How does maternal genetic merit and country of origin impact lamb performance pre- and post-weaning?

Fetherstone, Nicola; McGovern, Fiona; Boland, T. M.; McHugh, N.

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106642

Cited by 4 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The three scenarios investigated in the present study we used data obtained from a production system study that was performed over a four-year period (2016 to 2019, inclusive) at Teagasc Athenry. All ewe reproductive and lambing [ 4 ], lamb growth and performance [ 5 ], and ewe efficiency and performance [ 6 ] data were sourced from the performance recording of this flock, better known as the INZAC flock. The study consisted of two maternal-genetic-merit types: high or low genetic merit, and two countries of origin: New Zealand (NZ) and Ireland.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The key performance indicators for each scenario, describing reproductive performance and lambing [4], lamb growth and performance [6], and ewe efficiency and performance [5] were retrieved and inputted to the TLPM, as outlined in Tables 1 and 2. Selection indices for this study were based on those used in the Irish national breeding objectives [1] and hosted by Sheep Ireland (https://www.sheep.ie; accessed on 10 January 2021).…”

Section: Maternal-genetic-merit and Country-of-origin Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The validation of genetic indexes is essential in order to increase farmers’ confidence in breeding programmes and to demonstrate that genetic progress can be achieved through the use of animals of superior genetic merit. Previous research on the impact of maternal genetic merit and country of origin on the productivity of sheep production systems has shown that differences exist in reproduction and lambing performance [ 4 ], lamb growth and performance [ 5 ], and ewe performance and efficiency [ 6 ]. Although differences were often biologically small between the three genetic-merit groups within the previously reported literature, the overall financial impact of the accumulation of these differences at the full farm-system level has not been investigated to date.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The objective of this study, therefore, was to use previously published farm system data [ 4 , 5 , 6 ] to quantify the profitability of a sheep production system varying in maternal genetic merit and country of origin, using the TLPM. In order to examine the robustness of the Irish national genetic indexes it was decided to compare animals of New Zealand origin, selected from a genetic index based on similar breeding goals, to animals of Irish origin in a common environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Investigating How Genetic Merit and Country of Origin Impact the Profitability of Grass-Based Sheep Production Systems

Fetherstone,

McGovern,

McHugh

et al. 2023

Animals

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The objective of this study was to simulate and assess the profitability of sheep production systems that varied in maternal genetic merit (high or low) and country of origin (New Zealand (NZ) or Ireland), using the Teagasc Lamb Production Model (TLPM). A production system study performed at Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland, from 2016 to 2019, inclusive, provided key animal performance input parameters, which were compared across three scenarios: high maternal genetic merit NZ (NZ), high maternal genetic merit Irish (High Irish) and low maternal genetic merit Irish (Low Irish). Prior to the beginning of the study ewes and rams were imported from New Zealand to Ireland in order to compare animals within the same management system. Ewes were selected based on the respective national maternal genetic indexes; i.e., either the New Zealand Maternal Worth (NZ group) or the €uro-star Replacement index (Irish groups). The TLPM was designed to simulate the impact of changes in physical and technical outputs (such as number of lambs, drafting rates and replacement rates) on a range of economic parameters including variable costs, fixed costs, gross margin and net profit. Results showed that total farm costs (variable and fixed) were similar across the three scenarios, driven by the similar number of ewes in each scenario. The number of lambs produced and the cost of production per lamb was 14.05 lambs per hectare for the NZ scenario at a cost of EUR 82.35 per lamb, 11.40 lambs per hectare for the High Irish scenario at a cost of EUR 101.42 per lamb and 11.00 lambs per hectare for the Low Irish scenario at a cost of EUR 105.72 per lamb. The net profit of the three scenarios was EUR 514, EUR 299, and EUR 258 per hectare, for the NZ, High Irish and Low Irish scenarios, respectively. Overall, the NZ scenario had a lower cost of production in comparison to either Irish group, while the High Irish scenario had a 14% greater net profit than the Low Irish scenario, equating to an additional EUR 41 per hectare net profit. Output from this simulation model reiterates the importance, for overall farm profitability, of maximising the number of lambs weaned per hectare, particularly through maximising income and diluting the total farm costs. To conclude, the use of high-maternal-genetic-merit animals, regardless of their country of origin impacts farm profitability.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maternal-genetic-merit and Country-of-origin Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Investigating How Genetic Merit and Country of Origin Impact the Profitability of Grass-Based Sheep Production Systems

Fetherstone,

McGovern,

McHugh

et al. 2023

Animals

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A variety of factors influence meat yield, including animal individuality, housing, nutrition, and breed affiliation. These aspects have been discussed, for example, by McGovern et al (2020) and Fetherstone et al (2022). The influence of the management of reproduction, gender, and litter frequency on meat yield is also assessed (Ilic et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inbreeding in the Zwartbles breed population and its influence on meat production in the Czech Republic

Filipčík,

Falta,

Sokolová

et al. 2023

Arch. Anim. Breed.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The aim of this study was to estimate the inbreeding coefficient in the Zwartbles sheep population in the Czech Republic, as well as to investigate the effect of inbreeding on meat yield indicators. The analysis used data on the entire population since 1997, with the original database containing 13 150 animals. In this population, the average inbreeding coefficient is 3.64 %. There is a significant increase in inbreeding – from zero values to more than 4 % between 1997 and 2021. The effect of inbreeding on the weight of the animals at 100 d of age, the weight at bonitation prior to breeding, the thickness of the musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD), the thickness of the subcutaneous back fat, and the fleshiness of the animals were all evaluated. The value of the inbreeding coefficient had a statistically significant effect on weight at 100 d, MLD thickness, and back fat thickness. A negative relationship between inbreeding and all of these parameters was found when the inbreeding coefficient was increased by 1 %, resulting in a 60.2 g weight reduction at 100 d, 0.06 mm reduction in MLD thickness, and 0.013 mm reduction in back fat thickness.

show abstract

Bio-economic modelling of sheep meat production systems with varying flock litter size using field data

Farrell

Creighton²,

Bohan³

et al. 2022

animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

How does maternal genetic merit and country of origin impact lamb performance pre- and post-weaning?

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Investigating How Genetic Merit and Country of Origin Impact the Profitability of Grass-Based Sheep Production Systems

Investigating How Genetic Merit and Country of Origin Impact the Profitability of Grass-Based Sheep Production Systems

Inbreeding in the Zwartbles breed population and its influence on meat production in the Czech Republic

Bio-economic modelling of sheep meat production systems with varying flock litter size using field data

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About