Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates of growth traits of the Dorper and Dorper X Red Masai sheep.

Abstract

Data on 1550 Dorper and Dorper X Masai lambs recorded over a 10-yr period were analysed. The crossbred lambs were from dams having >73.4% Dorper inheritance. The effect of percentage of Dorper inheritance was not significant for birth weight and for most measures of body weight to 12 months of age. The h²s, estimated by paternal half-sib analysis, were 0.15±0.07 for birth weight, 0.18±0.08 for weaning weight, 0.39±0.11 for 9-month weight, and 0.55±0.13 for 12-month weight. Genetic correlations among body weights were 0.15-0.99 and phenotypic correlations 0.02-0.9.