Development and implementation of genetic evaluations for dairy, meat, functional and conformation traits in sheep and goats
- Boden und Landökosysteme
- Lebensmittel, Ernährung, Gesundheit
Abstract
Genetic evaluations for sheep and goat breeds will be developed for the main performance traits. According to breed groups these are dairy, meat, conformation and functional traits. The project applies to breeds with sufficient population size and which are not considered in conservation breeding programmes. Dairy traits: For dairy traits a lactation model is planned for both species. A multivariate approach, splitting the first lactation into two parts and allowing for inclusion of higher lacations will be investigated. Further, a dairy index shall be developed. Meat: For the Boer goat weights at different ages are available. Theses weights will be recorded electronically. Their useabilty for genetic parameter estimation will be analyzed. A meat index will be developed for the chosen traits. For sheep, the results of the current project 100552 will be implemented into a routine genetic evaluation. Meat indices will also be defined for sheep breeds. Functional traits and conformation: Fertility and conformation traits (main scores of visual assessment) will be investigated considering species and breed group. Fitness and conformation indices shall be developed. The possible use of certain conformation traits as auxiliary traits for the definition of fitness indices will also be studied. For all traits and trait groups the first step includes data validation and editing followed by model testing for estimation of variance components, definition of final models, genetic evaluation and calculation of reliability as well as documentation for further use in the routine genetic evaluation process. For the routine genetic evaluation the software packages MiX99 and ApaX are readily available as they are used for the routine genetic evaluation for cattle and Noriker horses. A further important step is the adaptation of the central data base SCHAZI in order to enable the inclusion of breeding values and indices.
www.raumberg-gumpenstein.atProject staff
Birgit Fürst-Waltl
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing.Dr.nat.techn. Birgit Fürst-Waltl
birgit.fuerst-waltl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93233
Project Leader
15.11.2012 - 29.02.2016
BOKU partners
External partners
ZuchtData Dienstleistungen GMbH
Dr. Christian Fürst
partner
Plandata Datenverarbeitungsgesellschaft
Martin Erhart
partner
Funder
Österreichischer Bundesverband für Schafe und Ziegen