning are improving over time in Australian sheep. The average mortality rate of Merino lambs during the post-weaning period has been estimated to be 5.2%. The present study explored the potential for producers to breed for improved survival rates during the post-weaning period and the potential impact this would have on key production traits. A total of 122526 weaner survival (mortality) records were obtained from 18 Merino flocks, between 1989 and 2014, encompassing a wide variety of Australian Merino sheep types and production systems. The heritability of weaner survival from a sire model was estimated to be 0.07 ± 0.01 and was significantly greater than zero. The survival of lambs post-weaning was significantly influenced by weaning weight, with higher survival rates observed in the heavier lambs. The phenotypic relationship with weight indicates that selection for heavier weaning and post-weaning weights, and in turn larger growth rates, will improve survival rates. There is genetic variation in weaner survival not explained by the relationship with weaning weight. Weight-corrected weaner survival was antagonistically genetically correlated with fleece weight. Due to these antagonistic genetic relationships selection based on popular MERINOSELECT indexes is leading to a very small reduction in the survival rate of lambs after weaning through to the post-weaning stage. To prevent a decline in weaner survival, producers are advised to record weaner survival and include it in their breeding objective.
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RAADSMA, H. W., G. D. GRAY, and R. R. WOOLASTON. "Breeding for disease resistance in Merino sheep in Australia." Revue Scientifique et Technique de l'OIE 17, no. 1 (April 1, 1998): 315–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.20506/rst.17.1.1103.
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Ferguson, M. B., J. M. Young, G. A. Kearney, G. E. Gardner, I. R. D. Robertson, and A. N. Thompson. "The value of genetic fatness in Merino ewes differs with production system and environment." Animal Production Science 50, no. 12 (2010): 1011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10130.
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Selection against fatness in the Australian sheep industry has been a priority, but defining the true value of fat requires an understanding of the effects it has on both the value of lamb carcasses and on sheep productivity. A Merino flock with 10 years of reproduction data was used to analyse the correlation between breeding values for fatness at yearling age (YFAT) and the number of lambs born per ewe mated (NLB). In 2 production years, NLB was related (P < 0.01) to YFAT resulting in an extra 14 or 24.5 lambs born per 100 ewes mated per mm of YFAT. Based on these relationships, bio-economic modelling was used to assess the whole-farm value of YFAT for different sheep production systems and for years representing a low, medium and high response of NLB to YFAT. The changes in whole-farm profitability for a 1-mm increase in YFAT varied from $1000 (2%) for a wool enterprise with a low response up to $44 000 (25%) for a lamb enterprise with a high response. Appropriate carcass value discounts for higher YFAT were investigated but were not evident because of the small change in GR fat depth associated with the range of YFAT investigated. In most years there is no impact of YFAT on NLB and therefore profitability, yet in years where Merino ewes with higher YFAT produce higher NLB, ewes with an extra 1 mm of YFAT will be up to 25% more profitable. Therefore, care is required in determining the appropriate selection pressure to be placed on YFAT in Merino selection.
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Hatcher, S., K. D. Atkins, and E. Safari. "Phenotypic aspects of lamb survival in Australian Merino sheep1." Journal of Animal Science 87, no. 9 (September 1, 2009): 2781–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2008-1547.
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