APPLICATION OF A MULTIPLE-TRAIT ANIMAL-MODEL FOR GENETIC EVALUATION OF MATERNAL AND LAMB TRAITS IN NORWEGIAN SHEEP

A selection index for overall economic merit and five subindexes for m aternal and lamb traits were constructed. For estimation of breeding v alues, two computer programs were developed. A multiple-trait animal m odel was programmed for the ewe traits including number of lambs born of 1-, 2- and 3-years-old ewes and ewe fleece weight of yearlings. In order to reduce the memory requirement, the lamb data (growth rate, ca rcass weight, carcass grade, fat% and lamb fleece weight) were analyse d by a reduced multiple-trait animal model including genetic maternal effect. Experiences with the computer programs in genetic evaluation o f approximately 619 000 animals are presented. It is concluded that th e models and computing strategy may be used for genetic evaluation in the national sheep breeding programme in Norway. Relative economic val ues for all traits were derived from a profit equation on a 3-year-old ewe basis. The sensitivity towards changed economic values was found to be low. Further, the genetic change in the ewe traits of the Norweg ian breeds has been estimated, and a significant improvement was found , which was two to four times higher in the ram circles than outside. For breeding rams, the genetic change for number of lambs born was est imated to be approximately 0.01 lambs per ewe and year.