MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data. Pedigree and performance data were extracted from the Sheep Genetics MERINOSELECT
database (Brown et al. 2007). This database consists of pedigree and performance records
submitted by Australian and New Zealand Merino ram breeders which are used for genetic
evaluation purposes.
As the complete database was too large for parameter estimation analyses, a subset of 78 flocks
were used based on their recording of adult wool traits. These flocks are a mix of industry ram
breeders, research and sire evaluation flocks. Within these flocks all animals with at least sire
pedigree and born from 1990 and later were included. Data were extracted for all greasy fleece
weight (GFW) and fibre diameter (FD) records from these flocks. Records were classified to one
of 7 age based traits, yearling (Y, 12 months), hogget (H, 18 months) and 2 year old adult (A2)
through to 6 year old adult records (A6). All contemporary groups were transformed to a common
mean within each group for both greasy fleece weight and fibre diameter, as is done routinely for
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data. Pedigree and performance data were extracted from the Sheep Genetics MERINOSELECT
database (Brown et al. 2007). This database consists of pedigree and performance records
submitted by Australian and New Zealand Merino ram breeders which are used for genetic
evaluation purposes.
As the complete database was too large for parameter estimation analyses, a subset of 78 flocks
were used based on their recording of adult wool traits. These flocks are a mix of industry ram
breeders, research and sire evaluation flocks. Within these flocks all animals with at least sire
pedigree and born from 1990 and later were included. Data were extracted for all greasy fleece
weight (GFW) and fibre diameter (FD) records from these flocks. Records were classified to one
of 7 age based traits, yearling (Y, 12 months), hogget (H, 18 months) and 2 year old adult (A2)
through to 6 year old adult records (A6). All contemporary groups were transformed to a common
mean within each group for both greasy fleece weight and fibre diameter, as is done routinely for
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