02138naa a2200253 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000170006024500800007726000090015752014460016665000210161265000100163365000250164365000190166865000240168765300260171165300270173770000180176470000180178270000190180070000130181977300520183215310852005-04-06       2001    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aLAMBE, N. R.  aA genetic analysis of maternal behaviour score in Scottish Blackface sheep.  c2001  aUnder field conditions, ewe behaviour was quantified by maternal behaviour score (MBS)-a six-point scale which assesses ewe flight distance when lambs are handled for the first time, within 24 h of birth (adapted from O'Connor et aI., 1985). MBS was measured on 847 Scottish Blackface ewes on two experimental hill farms, over a maximum of four parities. Live weights of lambs bom to these ewes roere measured at birth, marking (average age of 42 days) and weaning (average age of 120 days). MBS was significantly higher (P &lt 0.05) for ewes with more lambing experience (multiparous ewes), for older ewes and for twin-bearing ewes compared with ewes with single lambs. MBS was under genetic control (h2 = 0.13, permanent environmental effect = 0.19, when analysed as the same trait across parities) and the repeatability was 0.32. MBS had no significant effects on weight gain of lambs. However, a moderate, positivk genetic correlation roas estimated between MBS and the average weight gained by lambs from birth to marking (rg = 0.4, s.e.0.22), although the genetic correlation estimated between MBS and weight gained to weaning roas dose to zero (rg = 0.02, s.e. 0.16). Ewes with a MBS of 1 (ewe flees and does not return to her lambs) had significantly more lambs dying before marking and weaning than ewes with a higher maternal behaviour score. Selection to reduce the proportion of ewes in this category may therefore be beneficial.  aGenética Animal  aOvino  aParâmetro Genético  aSobrevivência  aTaxa de Crescimento  aComportamento materno  aMelhoramento genético1 aCONINGTON, J.1 aBISHOP, S. C.1 aWATERHOUSE, A.1 aSIMM, G.  tAnimal Sciencegv. 72, pt 2 , p. 415-425, 2001.