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Genetic parameter estimates for reproductive traits in Chokla ewes of India

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Abstract

Early selection of ewes for better reproductive performance may reduce generation interval and increase genetic gains. Considering this, the present study aimed to derive the genetic parameter estimates of ten reproductive traits in 1172 maiden Chokla ewes over a period of 22 years. Initially, the traits, namely age at first service (AFS), weight at first service (WFS), age at first successful service (ASS), weight at first successful service (WSS), age at first lambing (AFL), ewe’s weight at first lambing (WFL), first lambing interval (LI1), first service period (SP1), first parity lamb survival (SUR1) and first service fertility rate (FER1) were analysed for the effects of genetic and non-genetic factors. The significant effects were fitted into six animal models to estimate the genetic parameters. The heritability estimates were low for the age traits and FER1 (0.06–0.09) but moderate for the rest of the traits (0.16–0.23), indicating the suitability of these traits for improvement through direct selection. The maternal direct and permanent effects were meagre for all the traits. The ewe weights had strongly negative correlations with the age of sexual maturity and positive correlations with lamb survival. The results emphasise the need to optimize the weights of maiden ewes to improve reproductive performance.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the entire staff at ICAR - CSWRI Avikanagar and ICAR - CSWRI ARC, Bikaner for their help in data collection and database management. We sincerely thank the Director, CSWRI for permitting the use of the data for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, Rajasthan, 334001, India

    Arnav Mehrotra, Urmila Pannu & Harvinder Singh

  2. Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India

    Arnav Mehrotra

  3. Arid Region Campus, ICAR - Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Beechwal -334006, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

    Ashish Chopra, H. K. Narula & A. K. Patel

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  1. Arnav Mehrotra
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  2. Urmila Pannu
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  3. Ashish Chopra
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  4. H. K. Narula
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  5. Harvinder Singh
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Correspondence to Arnav Mehrotra.

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Mehrotra, A., Pannu, U., Chopra, A. et al. Genetic parameter estimates for reproductive traits in Chokla ewes of India. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 2259–2264 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02253-2

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