GENETIC-PARAMETERS FOR BODY-WEIGHT, FLEECE WEIGHT AND FIBER DIAMETER IN SOUTH-AFRICAN ANGORA-GOATS

Data obtained through the Angora goat performance testing pilot scheme , run by the Department of Agriculture at the Grootfontein Agricultura l Development Institute, were analyzed. Data of kids born from 1990 un til 1993 in 17 studs were used in the analysis. Traits analyzed were b ody weight (BW; n = 6240), greasy fleece weight (FW; n = 6239) and mea n fibre diameter (FD; n = 6195). Heritability estimates were obtained for each trait employing REML-procedures under univariate animal model s. By ignoring or including maternal genetic or environmental effects, four different models of analysis were fitted for each trait. Log lik elihood ratio tests indicated that the model including a direct as wel l as a maternal genetic effect was the most suitable model for all tra its. For the estimation of correlations between traits, bivariate anal ysis was carried out fitting direct effects only. Direct heritability estimates for BW [0.292 (with SE 0.047)] and FD [0.257 (0.046)] were h igher than that estimated for FW [0.192 (0.038)]. Maternal heritabilit y estimates of 0.090 (0.071), 0.049 (0.075) and 0.083 (0.068) were obt ained for BW, FW and FD, respectively. Positive phenotypic correlation s were obtained between BW and FW [0.572 (0.010)], BW and FD [0.548 (0 .010)] and FW and FD [0.568 (0.010)]. Estimates of genetic correlation s were 0.668 (0.058) between BW and FW, 0.558 (0.057) between BW and F D and 0.551 (0.068) between FW and FD.