ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR BODY MEASUREMENTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY WEIGHT IN BARKI LAMBS

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of direct and maternal effects on the body measurements and live weight of Barki lambs. Data of 214 lambs progenies from 36 sires and 98 dams recorded of Barki of Sheep flock in Maryout Research Station at DesertResearchCenter was used to estimate the genetic parameters of body measurements and yearling live weight in Barki lambs. The used traits in present study were: body length (BL), height at withers (HW), heart girth (HG) and yearling weight (YW). The estimations were done by using DFREML software. Direct heritability by single trait analysis was estimated 0.10, for BL, 0.18, for HW, 0.10, for HG, and 0.10, for YW. The effect of permanent environmental due to dam was estimated 0.05, 0.02, 0.06 and 0.04 for BL, HW, HG and YW, respectively. Using bivariate analysis, additive genetic correlations were estimated 0.75, 0.76 and 0.93 between YW and each of BL, HW and HG, respectively. High and positive genetic and phenotypic correlations indicate that an improvement in body measurements both at the genetic and phenotypic level is expected through selection on body weight and vice versa.