Genetics of lamb survival: preliminary studies of the Information Nucleus Flock

Abstract

Poor lamb survival is recognised in Australia as a major contributor to reproductive inefficiency in the national flock. This paper provides preliminary estimates of phenotypic and genetic parameters on lamb survival and related traits for the 2007 and 2008 data from the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation’s Information Nucleus. The paper focuses on the potential utility of measurements on related traits for achieving genetic improvement in lamb survival. Although timed lamb behaviour traits show consistently high genetic correlations with lamb survival to 3 days of age, no obvious candidates have yet been identified for commercial use as indicator traits to genetically improve lamb survival.