Abstract

The trial reported in this paper was undertaken to determine the potential of using multivariate analyses of blood metabolites to indirectly select for fleece weight. Blood samples from 41 Corriedale rams were analysed for 14 metabolites. A canonical discriminant function of creatinine, urea, magnesium and copper correctly classified 90% of the cull sheep (on the basis of greasy fleece weight). While limitations to the interpretation of this trial are acknowledged, further work appears warranted, as the cost of analysing the blood metabolites is substantially cheaper than other proposed methods such as gene probes, or electrophoresis protein patterns to select for fleece weight at an early age.

TG, Watson, and BC Hosking

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 48, , 163-170, 1988