Genetic studies on the South African Mutton Merino: growth traits

Neser, F.W.C.; Erasmus, G.J.; Wyk, J.B. van

doi:10.4314/sajas.v30i3.3849

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Heritability estimates obtained in this work for all points during the first 3 mo of age are within the range of values reported in a recent review (Safari and Fogarty, 2003) both for direct and maternal effects. Neser et al (2000) and Duguma et al (2002) have published higher estimates for these parameters for Merino under South African conditions. However, the estimates For any pair of ages considered, Age1 is the age of the first weight, and Age2 is the age of the second weight.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Random regression model of growth during the first three months of age in Spanish Merino sheep1,2

Molina

Menéndez-Buxadera

Valera

et al. 2007

Journal of Animal Science

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A total of 88,727 individual BW records of Spanish Merino lambs, obtained from 30,214 animals between 2 and 92 d of age, were analyzed using a random regression model (RRM). These animals were progeny of 546 rams and 15,586 ewes raised in 30 flocks, between 1992 and 2002, with a total of 45,941 animals in the pedigree. The contemporary groups (animals of the same flock, year, and season, with 452 levels), the lambing number (11 levels), the combination sex of lambs with type of litter (4 levels), and a fixed regression coefficient of age on BW were included as fixed effects. A total of 7 RRM were compared, and the best fit was obtained for a model of order 3 for the direct and maternal genetic effects and for the individual permanent environmental effect. For the maternal permanent environmental effect the best model had an order 2. The

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Random regression model of growth during the first three months of age in Spanish Merino sheep1,2

Molina

Menéndez-Buxadera

Valera

et al. 2007

Journal of Animal Science

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“…The flock participated in the SA Mutton Merino breed analysis that was reported by Neser et al (2000). From this analysis it was evident that the maternal breeding values for 100-day weaning weight in the Elsenburg flock were consistently above the breed average, while direct breeding values were comparable to breed means.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Production of five Merino type lines in a terminal crossbreeding system with Dormer or Suffolk sires

Cloete¹,

Cloete²,

Durand³

et al. 2004

SA J. An. Sci.

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This study details the production performance of ewes and lambs that originated from a terminal crossbreeding experiment that involved five Merino type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire lines from 1999 to 2002. Ewe lines were SA Mutton Merino (SAMM), SAMM rams crossed to Merino ewes (SAMM cross), Dohne Merino, as well as specialist Merino lines selected for clean fleece weight (FW+) and for an increased reproduction rate (Rep+). Dormer and Suffolk rams were used as sire breeds on these ewes. Data include 777 birth and 605 weaning records of lambs and 562 production year records of ewes. At birth the progeny of SAMM ewes were heavier than those of the other ewe lines, while FW+ ewes produced smaller lambs at birth than SAMM cross and Rep+ ewes. Lamb survival was not significantly affected by ewe line or sire breed. The progeny of the dual-purpose ewe lines (SAMM, SAMM cross and Dohne Merino) were heavier than those of Merino ewes (FW+ and Rep+) at weaning. No sire breed difference was found for birth or weaning weight. The joining weights of dual-purpose ewe lines were higher than those of Merinos. Although considerable variation was found between ewe lines in terms of lamb output (number or weight of lamb weaned per ewe joined), the only significant difference was for weight of lamb weaned between SAMM cross and FW+ Merino ewes. Means for weight of lamb weaned per joining (in kg) were 37.3 for SAMM ewes, 39.6 for SAMM cross ewes, 35.5 for Dohne Merino ewes, 28.9 for FW+ ewes and 34.6 for Rep+ ewes. No differences in ewe reproduction were found between ewes joined to Dormer or Suffolk rams. The clean wool production of SAMM ewes amounted to 46% of that recorded in FW+ ewes. Corresponding percentages were 68% for SAMM cross ewes, 74% for Dohne Merino ewes and 90% for Rep+ ewes. The wool of SAMM ewes was slightly coarser in diameter than those of SAMM cross and FW+ ewes, which in turn was coarser than those of Rep+ and Dohne Merino ewes. The economic viability of crossbreeding programs involving the respective ewe lines would depend on the ratio between the prices of wool and lamb. No conclusive advantage could be demonstrated in favour of any of the sire breeds. ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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“…The SAMM is a medium-maturing mutton-wool sheep (80 mutton : 20 wool), which is able to produce slaughter lambs with high growth rates at an early age with excellent meat quality attributes (Cloete et al, 2004). The SAMM has an excellent FCR (Sheridan et al, 2003) and is therefore a popular breed in feedlot production systems (Neser et al, 2000). The Dorper is an early maturing mutton breed that produces fast growing lambs with good carcass quality characteristics (Schoeman, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of days in feedlot on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Merino, South African Mutton Merino and Dorper lambs

et al. 2017

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This study investigated the effect of feedlot production on lamb growth characteristics of three common South African breeds: Merino, South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) and Dorper. Lambs were supplied with a balanced diet (16% crude protein, 9.41 MJ ME/kg feed) ad libitum and had free access to water. Lambs from each breed were divided into six groups. One group of each breed was slaughtered every three weeks until 105 days under feedlot production were reached. The weights of the lambs were recorded weekly, along with feed intake, to obtain the individual daily intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio ( The results confirm that the Merino is a late maturing breed that is recognised for its wool rather than meat production, and therefore exhibits weaker growth characteristics. The SAMM is a dual-purpose breed that has also been selected for growth and meat production, and therefore exhibits desirable production characteristics, while the Dorper is an early maturing breed that deposits localized fat at an earlier age as it grows, thereby producing fatter carcasses than SAMM and Merino lambs. Therefore, Dorper lambs should be slaughtered at lower live weights so that carcasses are not graded as over-fat. ______________________________________________________________________________________

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Genetic studies on the South African Mutton Merino: growth traits

Cited by 23 publications

References 16 publications

Random regression model of growth during the first three months of age in Spanish Merino sheep1,2

Random regression model of growth during the first three months of age in Spanish Merino sheep1,2

Production of five Merino type lines in a terminal crossbreeding system with Dormer or Suffolk sires

Effect of days in feedlot on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Merino, South African Mutton Merino and Dorper lambs

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