Growth in Romane Sheep: Single vs. Twin-Reared Lambs
Author Information
Author(s): David Ingrid, Bouvier Frédéric, François Dominique, Poivey Jean-Paul, Tiphine Laurence
Primary Institution: INRA
Hypothesis
Does the number of lambs reared affect pre-weaning growth rates in Romane sheep?
Conclusion
The current genetic evaluation model for lamb growth can be improved to better account for the number of lambs reared.
Supporting Evidence
- The study analyzed data from 29,612 lambs to assess growth rates.
- The best model indicated that maternal effects differ based on the number of lambs reared.
- The correlation between estimated breeding values from different models was very high.
Takeaway
This study looked at how the number of lambs a mother sheep raises affects their growth. It found that the way we measure this growth can be improved.
Methodology
Data from 29,612 Romane lambs were analyzed using eight different models to compare growth rates based on the number of lambs reared.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the controlled environment of the experimental farm.
Limitations
The study used data from an experimental farm, which may not fully represent field conditions.
Participant Demographics
Romane lambs born between 1987 and 2009, with 18% reared as singles and 82% as twins.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.45
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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