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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427498
Research Project: Discovery of Novel Traits to Improve Efficiency and Sustainability of Different Sheep Production Systems

Location: Livestock Bio-Systems

Title: Attaining goals through selection indexes

Author
item Murphy Jr, Thomas
item LEWIS, RONALD - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Sheep Industry News
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2025
Publication Date: 7/31/2025
Citation: Murphy, T., Lewis, R. 2025. Attaining goals through selection indexes. Sheep Industry News. 29(8):32-35.

Interpretive Summary: The National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) is the U.S. sheep industry's sole source of estimated breeding values (EBV) for economically important traits. Using EBV in the selection and mating of breeding sheep is the most accurate method of genetic improvement. Sheep producers are typically interested in improving multiple traits simultaneously, which can present challenges if clear goals are not set and the relative emphasis each trait receives is poorly defined. This popular press article presents the importance of defining selection goals and describes multiple trait selection indexes currently available in the NSIP as well as current efforts to improve genetic tools available to the U.S. sheep industry.

Technical Abstract: The National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) is the U.S. sheep industry's sole source of estimated breeding values (EBV) for economically important traits. Using EBV in the selection and mating of breeding sheep is the most accurate method of genetic improvement. Sheep producers are typically interested in improving multiple traits simultaneously, which can present challenges if clear goals are not set and the relative emphasis each trait receives is poorly defined. This popular press article presents the importance of defining selection goals and describes multiple trait selection indexes currently available in the NSIP as well as current efforts to improve genetic tools available to the U.S. sheep industry.