Abstract
Growth traits records of lambs (1649) from 107 sires were used to evaluate the sires by estimating the breeding values using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) and Derivative-Free Restricted Maximum Likelihood (DFREML) methods. The average breeding values of Marwari sires for body weights at birth, weaning, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were estimated as 3.14, 15.13, 21.14, 25.85 and 28.86 kg, respectively, using BLUP method and 3.08, 15.13, 21.54, 26.48 and 29.20 kg, respectively, by DFREML method. For the average daily gains from birth to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to12 months of age, the average breeding values were estimated as 133.60, 66.75 and 38.66 g, respectively by BLUP method, and 134.39, 71.02 and 36.88 g by DFREML method. DFREML was adjudged as more efficient and more stable method for sire evaluation than BLUP for all the traits under study on the basis of lower error variances and nearer coefficient of variation to the coefficient of variation of unadjusted records. DFREML was also considered to be a more accurate method of sire evaluation than BLUP for body weight at birth and six months of age. The higher rank co rrelations(>0.8) between BLUP and DFREML methods of sire evaluation for various growth traits indicated that there was a higher degree of similarity of ranking the sires (>80%) by both the methods of sire evaluation. Thus, DFREML has been recommended to be superior to BLUP for evaluation of breeding values of sires for different traits under study.
Published Version
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