Genetic parameters for wool production and quality traits in South Australian Merinos of the Collinsville family group

James, P.J., Ponzoni, R.W., Walkley, J.R.W. and Whiteley, K.J. (1990) Genetic parameters for wool production and quality traits in South Australian Merinos of the Collinsville family group. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 41 3: 583-594.


Author James, P.J.
Ponzoni, R.W.
Walkley, J.R.W.
Whiteley, K.J.
Title Genetic parameters for wool production and quality traits in South Australian Merinos of the Collinsville family group
Journal name Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
Publication date 1990
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1071/AR9900583
Volume number 41
Issue number 3
ISSN 0004-9409;1444-9838
Start page 583
End page 594
Total pages 12
Place of publication Collingwood, VIC, Australia
Publisher C S I R O Publishing
Language eng
Abstract Heritabilities and phenotypic and genetic correlations for fleece traits were estimated from a data set comprising 805 male and female progeny of 44 sires of the Collinsville family group. Characteristics included in the study were greasy and clean fleece weight, yield, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, resistance to compression, scoured and greasy wool colour (expressed as yellowness, lightness and yellowness index), wax content, suint content, and subjectively assessed scores for greasy colour, character, handle, quality number, condition, staple formation, tip formation and density. Heritabilities of greasy and clean fleece weight, yield, mean fibre diameter and subjectively assessed fleece scores were in broad agreement with estimates from other Merino strains, but the genetic correlations of mean fibre diameter and associated characters (handle, quality number) with clean fleece weight were lower than previous estimates. Heritabilities for scoured yellowness of wool, resistance to compression and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, which are potential additional measurements for the specification of wool in sale lots, were 0.42 (¦. 0.14), 0.57 (¦ 0.15) and 0.47 ( ¦ 0.15) respectively. Estimated heritabilities of wax and suint content were 0.24 (¦0.11) and 0.44 ( ¦ 0.14). Although the phenotypic correlations between measures of greasy wool colour and the corresponding measures of scoured wool colour were low (less than 0.3), the genetic correlations were moderate to high (0.4-0.9). Thus selection on the basis of greasy wool colour should lead to genetic improvements in scoured colour. The genetic correlations of resistance to compression with clean fleece weight and fibre diameter were: 0.46 (¦0.21) and 0.44 (¦ 0.20) respectively, but there were no other strong, unfavourable correlations.
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Non-UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
 
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