Genetic Studies on Growth and Production Traits in Rambouillet Sheep

Vikas bin Zaffer; R. K. Taggar; D. Chakraborty; Simran Singh; Peer Mohd. Azhar

Authors

Vikas bin Zaffer Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, FVSc and A.H., SKUAST-Jammu, R. S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7411-0913
R. K. Taggar Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, FVSc and A.H., SKUAST-Jammu, R. S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
D. Chakraborty Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, FVSc and A.H., SKUAST-Jammu, R. S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
Simran Singh Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, FVSc and A.H., SKUAST-Jammu, R. S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
Peer Mohd. Azhar Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, FVSc and A.H., SKUAST-Jammu, R. S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7411-0913

Keywords:

Birth Weight, Growth Traits and Heritability, Least-Squares Means, Rambouillet Sheep

Abstract

Data on 300 Rambouillet sheep records maintained at Government Sheep Breeding Farm Panthal, Reasi, J and K, India, were used in the present study. The least squares means were 2.608±0.034 kg, 15.846±0.179 kg, 17.921±0.164 kg, 22.890±0.205 kg, 30.463±0.172 kg and 2.121±0.042 kg for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), 6-month body weight (6-BW), 12-month body weight (12-BW), mature body weight (MBW) and annual wool production (AWP), respectively. The period of lambing had significant effect on all the traits except for BWT. Sex had significant effect on all the traits under study except for 6-BW. The estimates of heritability for the present study in Rambouillet sheep varied from low to medium. The genetic correlations in Rambouillet sheep varied from -0.786±0.630 (MBW and AWP) and 0.915±0.336 (WWT and MBW). The moderate estimates of heritability of 6-BW and its high genetic correlation with MBW indicated that 6-BW can be used as selection criteria for MBW.