Journal article
Genotype selection for superior growth and muscling advances the onset of puberty in merino ewes
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Vol.19, pp.303-306
2011
Abstract
The present study evaluated the impact of selection for high muscle and high growth on puberty. One hundred and thirty six Merino ewe lambs with Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) at post-weaning age for liveweight (PWT) and depth of eye muscle (PEMD) and fat (PFAT) were used. Analyses were completed to determine how these production traits were related with the onset of puberty during the teasing period. Overall, 89% of lambs reached puberty when lambs weighed (±SEM) 40 ± 0.5 kg and were 222 ± 3.5 days old (179-248 days) at their first oestrus. Puberty was accelerated by PWT, PEMD and PFAT, but the effects of PEMD and PFAT were due to correlated changes in PWT. We concluded that genetic selection for high growth will accelerate the onset of puberty in Merino ewes.
Details
- Title
- Genotype selection for superior growth and muscling advances the onset of puberty in merino ewes
- Authors/Creators
- C.A. Rosales Nieto (Author/Creator)M.B. Ferguson (Author/Creator)C.A. Macleay (Author/Creator)J.R. Briegel (Author/Creator)G.B. Martin (Author/Creator)A.N. Thompson (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Vol.19, pp.303-306
- Publisher
- Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics
- Identifiers
- 991005542654707891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
Metrics
167 File views/ downloads
121 Record Views