Genetic parameters for fecal egg counts and their relationship with body weights in Katahdin lambs. 2018

L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
ARS, USDA, Dale Bumpers Small Farm Research Center, Booneville, AR.

Reliance on anthelmintic drugs to control internal parasites in sheep is no longer sustainable because of the development of resistance to these drugs in parasite populations. Genetic selection may offer an alternative long-term solution, as differences in parasite resistance exist both within and among sheep breeds. However, selection for parasite resistance may have correlated effects on other production traits. The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for weaning (WFEC) and postweaning (PWFEC) fecal egg counts (FEC) and assess their relationship with birth (BWT), weaning (WWT), and postweaning (PWWT) BW in Katahdin lambs. The study used WFEC (n = 2,537), PWFEC (n = 3.421), BWT (n = 12,869), WWT (n = 10,961), and PWWT (n = 7,812) from 12,869 lambs measured between 2003 and 2015 in 13 flocks enrolled in the U.S. National Sheep Improvement Program. Animal and sire models were fitted to the data using the ASReml statistical package. Records were corrected for fixed effects of dam age, joint effect of type of birth and rearing, and management group (defined by joint effects of flock, sex, and birth year and season); lamb age in days at each measurement time was fitted as a covariate. Maternal additive and maternal permanent environmental effects were not significant (P > 0.05), but litter effects influenced (P < 0.01) both WFEC and PWFEC. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.18 to 0.26 for WFEC and 0.23 to 0.46 for PWFEC, depending on the model used. Heritability estimates from sire models were higher than estimates from animal models. Direct additive, litter, residual, and phenotypic correlations between WFEC and PWFEC were 0.82, 0.25, 0.15, and 0.29, respectively. Bivariate analyses revealed low to moderate correlations between BW and FEC. Moderate heritabilities for FEC in this study indicated that genetic progress for this trait can be achieved in Katahdin lambs and that selection for low FEC should have little or no effect on BW.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010270 Parasite Egg Count Determination of parasite eggs in feces. Count, Parasite Egg,Counts, Parasite Egg,Egg Count, Parasite,Egg Counts, Parasite,Parasite Egg Counts
D010641 Phenotype The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment. Phenotypes
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D001947 Breeding The production of offspring by selective mating or HYBRIDIZATION, GENETIC in animals or plants. Breedings
D002980 Climate The longterm manifestations of WEATHER. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Climates
D005243 Feces Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D005260 Female Females
D006374 Helminthiasis, Animal Infestation of animals with parasitic worms of the helminth class. The infestation may be experimental or veterinary. Animal Helminthiases,Animal Helminthiasis,Helminthiases, Animal
D006376 Helminths Commonly known as parasitic worms, this group includes the ACANTHOCEPHALA; NEMATODA; and PLATYHELMINTHS. Some authors consider certain species of LEECHES that can become temporarily parasitic as helminths. Aschelminthes,Gordius,Nematomorpha,Parasitic Worms,Worms, Parasitic,Aschelminthe,Helminth,Nematomorphas,Parasitic Worm,Worm, Parasitic

Related Publications

L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
January 2017, Journal of animal science,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
March 2017, Journal of animal science,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
September 2019, Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
January 2022, Frontiers in genetics,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
April 2009, Genetics and molecular biology,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
December 2019, Poultry science,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
September 1971, International journal for parasitology,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
September 1998, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
March 2021, Journal of animal science,
L Ngere, and J M Burke, and J L M Morgan, and J E Miller, and D R Notter
July 1976, Poultry science,
Copied contents to your clipboard!