Estimates of (co)variance components and genetic parameters for pre-weaning body weight traits and Kleiber ratio in Sangsari sheep breed

The current study aimed to estimate (co)variance components and heritability for pre-weaning body weight traits and Kleiber ratio in Sangsari sheep. Data used in this research were collected over 30 years (1986–2016) at the breeding station of Sangsari sheep. Traits considered were birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), pre-weaning daily gain (PWDG), and Kleiber ratio (KR). Genetic parameters were estimated by the average information restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) procedure, using six animal models. The most suitable model was selected using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) for each trait. Direct heritability estimates for BW, WW, PWDG and KR were 0.30 0.04, 0.20 0.03, 0.15 0.02, and 0.13 0.05, respectively. Maternal heritability estimates varied from 0.06 0.02 for PWDG to 0.12 0.03 for BW. The maternal permanent environmental effects for the traits of KR, WW and PWDG account for about 7%, 9% and 12% of the phenotypic variance. The estimates of the direct genetic () and maternal genetic () correlations among pre-weaning growth traits were positive and ranged from 0.21 (BW-KR) to 0.98 (WW-PWDG) and 0.27 (WW-PWDG) to 0.48 (BW-WW), respectively. Therefore, to have an accurate genetic evaluation, maternal effects need to be considered in any program aimed at improving pre-weaning growth traits. In addition, due to the existence of genetic variation for early growth traits and generally positive and medium to high genetic correlations among them, it can be concluded that in the Sangsari breed of sheep, genetic progress for these traits is possible by selection.HIGHLIGHTS Genetic parameters (direct and maternal heritability) were estimated for the Sangsari breed of sheep. The low to moderate estimate of heritability for pre-weaning body weights and Kleiber ratio indicate that genetic improvement of these traits is possible by selection. Considerable genetic correlations among early body weights, pre-weaning daily weight gain, and Kleiber ratio in Sangsari sheep were estimated