Responses to various selection protocols for lamb production in Rambouillet, Targhee, Columbia, and Polypay sheep

To investigate the effectiveness of four selection protocols for improving reproduction in sheep, we evaluated nine selection lines and two random-bred control lines for lamb and wool production. Results were based on 25,026 dam and 30,628 lamb records from Rambouillet (R), Targhee (T), Columbia (C), and Polypay (P) sheep collected from 1976 through 1988. Phenotypic trends over years were positive (P < .01) for most reproductive traits, body weight, wool grade (coarser grades), and lamb weaning weight in nearly all selected lines. Small positive trends for both random-bred control lines indicated there were improvements in management and(or) environment during the period. Small but significant phenotypic declines in fleece weights occurred in most lines, including controls. Substantial genetic gains (P < .01) in litter weight weaned (120 d), net reproductive rate (lambs weaned divided by ewes mated), prolificacy, body weight, and weaning weight were made in nearly all selected lines. There were also small but significant improvements in milk score in most lines. There were significant genetic declines and improvements in fleece weights; however, the average genetic change in fleece weight for lines selected for litter weight weaned was negligible. Genetic improvement in litter weight weaned was attributed approximately 37% to prolificacy, 27% to percentage of lambs weaned, 17% to lamb weaning weight, 12% to fertility, and 7% to ewe viability from breeding to lambing. On average, selection based on independent culling levels (litter weight weaned plus yearling body weight), yearling body weight, or early puberty was only 85, 67, or 59%, respectively, as effective as that based solely on litter weight weaned for improving litter weight weaned. The net value of the average (over all breeds) annual increase in production per ewe resulting from selection for litter weight weaned accumulated over 12 yr to an estimated $11.40 and $21.51 annually for genetic and phenotypic increases, respectively.