Short communication: Genetic parameters for post-weaning visual scores and reproductive traits in Suffolk sheep

摘要

The aim of this study was to estimate the coefficients of heritability and genetic correlations among visual scores (conformation, C PW ; precocity, P PW ; musculature, M PW ) and reproductive traits: age at first lambing (AFL) and scrotal circumference (SC) evaluated at 180 days of age in Suffolk lambs. In the statistical model only the additive genetic effect was considered as random effect. The heritability estimates by univariate analyses for C PW , P PW , M PW , AFL and SC were 0.08, 0.12, 0.09, 0.20 and 0.22, respectively. The genetic correlations among AFL and C PW , P PW , M PW were -0.26, 0.19, and 0.08, respectively. The genetic correlation among SC and C PW , P PW , M PW were, respectively, 0.54, 0.88 and 0.86, and between AFL and SC was 0.26. The direct selection for conformation, precocity and musculature at 180 days of age and age at first lambing will provide slow genetic progress due to low heritability estimates. It is possible to obtain genetic gain in sexual precocity through selection on scrotal circumference in Suffolk rams. The favorable genetic correlation among visual scores and SC and between C PW and AFL, indicated the possibility to gain in genetic progress for reproductive traits through indirect selection of the visual scores in Suffolk sheep.