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Consequences of inbreeding for financial returns from sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

G. Wiener ,
C. J. Lee  and
J. A. Woolliams
G. Wiener
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EI 125 9PS
C. J. Lee
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EI 125 9PS
J. A. Woolliams
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EI 125 9PS
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Abstract

The effects of inbreeding on the gross financial returns from ezues have been studied in a flock of sheep comprising three hill breeds and Ihe crosses among them. Each of these groups mis represented In non-inbred sheep (purebred and crossbred, designated O2, and F2, respectively) and four classes of inbreeding (inbreeding coefficients (F): 0·25, 0·375, 0·50 and 0·59). A second non-inbred class ums represented by crosses of inbred lines.

Gross lifetime income per eive derived from the sale of lamps for slaughter, cast ezves and wool was reduced by inbreeding in an almost linear fashion (between the O2/F2 and the F 0·50 class) at a rate of £1·27 (at 1992 prices) for ench 0·01 (percentage point) increase in the level of inbreeding — an overall reduction to 0·35 of the O2/F2 level. Line crosses gave a better return than the other non-inbred sheep. When expressed in terms of ewe metabolic body weight (M0·73) the decline with inbreeding was less —an overall reduction to 0·4 of the O2/F, income. Inbreeding of Ihe lamb caused a further decline in output independent of the inbreeding of the ezve.

Keywords

inbreedingreturnssheep
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 59 , Issue 2 , October 1994 , pp. 245 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

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References

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