Animal Trait Correlation Database

 Sheep Reference # 1459894

Authors:Waldron DF, Thomas DL
Affiliation:Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801
Title:Increased litter size in Rambouillet sheep: I. Estimation of genetic parameters
Journal:J Anim Sci, 1992, 70(11):3333-44 DOI: 10.2527/1992.70113333x
Abstract:

The variance and covariance components needed to estimate heritabilities of and genetic correlations among litter size, ovulation rate, scrotal circumference, and BW in a flock of Rambouillet sheep were estimated using REML via an expectation-maximization type algorithm. The heritability estimates from univariate analyses were .14, .21, .25, .36, and .15 for litter size, ovulation rate, scrotal circumference, 180-d BW of females, and 180-d BW of males, respectively, and average heritability estimates from bivariate analyses were .19, .20, .20, .34, and .10 for litter size, ovulation rate, scrotal circumference, 180-d BW of females, and 180-d BW of males, respectively. The genetic correlation between litter size and ovulation rate was near unity. Body weight in ewes had a moderate genetic correlation with both litter size (.22) and ovulation rate (.20) and a low residual correlation with both litter size (.03) and ovulation rate (.09). The genetic correlation between BW in rams and scrotal circumference was 0, whereas the residual correlation was .71. The genetic correlations of scrotal circumference with litter size and ovulation rate were -.25 and +.20, respectively.

Links:  PubMed  |   List all correlation data   |   List all heritability data   |  

 

 

© 2003-2025: USA · USDA · NRPSP8 · Program to Accelerate Animal Genomics Applications. Contact: Bioinformatics Team