Effects of Non-Genetic Factors and Permanent Maternal Environment on Biometric Traits in Moghani Sheep

The present study investigated basic statistics for biometric traits as well as non-genetic factors that may affect these traits in the Moghani breed of sheep. The data-set was computed by using biometric records of the Moghani sheep breeding and raising station over a period of 15 years (1996 to 2012). Year of birth, month of birth, birth type and lamb's sex and dam permanent environment were considered as the non-genetic factors. The studied biometric traits were: height at withers (HW), height at rump (HR), body length (BL), heart girth (HG) and leg circumference (LC). Least square means (cm) ± standard error were 69.8 ± 4.1, 69.7 ± 4.2, 50.2 ± 4.6, 85.9 ± 8.2 and 29.0 ± 5.4 for HW, HR, BL, HG and LC, respectively. All traits were affected significantly (P