0000000000798207
AUTHOR
Stephen Bishop
Genetic parameters for early lamb survival and growth in Scottish Blackface sheep1
The objectives of this study were 1) to estimate the heritability of lamb survival and growth in the Scottish Blackface breed; 2) to examine the relationship between lamb survival and live BW; and 3) to investigate the possibility of using lamb survival in a breeding program for this breed. The data used for the analyses contained information about survival and live BW at different ages on 4,459 animals. The records were collected from 1988 to 2003 in a Scottish Blackface flock. Live BW was recorded every 4 wk from birth to 24 wk. Survival was defined either by perinatal or postnatal mortality (up to weaning at 12 wk), or as cumulative survival to 1, 4, 8, and 12 wk. The pedigree file compr…
Genetic analysis of early lamb survival in extensively reared lambs
In sheep production, lamb survival is an important economic trait (Conington et al., 2004). Therefore, this trait has been studied by many scientists, especially in countries with an extensive husbandry system. In the United Kingdom, the number of lambs dying before weaning has been estimated ranging from 5 to 40% (Eales et al., 1983).