Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep
Semen characteristics including volume, gross motility, spermatozoal concentration, and percent post-thaw motility are routinely assessed to determine the quality and quantity of an ejaculate prior to use in artificial breeding programs. Currently, artificial breeding programs in sheep place relativ...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2946 |
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| author | Marnie J. Hodge Sally J. Rindfleish Sara de las Heras-Saldana Cyril P. Stephen Sameer D. Pant |
| author_facet | Marnie J. Hodge Sally J. Rindfleish Sara de las Heras-Saldana Cyril P. Stephen Sameer D. Pant |
| author_sort | Marnie J. Hodge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Semen characteristics including volume, gross motility, spermatozoal concentration, and percent post-thaw motility are routinely assessed to determine the quality and quantity of an ejaculate prior to use in artificial breeding programs. Currently, artificial breeding programs in sheep place relatively little emphasis on ram-side factors, such as the fertilising potential of an ejaculate, which may contribute to variability in conception outcomes. Estimating genetic parameters for ejaculate quality and quantity traits could provide insights into whether selective breeding can be used to improve such ram-side traits, improving ovine reproductive performance and farm profitability. Therefore, in this study, a total of 11,470 ejaculate records, including data for ejaculate volume, gross motility, spermatozoal concentration, and percent post-thaw motility, collected over a 20-year period was used to estimate genetic parameters in sheep. Univariate and bivariate mixed model analysis was performed including a variety of fixed effects such as breed, age at collection, centre of collection, collection number, season of collection, and method of collection; and the permanent environmental effects associated with each ram, stud and year of collection, and the breeding value of rams included as random effects. The heritability for ejaculate volume, gross motility, concentration, and percent post-thaw motility was estimated to be 0.161, 0.170, 0.089, and 0.081. Repeatability estimates were moderate, ranging between 0.4126 and 0.5265. Overall, results indicate that semen traits are lowly heritable and moderately repeatable, indicating that these traits are significantly influenced by environmental variables. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:20:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e6a7b8d489f45b09d8ac30962133f92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:20:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e6a7b8d489f45b09d8ac30962133f922023-11-24T03:24:22ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-10-011221294610.3390/ani12212946Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian SheepMarnie J. Hodge0Sally J. Rindfleish1Sara de las Heras-Saldana2Cyril P. Stephen3Sameer D. Pant4School of Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaApiam Animal Health, Apiam Genetic Services, Dubbo, NSW 2830, AustraliaAnimal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, AustraliaSemen characteristics including volume, gross motility, spermatozoal concentration, and percent post-thaw motility are routinely assessed to determine the quality and quantity of an ejaculate prior to use in artificial breeding programs. Currently, artificial breeding programs in sheep place relatively little emphasis on ram-side factors, such as the fertilising potential of an ejaculate, which may contribute to variability in conception outcomes. Estimating genetic parameters for ejaculate quality and quantity traits could provide insights into whether selective breeding can be used to improve such ram-side traits, improving ovine reproductive performance and farm profitability. Therefore, in this study, a total of 11,470 ejaculate records, including data for ejaculate volume, gross motility, spermatozoal concentration, and percent post-thaw motility, collected over a 20-year period was used to estimate genetic parameters in sheep. Univariate and bivariate mixed model analysis was performed including a variety of fixed effects such as breed, age at collection, centre of collection, collection number, season of collection, and method of collection; and the permanent environmental effects associated with each ram, stud and year of collection, and the breeding value of rams included as random effects. The heritability for ejaculate volume, gross motility, concentration, and percent post-thaw motility was estimated to be 0.161, 0.170, 0.089, and 0.081. Repeatability estimates were moderate, ranging between 0.4126 and 0.5265. Overall, results indicate that semen traits are lowly heritable and moderately repeatable, indicating that these traits are significantly influenced by environmental variables.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2946genetic correlationramovineejaculate qualityrepeatability |
| spellingShingle | Marnie J. Hodge Sally J. Rindfleish Sara de las Heras-Saldana Cyril P. Stephen Sameer D. Pant Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep Animals genetic correlation ram ovine ejaculate quality repeatability |
| title | Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep |
| title_full | Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep |
| title_fullStr | Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep |
| title_short | Heritability and Genetic Parameters for Semen Traits in Australian Sheep |
| title_sort | heritability and genetic parameters for semen traits in australian sheep |
| topic | genetic correlation ram ovine ejaculate quality repeatability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2946 |
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