Selection for lean weight based on ultrasound and CT in a meat line of sheep

Genetic parameters for carcass traits in lambs at weaning (average age of 128 days) measured by ultrasound (n = 1821) and computer tomography (CT) (n = 234), and response to selection for ultrasound eye muscle depth (UMD) and carcass LEAN weight, were estimated. The research flock comprised a meat line (ML) and a control line (CL) of Norwegian White Sheep. The ML was crossed with Texel from 1998, and selected for UMD from 1993 to 2001, and for LEAN weight from 2001 to 2004. For CT scanning, a mean of 23 images was taken per animal. Genetic parameters were estimated with univariate and bivariate mixed-animal models using AIREML, including all animals with records and their relatives. The statistical models included fixed effects, live weight or age of lamb at weaning (covariate), and a random genetic effect.Heritability estimates for weight of LEAN, FAT and BONE were 0.57, 0.29 and 0.51 using model corrected for live weight. The heritability estimates were lower when these traits were adjusted for age. High genetic correlation was found between LEAN and UMD (0.70), and between carcass FAT and ultrasound fat depth (UFD) (0.82). The genetic trend for UMD regressed on year of birth was significantly greater for ML than CL in 2004.