Genetic parameters for body weight and morphometric traits in Santa Ines sheep using Bayesian inference

Author(s)

Oliveira, Elisa Junqueira ^[1] ; Savegnago, Rodrigo Pelicioni ^[2] ; Freitas, Anielly de Paula ^[1] ; de Freitas, Luara Afonso ^[1] ; de Paz, Ana Carolina Almeida Rollo ^[3] ; El Faro, Lenira ^[3] ; Simili, Flavia Fernanda ^[3] ; Vercesi Filho, Anibal Eugenio ^[4] ; da Costa, Ricardo Lopes Dias ^[4] ; de Paz, Claudia Cristina Paro ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Genet, Ave Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Michigan State Univ, Dept Anim Sci, E Lansing, MI 48864 - USA

^[3] Ctr Avancado Pesquisa Bovinos Corte, Inst Zootecnia, Rodovia Carlos Tonani, Km 94, BR-14174000 Sertaozinho, SP - Brazil

^[4] Ctr Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento Zootecnia Diversif, Inst Zootecnia, BR-13460000 Nova Odessa, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Small Ruminant Research; v. 201, AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters between body weight and morphometric traits to choose selection criteria to improve genetically the body weight and body conformation using Bayesian inference. Body weight, body length, chest girth, croup height, croup width, withers height, and body condition score of 645 Santa Ines meat sheep were used to estimate the genetic parameters in a multi-trait animal model with Bayesian approach. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.19 +/- 0.05 to 0.32 +/- 0.07 (croup width and body condition score respectively), which allow them to respond to genetic selection. The genetic correlations between body weight and morphometric traits were positive and ranged from 0.18 +/- 0.17 to 0.98 +/- 0.02. The genetic correlation between body weight and chest girth (0.98 +/- 0.02) indicates that selection based on one trait will result in genetic gain for the other. The body weight is the main selection criterion to increase the meat production via genetic selection of the animals due to its moderate heritability and moderate to high genetic correlation with the other traits studied. However, if calibrated electronic scales are not available for the sheep producers, they can use the morphometric measurements to carry out the selection of animals to result in indirect genetic gains for body weight. If the breeders want to choose only one morphometric trait to indirectly improve the genetic body weight, chest girth is recommended due to its extremely high genetic correlation with body weight. The next step would be to develop an index that takes into account all the morphometric measurements to use it as indirect indicator of body weight. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/01540-2 - Prediction of genomic values using Bayesian models and neural networks for endoparasite resistance traits in Santa Inês sheep
• Grantee: Luara Afonso de Freitas Januário
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/15982-0 - Selection criteria for economic importance traits in Santa Inês sheep
• Grantee: Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/14522-7 - Genomic studies associated with resistance to endoparasites traits in Santa Inês sheep
• Grantee: Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants