{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T10:02:23Z","timestamp":1790330543108,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,21]],"date-time":"2021-04-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1618963200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the ewe\u2019s maternal genetic merit and country of origin [New Zealand (NZ) or Ireland] on ewe reproductive, lambing, and productivity traits. The study was performed over a 4-yr period (2016\u20132019) and consisted of three genetic groups: high maternal genetic merit (NZ), high maternal genetic merit Irish (High Irish), and low maternal genetic merit Irish (Low Irish) ewes. Each group contained 30 Suffolk and 30 Texel ewes, selected based on the respective national maternal genetic indexes; i.e., either the NZ Maternal Worth (NZ group) or the \u20acuro-star Replacement index (Irish groups). The impact of maternal genetic merit on reproductive traits such as litter size; lambing traits such as gestation length, birth weight, lambing difficulty, mothering ability; and productivity traits such as the number of lambs born and weaned was analyzed using linear mixed models. For binary traits, the impact of maternal genetic merit on reproductive traits such as conception to first artificial insemination (AI) service; lambing traits such as dystocia and perinatal lamb mortality; and productivity traits such as ewe survival was analyzed using logistic regression. NZ ewes outperformed Low Irish ewes for conception to first AI (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and litter size (P = 0.05). Irish ewes were more likely to suffer from dystocia [6.84 (High Irish) and 8.25 (Low Irish) times] compared to NZ ewes (P &amp;lt; 0.001); birth weight and perinatal mortality did not differ between groups (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Lambs born from NZ ewes were 4.67 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.89\u201311.55; P &amp;lt; 0.001] and 6.54 (95% CI: 2.56\u201316.71; P&amp;lt;0.001) times more likely to stand up and suckle unassisted relative to lambs born from High or Low Irish ewes, respectively. NZ and High Irish ewes had a greater number of lambs born and weaned throughout the duration of the study compared to their Low Irish counterparts (P&amp;lt;0.001). NZ ewes tended to be more likely to survive from one year to the next compared with Low Irish ewes (P=0.07). Irish ewes of high maternal genetic merit outperformed their low counterparts in total number of lambs born and weaned per ewe, but performance did not differ across other traits investigated. This highlights the importance of continuous development of the Irish maternal sheep index to ensure favorable improvements in reproductive, lambing, and productivity traits at the farm level. Overall, results demonstrate the suitability of NZ genetics in an Irish production system.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/tas\/txab070","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,22]],"date-time":"2021-04-22T20:12:14Z","timestamp":1619122334000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["The impact of maternal genetic merit and country of origin on ewe reproductive performance, lambing performance, and ewe survival"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5892-575X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicola","family":"Fetherstone","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway H65 R718, Ireland"},{"name":"School of Agricultural Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3105-8796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"N\u00f3ir\u00edn","family":"McHugh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7433-130X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tommy M","family":"Boland","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Agricultural Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4471-5078","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fiona M","family":"McGovern","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway H65 R718, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0001","volume-title":"Energy and protein requirements of ruminants","author":"Alderman","year":"1996"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0002","article-title":"Quantitative genetic selection for twinning rate in ewes","author":"Amer","year":"2006"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731110002107","article-title":"Comparison of the longevity and lifetime performance of Scottish Blackface ewes and their crosses within hill sheep flocks","volume":"5","author":"Annett","year":"2011","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0004","author":"Annett","year":"2012"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0005","article-title":"Sheep and beef farm survey\u2014performance indicators per farm analysis","author":"Beef + Lamb New Zealand Economic Service.","year":"2020"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2019.05.018","article-title":"Deriving economic values for national sheep breeding objectives using a bio-economic model","volume":"227","author":"Bohan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Livest. Sci"},{"issue":"8","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1332","DOI":"10.1017\/S0021859617000399","article-title":"A survey of management practices and flock performance and their association with flock size and ewe breed type on Irish sheep farms","volume":"155","author":"Bohan","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Agric. Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agsy.2016.07.008","article-title":"Description and validation of the teagasc lamb production model","volume":"148","author":"Bohan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Agric. Syst"},{"issue":"1\u20132","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2011.10.010","article-title":"Broadening breeding objectives for maternal and terminal sheep","volume":"144","author":"Byrne","year":"2012","journal-title":"Livest. Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1290","DOI":"10.2527\/2004.8251290x","article-title":"A bioeconomic approach to derive economic values for pasture-based sheep genetic improvement programs","volume":"82","author":"Conington","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0011","volume-title":"Sheep production, livestock production in New Zealand","author":"Cranston","year":"2017"},{"issue":"3","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1080\/00288230809510467","article-title":"A comparison of two lamb production systems in New Zealand","volume":"51","author":"DeNicolo","year":"2008","journal-title":"New Zeal. J. Agric. Res"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0013","first-page":"154","article-title":"Effect of ewe prolificacy potential and stocking rate on ewe and lamb performance in a grass-based lamb production system","volume":"95","author":"Earle","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102888","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agsy.2020.102888","article-title":"Quantifying sheep enterprise profitability with varying flock replacement rates, lambing rates, and breeding strategies in New Zealand","volume":"184","author":"Farrell","year":"2020","journal-title":"Agric. Syst"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1186\/s12711-020-00594-y","article-title":"Genetic and economic benefits of foreign sire contributions to a domestic sheep industry; including an Ireland-New Zealand case study","volume":"53","author":"Fetherstone","year":"2021","journal-title":"Genet. Select. Evol"},{"issue":"2","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1017\/S0962728600028128","article-title":"The welfare implications of shepherding during lambing in extensive New Zealand farming systems","volume":"11","author":"Fisher","year":"2002","journal-title":"Anim. Welfare"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0037","article-title":"Sectoral Road Map: Mid-season Lamb Production, Teagasc","author":"Gottstein","year":"2020"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"697","DOI":"10.1016\/S0093-691X(98)00019-3","article-title":"Factors affecting pregnancy rates following laparoscopic insemination of 28,447 Merino ewes under commercial conditions: a survey","volume":"49","author":"Hill","year":"1998","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0019","article-title":"Breeding from ewe lambs\u2014an opportunity to increase flock profitability","author":"Keady","year":"2020"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0020","first-page":"87","article-title":"An evaluation of two grassland-based systems of mid-season prime lamb production using prolific ewes of two genotypes","volume":"48","author":"Keady","year":"2009","journal-title":"Irish J. Agric. Food Res"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0021","article-title":"Systems approach to the economic impact of technical performance in the sheep sector","author":"Kilcline","year":"2015"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1017\/S1357729800028368","article-title":"Selection for lean growth in terminal sire sheep to produce leaner crossbred progeny","volume-title":"J. Anim. Sci.","author":"Lewis","year":"1996"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2012-5383","article-title":"Index selection in terminal sires improves lamb performance at finishing","volume":"91","author":"M\u00e1rquez","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"776","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731110002430","article-title":"Development and validation of on-farm behavioural scoring systems to assess birth assistance and lamb vigour","volume":"5","author":"Matheson","year":"2011","journal-title":"Animal"},{"issue":"s1","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"s55","DOI":"10.1017\/S2040470017001716","article-title":"Evaluation of production efficiencies among primiparous suckler cows of diverse genetic index at pasture","volume":"8","author":"McCabe","year":"2017","journal-title":"Adv. Anim. Biosci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0026","article-title":"\u20acuro-Star Genetic Indexes for Sheep\u2014Sheep Ireland","author":"McHugh","year":"2016"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1423","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2013-6658","article-title":"Validation of national genetic evaluations for maternal beef cattle traits using Irish field data","volume":"92","author":"McHugh","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2020.104007","article-title":"Considerable potential exists to improve lambing performance traits in sheep through breeding","author":"McHugh","year":"2020","journal-title":"Livest. Sci"},{"issue":"4","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1080\/00288233.2000.9513448","article-title":"Genetic and environmental factors affecting lamb survival at birth and through to weaning","volume":"43","author":"Morris","year":"2000","journal-title":"New Zeal. J. Agric. Res"},{"issue":"3","key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meatsci.2014.06.011","article-title":"Intensive sheep and beef production from pasture\u2014a New Zealand perspective of concerns, opportunities and challenges","volume":"98","author":"Morris","year":"2014","journal-title":"Meat Sci."},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0031","article-title":"Making life easier at the busiest time: the potential to breed for greater lamb vigour and better mothering ability","author":"O\u2019Brien","year":"2020"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731116002445","article-title":"Genetic parameters for lameness, mastitis and dagginess in a multi-breed sheep population","volume":"11","author":"O\u2019Brien","year":"2017","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1685","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2019-17374","article-title":"Reproductive efficiency and survival of Holstein-Friesian cows of divergent Economic Breeding Index, evaluated under seasonal calving pasture-based management","volume":"103","author":"O\u2019Sullivan","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0034","first-page":"225","volume-title":"Across-breed genomic evaluation for meat sheep in Ireland","author":"Pabiou","year":"2019"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1031","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731111002503","article-title":"Relationship between dairy cow genetic merit and profit on commercial spring calving dairy farms","volume":"6","author":"Ramsbottom","year":"2012","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"2021080706455642600_CIT0036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.1111\/jbg.12146","article-title":"Comparison of breeding objectives across countries with application to sheep indexes in New Zealand and Ireland","volume":"132","author":"Santos","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Anim. Breed. Genet"}],"container-title":["Translational Animal Science"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/academic.oup.com\/tas\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/tas\/txab070\/37240990\/txab070.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"http:\/\/academic.oup.com\/tas\/article-pdf\/5\/3\/txab070\/39605460\/txab070.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"http:\/\/academic.oup.com\/tas\/article-pdf\/5\/3\/txab070\/39605460\/txab070.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,2]],"date-time":"2023-11-02T15:42:17Z","timestamp":1698939737000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/tas\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/tas\/txab070\/6244629"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,21]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/tas\/txab070","relation":{},"ISSN":["2573-2102"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2573-2102","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,1]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,21]]},"article-number":"txab070"}}