52
Genetic Trends Over Time of Breeds on NSIP Rusty Burgett, Program Director-NSIP
Genetic Trends Over Time ofBreeds on NSIP
Rusty Burgett, Program Director-NSIP
2
3
Need for Genetic Selection
4
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Inventory
Production
5
6
7
Australian sheep inventory and lamb production
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Ewe Inventory
Lamb Production
Ind
ex o
f P
rod
uct
ion
(%
)
Source: ABARE 2014
Sheep Industry Roadmap 2014
Importance of Genetic Selection
10
• Need to produce more lamb and wool from a smaller national flock
– Productivity Improvement
• Wider adoption of Quantitative Genetic Selection
– U.S. Sheep Industry Roadmap
• Genetics are the foundation to build upon
Which Ram?
13
14
Need for Genetic Selection
15
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Inventory
Production
Value of a Ram
• Profit is determined by pounds of lamb sold per ewe.
– Number of lambs born
– Number of lambs weaned
– Birth, weaning and post weaning weight of lambs
~80% of what you see is due to the environment the ram was raised in
Interpreting EBVs
Genetic Progress-Targhee
19
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Nu
mb
er
of
Lam
bs
Bo
rn E
BV
(%
)
Targhee Reproduction
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016We
anin
g an
d M
ate
rnal
We
anin
g W
eig
ht
EBV
s (l
b)
Targhee Growth
WW (lb)
MWW (lb)
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
Fle
ece
We
igh
t an
d F
ibe
r D
iam
ete
r EB
Vs
Targhee Wool
FW (%)
FD (um)
98.0
99.0
100.0
101.0
102.0
103.0
104.0
105.0
106.0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
USA
Ran
ge E
BV
s ($
)
Western Range Index
Genetic Progress-Targhee
20
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Lam
b a
nd
Wo
ol P
rod
uct
ion
Average Targhee Ewe Output(NLB*85 lb + WW + MWW + FW)
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Nu
mb
er o
f La
mb
s B
orn
an
d
Wea
ned
EB
Vs
Year
Polypay Reproduction
NLB (%)
NLW (%)
Genetic Progress-Polypay
21
15 extra lambs/100 ewes lambing!
3.6 pounds heavier @ 60 days=414 more lbs of lamb!
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Wea
nin
g an
d M
ater
nal
W
ean
ing
Wei
ght
EBV
s
Year
Polypay Growth
WW (lb)
MWW (lb)
Genetic Progress-Polypay
22
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Wea
ned
Lam
b P
rod
uct
ion
Year
Averge Polypay Ewe Output(NLW*65 lb + WW + MWW)
-0.0350
-0.0300
-0.0250
-0.0200
-0.0150
-0.0100
-0.0050
0.0000
0.0050
0.0100
0.0150
0.0200
Eye
Mu
scle
an
d F
at D
epth
EB
Vs
Year
Suffolk Carcass
EMD (in) Fat (in)
Genetic Progress-Suffolk
23
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
Wea
nin
g an
d P
ost
wea
nin
g W
eigh
t EB
Vs
Year
Suffolk Growth
WW (lb) PWW (lb)
Genetic Progress-Suffolk
24
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Cro
ssb
red
Gro
wth
(lb
)
Terminally Sired Lambs(WW/2 and PWW/2)
Weaned Lamb
Market Lamb
Genetic Progress-Katahdin
25
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Lam
bin
g &
Wea
nin
g R
ate
EBV
(%
)
Katahdin Reproduction
NLB (%) NLW (%)
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Wea
nin
g an
d M
ater
nal
EB
Vs
(lb
)
Katahdin Growth
WW (lb) MWW (lb)
Genetic Progress-Katahdin
26
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Wea
nin
g W
orm
Egg
Co
un
t EB
V (
%)
Katahdin Parasite Resistance
WWEC
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Pre
dic
ted
Ew
e O
utp
ut
(lb
)
Katahdin Ewe Output
lb lamb / ewe
NSIP Progression
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017*
Number of NSIP Enrolled Flocks
Number of Flocks
*As of January 22, 2017
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Nu
mb
er
of
Lam
bs
Bo
rn E
BV
(%
)Targhee Reproduction
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Nu
mb
er o
f La
mb
s B
orn
an
d
Wea
ned
EB
Vs
Year
Polypay Reproduction
NLB (%)
NLW (%)
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
Wea
nin
g an
d P
ost
wea
nin
g W
eigh
t EB
Vs
Year
Suffolk Growth
WW (lb) PWW (lb)
Commitment to Change
• Make a commitment to improvement
– Decision to lead the sheep industry in productivity improvement
• Develop a plan for genetic improvement
Commitment to Change
• Strengthen the entire Industry from seedstockproducers commercial feederspackers consumers!
www.nsip.org
31
Thank you!
