Analysis of the genetic variance of fibre diameter measured along the wool staple for use as a potential indicator of resilience in sheep.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The effects of environmental disturbances on livestock are often observed indirectly through the variability patterns of repeated performance records over time. Sheep are frequently exposed to diverse extensive environments but currently lack appropriate measures of resilience (or sensitivity) towards environmental disturbance. In this study, random regression models were used to analyse repeated records of the fibre diameter of wool taken along the wool staple (bundle of wool fibres) to investigate how the genetic and environmental variance of fibre diameter changes with different growing environments.

Results

A model containing a fifth, fourth and second-order Legendre polynomial applied to the fixed, additive and permanent environmental effects, respectively, w

SUBMITTER: Smith EG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11536905 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature