Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites

Six first cross (F1) Red Maasai X Dorper rams were mated to both Red Maasai (R) and Dorper (D) ewes to produce 1342 double backcross progeny (672 3/4 D/1/4 R and 670 3/4 R/1/4 D lambs born alive). These six double backcross resource families are being used to identify quantitative trait loci control...

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Main Authors: Mugambi, J.M.M., Audho, James O., Baker, R.L.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33176
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author Mugambi, J.M.M.
Audho, James O.
Baker, R.L.
author_browse Audho, James O.
Baker, R.L.
Mugambi, J.M.M.
author_facet Mugambi, J.M.M.
Audho, James O.
Baker, R.L.
author_sort Mugambi, J.M.M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Six first cross (F1) Red Maasai X Dorper rams were mated to both Red Maasai (R) and Dorper (D) ewes to produce 1342 double backcross progeny (672 3/4 D/1/4 R and 670 3/4 R/1/4 D lambs born alive). These six double backcross resource families are being used to identify quantitative trait loci controlling resistance to gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode parasites (particularly Haemonchus contortus). This paper reports the phenotypic performance of the double backcross progeny relative to the performance of straight bred Red Maasai (158 born) and Dorper (131 born) lambs evaluated at pasture from birth to 6 months of age. Resistance to GI nematode parasites was assessed in terms of faecal egg counts (FEC), while resilience (tolerance) was assessed in terms of blood packed red cell volume (PCV). The R and 3/4 R lambs were consistently more resistant (lower FEC) and resilient (higher PCV) than the D and 3/4 D lambs and these differences were significant for lambs from 3 to 6 months of age. The difference between the backcrosses for both FEC and PCV was about a half of the difference between the straightbred R and D lambs indicating additive gene action. The D lambs were consistently significantly heavier than the R lambs at all sampling times from birth to 6 months with the difference increasing from a 52% advantage at birth (3.72 versus 2.44kg, respectively) to a 86% advantage for 6-month-old lambs (23.1 versus 12.4kg, respectively). The 3/4 D lambs were also significantly heavier than the 3/4 R at all sampling times and this difference was about a half that between the D and R lambs (5.1 [plus-or-minus sign] 0.2 versus 10.7 [plus-or-minus sign] 0.5kg, respectively for 6-month-old lambs). For pre-weaning mortality there was a significant (P P < 0.05) breed effect for post-weaning mortality (3.5-6 months of age) with the D lambs (15.0%) and 3/4 D lambs (7.3%) having higher mortality rates than the 3/4 R and R lambs (0.8 and 1.4%, respectively). Mortality was attributed mainly to starvation/miss-mothering followed by pneumonia during the pre-weaning period and to haemonchosis and pneumonia from weaning to 6 months of age.
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spelling CGSpace331762024-05-01T08:19:42Z Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites Mugambi, J.M.M. Audho, James O. Baker, R.L. sheep [caprinae] digestive system diseases nematoda haemonchus contortus pest resistance biological differences crossbreds rams phenotypes parasites Six first cross (F1) Red Maasai X Dorper rams were mated to both Red Maasai (R) and Dorper (D) ewes to produce 1342 double backcross progeny (672 3/4 D/1/4 R and 670 3/4 R/1/4 D lambs born alive). These six double backcross resource families are being used to identify quantitative trait loci controlling resistance to gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode parasites (particularly Haemonchus contortus). This paper reports the phenotypic performance of the double backcross progeny relative to the performance of straight bred Red Maasai (158 born) and Dorper (131 born) lambs evaluated at pasture from birth to 6 months of age. Resistance to GI nematode parasites was assessed in terms of faecal egg counts (FEC), while resilience (tolerance) was assessed in terms of blood packed red cell volume (PCV). The R and 3/4 R lambs were consistently more resistant (lower FEC) and resilient (higher PCV) than the D and 3/4 D lambs and these differences were significant for lambs from 3 to 6 months of age. The difference between the backcrosses for both FEC and PCV was about a half of the difference between the straightbred R and D lambs indicating additive gene action. The D lambs were consistently significantly heavier than the R lambs at all sampling times from birth to 6 months with the difference increasing from a 52% advantage at birth (3.72 versus 2.44kg, respectively) to a 86% advantage for 6-month-old lambs (23.1 versus 12.4kg, respectively). The 3/4 D lambs were also significantly heavier than the 3/4 R at all sampling times and this difference was about a half that between the D and R lambs (5.1 [plus-or-minus sign] 0.2 versus 10.7 [plus-or-minus sign] 0.5kg, respectively for 6-month-old lambs). For pre-weaning mortality there was a significant (P P < 0.05) breed effect for post-weaning mortality (3.5-6 months of age) with the D lambs (15.0%) and 3/4 D lambs (7.3%) having higher mortality rates than the 3/4 R and R lambs (0.8 and 1.4%, respectively). Mortality was attributed mainly to starvation/miss-mothering followed by pneumonia during the pre-weaning period and to haemonchosis and pneumonia from weaning to 6 months of age. 2005-01 2013-07-03T05:26:11Z 2013-07-03T05:26:11Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33176 en Limited Access Elsevier Small Ruminant Research;56(1-3): 239-251
spellingShingle sheep [caprinae]
digestive system diseases
nematoda
haemonchus contortus
pest resistance
biological differences
crossbreds
rams
phenotypes
parasites
Mugambi, J.M.M.
Audho, James O.
Baker, R.L.
Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites
title Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites
title_full Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites
title_fullStr Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites
title_short Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Natural pasture challenge with gastro-intestinal nematode parasites
title_sort evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a red maasai and dorper double backcross resource population natural pasture challenge with gastro intestinal nematode parasites
topic sheep [caprinae]
digestive system diseases
nematoda
haemonchus contortus
pest resistance
biological differences
crossbreds
rams
phenotypes
parasites
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33176
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