Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Vol. 12, 6-10 April, 1997
CAN SELECTION FOR SKIN TRAITS INCREASE THE RATE OF GENETIC
PROGRESS IN MERINO BREEDING PROGRAMS?
P. L. Hynd¹, R. W. Ponzoni² and J. A. Hill¹
¹ Department of Animal Science, University of Adelaide Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064
² South Australian Research and Development Institute. GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA 5001
SUMMARY
There is widespread interest in the use of skin properties for the selection of superior Merino genotypes.
This is despite the fact that no selection experiments to date have demonstrated beneficial effects on
production traits from selection based solely on skin traits. Two studies have examined whether the
inclusion of skin traits in a realistic selection program improves the rate of genetic progress towards a
breeding objective emphasising fleece weight and fibre diameter. Both indicated little benefit from
including the skin traits.
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