Inbreeding depression in grazing Blackface sheep

Abstract

Four Scottish Blackface rams were mated with a group of their own daughters and a similar number of non-related ewes. The matings were made in three successive years. All ewes were maintained under normal hill conditions. Female progeny from the matings entered the ewe flock unculled. Records of birth type, birth weight, fleece and live-weights throughout life were obtained.Inbred lambs had lower mean values for all measured characters than did their non-inbred half-sibs and there was a greater number of apparently barren ewes amongst the flock ewes which were expected to produce inbred lambs. The inbred progeny, also maintained in the normal hill flock, showed a higher incidence of barrenness and lower lamb survival rates at all ages than did their non-inbred contemporaries in the same environment. In the final year of the observations, when the standard of nutrition during late pregnancy was raised, the neo-natal mortality rate in both groups was reduced.