Carrying the FecB (Booroola) mutation is associated with lower birth weight and slower post-weaning growth rate for lambs, as well as a lighter mature bodyweight for ewes.

Abstract excerpt

The present study was conducted in an Assaf flock in which the FecB (Booroola) mutation was segregated to determine whether the FecB mutation affects birthweight and the pre- and post-weaning growth rate of ewe lambs, as well as the mature bodyweight of ewes. Significant differences (P = 0.01) in birthweight (mean +/- s.e.m.) were found between BB ewe lambs (4.03 +/- 0.08 kg) and B+ and ++ ewe lambs (4.16 +/-...

Topics

• Animals
• Birth Weight
• Body Weight
• Crosses, Genetic
• Female
• Genotype
• Mutation
• Sheep
• Weaning
• Weight Gain