Version 1
: Received: 2 November 2024 / Approved: 4 November 2024 / Online: 5 November 2024 (08:42:41 CET)
How to cite:
Al-Najjar, K.; Yasin, A. O. A.; Alshdaifat, M. M.; Dayoub, M.; Raheem, D. Enhancing Lamb Weight Increase Through Genetic and Environmental Strategies in Arid Environments. Preprints2024, 2024110256. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0256.v1
Al-Najjar, K.; Yasin, A. O. A.; Alshdaifat, M. M.; Dayoub, M.; Raheem, D. Enhancing Lamb Weight Increase Through Genetic and Environmental Strategies in Arid Environments. Preprints 2024, 2024110256. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0256.v1
Al-Najjar, K.; Yasin, A. O. A.; Alshdaifat, M. M.; Dayoub, M.; Raheem, D. Enhancing Lamb Weight Increase Through Genetic and Environmental Strategies in Arid Environments. Preprints2024, 2024110256. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0256.v1
APA Style
Al-Najjar, K., Yasin, A. O. A., Alshdaifat, M. M., Dayoub, M., & Raheem, D. (2024). Enhancing Lamb Weight Increase Through Genetic and Environmental Strategies in Arid Environments. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0256.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Al-Najjar, K., Moammar Dayoub and Dele Raheem. 2024 "Enhancing Lamb Weight Increase Through Genetic and Environmental Strategies in Arid Environments" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.0256.v1
Abstract
Sheep farming thrives in diverse climates, with the Awassi breed well-suited for arid environments, though it faces challenges that necessitate selective breeding and innovative management to improve productivity and weight performance. This study, conducted in 2023 at Al-Fjaj Station in Jordan, analyzed the weights of Awassi sheep managed under a semi-intensive system, examining 2,263 records to evaluate the environmental and genetic factors influencing growth and utilizing statistical models to estimate heritability and breeding values. Variance analysis revealed that birth type, lamb sex, parity, and ewe age at lambing significantly influence birth, weaning, 6-month, and annual weights, with single-born lambs generally heavier than twins, males surpassing females, and younger ewes producing lighter lambs at birth that catch up in weight later. Lamb weights are correlated positively across various stages, especially between weaning, six-month, and yearling weights, while the influence of birth weight on later weights is comparatively weaker. Analysis of Variance (Type 3) indicates that rams have the greatest influence on lamb weights at all ages, while ewes primarily affect early weight, and genetic factors play a moderate role in weight variation, with maternal effects being more significant than paternal influences. There are significant positive genetic correlations among lamb weight traits, indicating that improvement in one trait can benefit others, while mean breeding values decrease with age due to increasing environmental influences, suggesting the use of index selection to enhance multiple traits in breeding programs. High correlation coefficients between breeding values and mean weights of Awassi sheep indicate that higher breeding values for specific weight traits are associated with greater actual weights, demonstrating that selection based on breeding values can effectively enhance genetic potential and predict future performance. The genetic performance and growth traits of rams' progeny indicate that selecting rams with higher breeding values can enhance weight gain in future generations, while mean weights serve as performance benchmarks to help breeders improve flock genetics and profitability. In conclusion, this study identifies key factors influencing lamb weights, such as birth type, lamb sex, ewe parity, and ewe age, emphasizing the importance of single lambs and males in achieving higher growth, while suggesting that an index selection approach combining genetic merit with environmental factors is vital for optimizing sustainable lamb production in arid environments.
Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