• Questions?
• Paid for in part by the American Sheep Industry
• Website: www.nsip.org
• email: [email protected] phone:515-708-8850
• Facebook and Youtube
40% of growth, carcass and wool traits are controlled by genetics
10% of Reproductive traits are controlled by genetics
Adjust for Variation
• NSIP analysis accounts for all the non-genetic factors (Birth type, heritability, feed…)
Phenotype = Genetics + Environment
35
Estimated Breeding Values
• EBVs are tools that:
– Minimize guesswork of ram selection
– Assign number values to genetic merit
– Allows for quick, easy comparison
– More powerful than actual performance data, adjusted means...
– Focused on economically important traits
36
Analyze pedigrees
• Compare performance to all relatives
37
Analyze Pedigrees
• An individual’s performance is:
– Compared to its contemporaries
– Standardized for environment
– Compared to every known relative
• Including relatives in other flocks
• Adjust for genetic relationship (shared genes) and heritability of each trait
38
What Traits are available?
• Weight:
– Birth
– Weaning
– Post Weaning
– Yearling/hogget
• Carcass:
– Eye muscle
– Fat depth
• Fleece:
– GFW
– Curvature CV
– Fiber Diameter
• Reproduction:
– NLB
– NLW
• Fecal Egg Count
39
Maximize vs. Optimize?
• Weight:
– Birth
– Weaning
– Post Weaning
– Yearling/hogget
• Carcass:
– Eye muscle
– Fat depth
• Fleece:
– GFW
– Curvature CV
– Fiber Diameter
• Reproduction:
– NLB
– NLW
• Fecal Egg Count
40
Ideal Breeding Strategy
• Use EBVs on all ram selections
• Two purebred maternal lines produce F1 ewes
– Selected for prolificacy, mothering ability, milk production and fleece characteristics
• All F1s are bred to purebred terminal rams
– Selected for growth, muscling, leanness
41
Ideal Breeding Strategy
• Productive ewe flock producing fast growing high-quality lambs.
42
Commitment to Change
• Make a commitment to improvement
– Decision to lead the sheep industry in productivity improvement
• Develop a plan for genetic improvement
Commitment to Change
• Strengthen the entire Industry from seedstockproducers commercial feederspackers consumers!
Commitment to Change
• Does it Work?
Not a Silver Bullet
• Visual appraisal of ram for:
– Sound feet and legs, free of foot rot
– Correct mouth structure
– Breeding soundness exam
– Health status and susceptibility
• Scrapie
• OPP
• Spider
Not a Silver Bullet
• Does not replace good management
– Breeding Program
• Including cross breeding!
– Nutrition
– Marketing
47
How to Enroll
48
www.nsip.org
Benefits of Membership
• Access to the most powerful sheep genetic analysis program in the world
• Free software to manage data
• Listing on website
• Access to sell at NSIP sales
• Network of support (director, board and members)
49
Conclusion
• Using EBVs in breeding decisions is designed to:
– Reduce risks associated with ram selection
– Expedite genetic progress
– Increase productivity through heterosis
Visit www.nsip.org for more information
Thank you!
• Questions?
• Paid for in part by the American Sheep Industry
• Website: www.nsip.org
• email: [email protected] phone:515-708-8850
Data CollectionNSIP Production Data
Measurement Type
Age Category
Age Range Live Weight Carcass Ultrasound
Fleece Traits
ScrotalCircumf.
Worm Egg Count
Birth <24 hours Yes
Weaning 42-90 days Yes Yes
Early Post Weaning
91-150 days Yes Yes Yes Yes
Post Weaning
151-304 days
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yearling 10-14 mo. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hogget 14-19 mo. Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adult 2Y 2 Years Yes Yes
Adult 3Y 3 Years Yes Yes
Adult 4Y 4 Years Yes Yes52
