[Jacob-list] Breeding for fleece traits

[Gary Anderson]

Fleece traits tend to have a relatively high heritability, which means the
contribution that genetics plays in differences observed in the trait (e.g.,
fine versus coarse fibers) is relatively high compared with traits that have
a relatively low heritability (e.g., reproductive performance).  Genetics
plays a part in observed differences in reproduction, but environmental
factors (e.g., nutrition) usually play a more significant role.  In general,
more rapid genetic change may be made in traits with higher heritabilities
(e.g., fleece traits) than in traits with lower heritabilities (e.g.,
reproduction).  Whether or not the resulting change in a fleece trait tends
to "improve" or "go backward" depends on the breeder's goal.  If by breeding
a ram having a coarse fleece to a ewe having a fine fleece the breeder is
after a lamb with a more intermediate fiber diameter, indeed the trait might
be expected to improve in the lamb; however, if the breeder wishes to
preserve the fine fleece of the ewe, breeding her to a ram with a coarse
fleece might not produce a lamb with a "nicer" fleece.  It is good to
remember that, on average, rams tend to have coarser fleeces than ewes.

Gary Anderson
Hillside Jacobs
Sparta, MI

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Today's Topics:

   1. need advice on breeding groups (Kimberly Sutton)


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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2012 19:31:26 -0500
From: Kimberly Sutton <redfarmhousegal at gmail.com>
Subject: [Jacob-list] need advice on breeding groups
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
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	<CAHu-7X=jhKx601rGT37Ndksg84KrQV8cVacGhj=vadyujfVD4g at mail.gmail.com>
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This will be our first year of breeding our sheep and we had a question
about fleeces.  We have heard that the easiest thing to improve is fleece.
So does that mean that you could (or should) put a ram with a dense coarser
fleece with ewe with really nice fine fleece and get a nicer fleece in the
lambs?  Does the fleece always improve or does it go backwards sometimes?
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