Breeding strategies for animal resilience to weather variation in meat sheep

BMC Genomic Data

Table 9 Breeding for enhanced resilience defined as growth performance response to weather change in ewes’ offspring

Strategy	Selection Index weights (%)					G	Averages per generation							Losses (1 ° C)	Losses (2.6 ° C)
Strategy	AWW	APostWW	LS	PL	Res	G	AWW	APostWW	LS	PL	Res	ADG	OPerf	Losses (1 ° C)	Losses (2.6 ° C)
Base	10	10	60	20	0	0	27.085	40.765	1.310	2.666	5.027	0.129	4.327	4.93%	12.99%
Base	10	10	60	20	0	20	28.7370	43.650	1.997	3.793	5.161	0.132	5.560	4.97%	13.10%
1	10	10	50	20	10	0	27.085	40.765	1.310	2.666	5.027	0.129	4.327	4.93%	12.99%
1	10	10	50	20	10	20	27.844	43.648	2.001	3.999	4.719	0.131	5.580	4.57%	12.03%
2	10	10	40	20	20	0	27.085	40.765	1.310	2.666	5.027	0.129	4.327	4.93%	12.99%
2	10	10	40	20	20	20	26.827	43.545	2.004	4.132	4.253	0.130	5.585	4.14%	10.92%
3	10	10	30	20	30	0	27.085	40.765	1.310	2.666	5.027	0.129	4.327	4.93%	12.99%
3	10	10	30	20	30	20	25.557	43.261	2.010	4.117	3.727	0.129	5.524	3.66%	9.64%

Results are presented for the initial (0) and final (20) generations (G). Simulated traits are: AWW average weaning weight of offspring (kg); APostWW average post-weaning weight of offspring (kg); LS litter size of first lambing, PL productive longevity (number of lambings); Res response to weather changes ((kg/^oC)×10); ADG average daily weight gain of the offspring (kg/day); OPerf phenotypic index combining all traits but not resilience. Losses in average daily weight gain due to weather changes are presented for 1^o and 2.6 °C temperature change. Base strategy does not include resilience, while other strategies have an increasing emphasis on it

ISSN: 2730-6844