Inheritance of loose wool bulk in Romney and Perendale sheep

M.L. Bigham, R.M.W. Sumner and J.N. Clarke, D.L. Johnson

Whatawhata Hill Country Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton and Ruakura Animal Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1985, 45: 213-216

Genetic parameters of loose wool bulk were estimated by half- sib correlations for Romney ewe and ram hogget fleeces sampled at Tokanui Research Station, Romney and Perendale ewe hogget fleeces sampled at Rotomahana Research Station and Perendale ewe hogget fleeces sampled from 5 industry flocks. Daughter-dam analyses were used to estimate similar parameters for Perendale ewe fleeces sampled at Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station.

Heritability estimates for loose wool bulk were 0.34±0.16 (Rotomahana) for Romneys and 0.93±0.28 (Rotomahana), 0.42±0.08 (Industry) and 0.70±0.16 (Whatawhata) for Perendales. Selection for loose wool bulk can be expected to bring about little change in greasy fleece weight, a decrease in staple length and little change in mean fibre diameter for the Romney but an increase in mean fibre diameter for the Perendale.

High heritability estimates and other circumstantial evidence are suggestive of simple inheritance of bulk in Perendales.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Loose wool bulk; Romney; Perendale; inheritance; fleece weight; staple length; fibre diameter

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Last Updated 03-05-1997