Is fibre comfort factor required in merino breeding programs? (#74)
Genetic parameters for fibre comfort factor (FCF)
and correlations with key production traits were estimated from research
(Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation Information Nucleus)
and industry data (Sheep Genetics MERINOSELECT). FCF is moderately to highly
heritable and genetically consistent through life, with the yearling, hogget
and adult expressions phenotypically (0.54 to 0.73) and genetically (0.97 to 0.98)
correlated. The strong genetic correlations (rg) between FCF and
both FD and FD standard deviation (range -0.58 and -0.92) indicate that
selection to reduce FD or FDSD will generate favourable correlated increases in
FCF. There would be little to be gained from including FCF in Merino breeding
programs with an existing emphasis on reducing FD and it would be difficult for
medium to strong wool breeders to add FCF to their breeding programs and maintain
FD.