Inbreeding Effects on Average Daily Gain and Kleiber Ratio in Mehraban Sheep

Along with increase in genetic progress, maintaining genetic diversity in any population is very important to adapt with the economic and environmental changes in the future and ensure long-term response to selection for traits that are very important. Intensive use of a few breeding animals, where the selection intensity is high, could result in greater rates of inbreeding in the population. Therefore, a small number of seedstock, with a strong family relationship, is responsible for the maintenance of almost the whole genetic pool in the population. This is an aspect of great influence in the genealogical analysis of a population structure, because of its effect on the probability of genes lost between generations and the consequent reduction in genetic variability. The unavoidable mating of related animals in closed populations leads to accumulation of inbreeding and decreased genetic diversity. Measurement of the effect of inbreeding on these traits is important in order to estimate the magnitude of changes associated with increases in inbreeding although direct selection for lower maintenance requirements is difficult. Some populations may show a very pronounced effect of increased inbreeding for a trait, whereas others may not display much of an effect. The rate of inbreeding needs to be limited to maintain diversity at an acceptable level, so that genetic variation will ensure that future animals can respond to changes in the environment and to selection. Without genetic variation, animals cannot adapt to these changes. Commonly, negative inbreeding effects, or inbreeding depression, are thought to most frequently occur because of an increase in frequencies of recessive alleles that adversely affect the traits of interest. The increased frequency of recessive alleles leads to a larger number of individuals that are homozygous for the recessive alleles, whereas in non-inbred populations, the recessive allele would more frequently be masked by an advantageous dominant allele. Kleiber ratio (KR) allows us to identify efficient animals. This ratio, defined as growth rate/ metabolic weight (body weight0.75), was suggested for measuring growth efficiency. One of the most important breeds of Iranian sheep is Mehraban sheep which is reared in Hamedan province. This breed is adapted to harsh climate and rocky environments in the western regions of Iran. The Mehraban is a fat-tailed carpet wool sheep with light brown, cream or grey color, dark face and neck and primarily used for meat production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inbreeding effects on daily weight gain and Kleiber ratio in Mehraban sheep.
Data and pedigree information used in this research were collected from 1994 to 2011 in Jihad Agriculture Organization of Hamedan province. Studied traits were average daily gains from birth to weaning (ADGa), average daily gain from weaning to 6 months (ADGb), average daily gain from weaning to 9 months (ADGc), average daily gain from weaning to yearling (ADGd) and corresponding Kleiber ratios (KRa, KRb, KRc and KRd). All animals were grouped into three classes according to their inbreeding coefficients: the first class included non-inbred animals (F=0) and the second and third classes included inbred animals (0 Significant regression coefficients ADGa, KRa, ADGb, KRb, ADGd and KRd on inbreeding of all lambs were observed for 1% increase of inbreeding. According to the birth type, the regression coefficient of all traits except KRc on inbreeding of single-born lambs and ADGa and KRa on inbreeding of twin-born lambs was significant for a 1%. increase in inbreeding. According to lamb sex, the regression coefficient of all traits except ADGd and ADGc on inbreeding of male lambs and ADGc and KRd on inbreeding inbreeding of female lambs was significant for a 1% increase in inbreeding.
The results showed both significant and non-significant effects of inbreeding on daily weight gain and kleiber ratio traits. The results of this study showed that inbreeding level of over 90% of animals was between 0 and 50%. These results indicate multiple use of a small number of sires in the herd, also the lack of use of mating programs designed for prevent high levels of inbreeding in Mehraban sheep.
The results showed positive and significant effects of inbreeding on average daily gains and Kleiber ratios in Mehraban sheep.