Database of identification and fattening indicators of lambs of sheep breeds raised in Latvia and intensively fattened in the 1st trial (2024/2025 or A24/A25) of the project of the Latvian Council of Science: LZP-2024/1-0092
Year: 2026
Type: dataset
Abstract: Project of The Latvian Council of Science (LCS) - LZP-2024/1-0092 project: “Genetic tools for feed-efficient and sustainable meat production in Latvian sheep breeds” The aim of the project is to determine whether the feed efficiency status of Latvian meat sheep breeds could be predicted using a panel of genetic and molecular markers previously found to be associated with divergent Feed efficiency status in a training population of lambs when fed the same diet. Novelty: to determine the parameters predicting the most productive result of lamb rearing, we set out to develop the cheapest and most effective method for determining markers of feed efficiency - based on molecular and genetic markers obtained from the blood of live lambs. About the project: The costs associated with lambing (buying or keeping sheep) and preparing or purchasing feed are the two largest components of variable costs in sheep raising. Feed costs are high due to poor grain-growing conditions in major producing countries, the use of feed grains in ethanol production, and increased competition for land in crop production compared to urban development. Feed efficiency in growing lambs (i.e., the animal's ability to reach a market or adult body weight (BW) with the least amount of feed intake) is a key factor in the sheep industry. Improving Feed efficiency reduces production costs. Improving Feed efficiency by 5% can bring economic benefits that are up to four times higher than a 5% increase in average daily gain (ADG). Traditionally, meat breeding programmes have focused on outputs due mainly to the routine availability of phenotypic data on outputs or correlated traits. Currently, no marker has successfully explained enough of the variability in feed efficiency that they were used as part of a routine improvement programme, and according to our data, no genetic parameters for performance and feed efficiency traits are available for sheep. The physiological determinants of feed efficiency, or putative biomarkers, used to analyze animal-to-animal variation in live lambs could be used as a cost-effective and rapid tool for genetic selection or management decisions. About the project data: The LZP-2024/1-0092 project data includes lamb samples from the years 2024 and 2025, referred to as the A24-A25 group, which consists of 197 intensively fattened lambs from eight breeds. These lambs were raised in the meadow and are semi-sibi lambs within the scope of the study. Based on the requirements of the breeding program of the breeds, every year the offspring of the sire ram, certified for breeding activity, are selected and analysed to estimate the sire rams. All lambs were born as twins, triplets or quadruplets from different ewes and health status was assessed before inclusion in the study so that there were at least two lambs per sire ram from the breed. This study was carried out in cooperation with the Latvian Sheep Breeders' Association at the ram breeding station. The data is the property of the participants of the University of Latvia.
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
Funder: Latvijas Zinātnes Padome
OpenAlex ID: W7216391990