Abstract
High prolificacy in Garole sheep is due to existence of FecB mutation in an autosomal gene, bone morphogenetic protein receptor. The mutation enhances ovulation rate and in turn litter size in Garole sheep. Garole sires were crossed with non-prolific Malpura ewes with the aim to introduce prolificacy into Garole×Malpura (G×M) crosses through FecB introgression programme. In the present study, the effect of carrying booroola allele on litter size and live body weight was analyzed. The average litter size at birth was found to be 1.87 and 1.48 in the Garole and the G×M crosses, respectively. At weaning, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month of age, body weights were not affected by the presence of booroola allele (p>0.05); however, a significant effect (p<0.05) was found on body weight at birth in G×M crosses. In Garole sheep, no significant effect of FecB was observed on live weights in any age group. The interaction between the genetic group and the FecB genotype was also found to be non-significant. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 10 : 1379-1382)
Highlights
Garole is a small sized highly prolific sheep breed from hot and humid costal region of West Bengal
Native mutton type sheep breed usually gave single birth and it was used as dam breed whereas Garole was used as sire breed in developing Garole×Malpura half breds that was supposed to segregate FecB gene in crosses
The G×M sheep included in the study were obtained by either crossing Malpura ewes with Garole rams or from interbreeding among G×M half breds
Summary
The significance of interaction between genetic group and FecB genotypes using litter size records of all the Garole (n = 156) and G×M ewes (n = 75) from year 2000 to 2003 were analyzed. In a study conducted on 12 homozygous and heterozygous carriers, mean litter size in Garole and Javanese ewes was observed as 1.7 and 2.1, respectively (Davis et al, 2002).
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