Estimation of genetic parameters for production and reproduction traits in Kashmir Merino sheep

Abstract

Data pertaining to 6,300 birth records spread over 21 years of Kashmir Merino sheep maintained at Government Sheep Breeding Farm Kralapathri and Government Sheep Breeding Farm Goabal Kashmir and Fleece Testing Laboratory were used to estimate the genetic parameters. The genetic parameters for birth weight (BWT), 6 months body weight (6-MWT), yearling body weight (12 MWT), greasy fleece yield of first clip (GFY-1), greasy fleece yield of second clip (GFY-2), fiber diameter (FD), staple length (SL), age at first lambing (AFL) and inter-lambing period (ILP) were estimated by paternal half-sib correlation method using sire components of variance and covariance. The heritability estimates for BWT, 6-MWT, 12-MWT, SL, GFY-1, GFY-2 were moderately high whereas the estimates of heritability for FD, SL, AFL and ILP were low respectively. The genetic correlation between different traits ranged from - 0.73±0.10 to 0.87±0.04 while as phenotypic correlation different traits ranged from - 0.66±0.07 to 0.54±0.01. Keeping in view its high heritability of SMW and favorable correlations with birth weight, yearling body weight, wool traits and age at first lambing, it is concluded that selection on basis of 6-MWT would be effective to improve growth, quality wool production and age at first lambing in Kashmir Merino sheep.