Heritability estimates of growth traits in Magra sheep

Data obtained from growth records of 2309 Magra sheep over a 12-year period (1999–2010) maintained at Arid Region Campus, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Bikaner were analyzed. Lamb traits studied were body weights from birth to 12 months and absolute growth rates between adjacent stages of growth. Heritability estimates from paternal half-sib method were 0.29±0.06, 0.30±0.06, 0.59±0.10, 0.77±0.11 and 0.83±0.12 for body weight at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, respectively and 0.24±0.07, 0.98±0.12 and 0.68±0.11 for absolute growth rates during 0–3, 3–6 and 6–12 months of ages, respectively. Moderate to high heritability estimates indicated the presence of high genetic variance and low environmental variance. Hence, selection may be done effectively for improvement in these traits.