MULTIVARIATE ANIMAL MODEL USED TO ESTIMATE THE BREEDING VALUES FOR WEIGHT GAINS TRAITS IN SHEEP

Rodica Ştefania Pelmuş, H. Grosu, Cristina Lazăr, Elena Ghiţă, M.Al. Gras, C.M. Rotar

Abstract
    The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth gains traits and the breeding values of Teleorman Black Head lambs. The biological material consisted of 162 lambs with performances. The traits of interest were the weight gain from birth to 30 days and the weight gain from birth to 60 days. The variance components were estimated using the multivariate animal model by Restricted Maximum Likelihood method. The heritability estimates for the weight gain from birth to 30 days and weight gain from birth to 60 days were 0.60 and 0.83 respectively. The correlations between traits were positive and medium. The greater heritability of the traits studied in the present paper and the medium correlation between traits suggested that animals may be selected at an early age. The estimated breeding value predicts the breeding potential of the recorded animals.

Key words: sheep, genetic parameters, multivariate animal model