01604naa a2200217 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000170006024500970007726000090017452009350018365000170111865000240113565000170115965000100117665000100118665300110119670000170120770000170122477301450124120886562018-03-06       2001    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aRODEN, J. A.  aGenetic analysis of birth weight and related traits in Dorset Down and Hampshire Down sheep.  c2001  aThe aim of this study, which is part of a larger project covering a number of breeds, was to estimate the direct and maternal heritability of birth weight and its genetic correlations with 8 week weight in the Dorset Down and Hampshire Down breeds. In addition the genetic trend in birth weight over a fourteen year period is assessed. Birth weight is a trait with a moderate heritability for which maternal genetic effects are important. Both direct and maternal genetic effects on birth weight are positively correlated with later weights, however, there have been only small genetic changes in birth weight since 1985 in the Dorset Down and Hampshire Down breeds. The results of this study suggest that although birth weight is likely to increase as a consequence of selection for improved growth, the changes are likely to be small and beneficial, resulting in a decrease in the number of low birth weight lambs that are born.  aBirth weight  aGenetic improvement  aHeritability  aLambs  aSheep  aGrowth1 aFINCH, J. M.1 aHARESIGN, W.  tIn: ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BRITISH SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, 2001, Scarborough, UK. Proceedings... Medlothian: BSAS, 2001. 1 CD ROM. p. 224.