Genetic reduction of tail length in New Zealand sheep
D.R. SCOBIE AND D. O’CONNELL
AgResearch, PO Box 60, Lincoln, 8152, New Zealand.
NZSAP 2002 Abstract No. 50
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62:
195-198
Literature evidence revealed several sources of genes that could
be used to shorten the tails of sheep. Genes from the Northern
short-tail group are preferable as there are no known detrimental
effects on viability. Tail length from anus to tip, divided by the
distance from anus to hock and calculated as a percentage was used to
correct tail length for body size differences. Adjusted tail length of
the progeny was best explained by additive effects for adjusted tail
length of the sire (P<0.001) and dam breed (P<0.001). A small but
significant interaction was also evident (P<0.01). Mean tail length
was shortest for Finnish Landrace lambs (88mm) and longest for Wiltshire
x Cheviot lambs (251mm). Cheviot lambs had long tails (226mm), while
various crosses between Finnish Landrace and Cheviots suggest that mean
tail length will be the average of the parents. The experiment suggests
inheritance of a number of genes and that it will therefore be
straightforward to produce genetically-docked tails using cross breeding
followed by selection and interbreeding.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
coccygeal vertebrae; welfare; sheep; genetics
Last Updated 30/07/2002
