Wool yellowing susceptibility: Heritability, genetic and phonotypic
correlations with productive traits in Australian Merino, Corriedale and
New Zealand Romney sheep
M.V. Benavides, M.Y. Young, P.R. Beatson, A.P. Maher, T.C. Reid
Wool Science Department, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University,
Canterbury, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1995,
55: 45
Colour is an important characteristic affecting wool price. Canary
yellow wool incidence is low in dry years but individuals can be
classified according to their degreee of susceptibility to wool
yellowing based on results of wool incubation test.
Australian Merino, Corriedale and New Zealand Romney populations were
tested. A number of 603, 1269 and 476 progenies and 21, 52 and 24 sires
were used for these populations, respectively. Susceptibility to wool
yellowing (YPC), greasy (GFW) and clean fleece weights (CFW), yield (Y)
and mean fibre diameter (MFD) were analysed in a sire model.
Heritability values for YPC were 0.21+/-0.11, 0.28+/-0.08 and 0.19+/-
0.07 for Merino, Corriedale and Romney, respectively. Genetic
correlations between YPC and other traits were 0.04+/-0.31 with GFW, -
0.10+/-0.31 with CFW, -0.11+/-0.29 with Y and 0.51+/-0.29 with MFD for
Merinos; 0.30+/-0.18, 0.17+/-0.19, -0.12+/-0.18 and 0.33+/-0.19, -
0.12+/-0.18 and 0.33+/-0.19 for Corriedale, respectively, and 0.77+/-
0.22, 0.44+/-0.31, -0.70+/-0.35 and 0.25+/-0.30 for Romney,
respectively. Phenotypic correlations were negligible among this traits
for these three populations, except for YPC and Y (-0.33+/-0.10).
Selection strategies to reduce wool yellowing susceptibility will differ
between genotypes. Low frequency of susceptible sheep in Merino
population showed little justification for including YPC in genetic
programmes for this particular breed only.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
