Analysis of Non-genetic Factors Affecting Birth Weight of Chinese Merino Sheep (Xinjiang type)

【Objective】This study was carried out to discuss the influence of non-genetic factors the lamb birth weight collected from 2 million sheep identification record.【Method】The Effect of non-genetic factors such as birth type,birth sex,group,birth year and birth month on the birth weight of Chinese merino sheep(Xinjiang type) was studied form 1999 to 2008.In this study,a total number of 11,893 records were analyzed by use of GLM procedure in SAS(8.1)software.【Result】 The statistical analysis indicated that the average birth weight between male lambs and female lambs were 3.609 and 3.501 respectively.The influences of birth sex on lambs birth weight were significant(P0.01).The influences of the number of lambs on birth weight also was significant(P0.01),and the birth weight of single lamb was higher than that of double lamb.The influence of birth month on birth weight was not significant(P0.05).【Conclusion】The influence of 5 non-genetic factors on Chinese merino sheep(Xinjiang type)to provide the key basis for estimating merino sheep genetic parameters and breeding value fixed efficient of breeding value.