BIRTHCOAT - IS IT WORTH TAKING IT INTO CONSIDERATION IN MERINO SHEEP GENETIC-IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

Birthcoats were studied in about 4000 South Australian Merino lambs. T he character was highly heritable, and genetically associated (moderat ely) with fibre diameter variability, crimp frequency, wool handle, st aple lock and crimp definition. The association with other objectively measured or subjectively assessed wool characters was small or non-ex istent. Birthcoat was not associated with lamb survival or with ewe re productive rate. It was concluded that despite its high heritability a nd the presence of some genetic asociations, the value of birthcoat as a selection criterion in a genetic improvement program for South Aust ralian Merino sheep is limited.