| For the first time, official breeding values were published for sheep and goats in 2017. Depending on breed and use, different breeding values and indices for dairy, meat and fitness related traits as well as total merit indices are provided. In the current breeding objective, however, an essential trait from the fitness complex is still missing, longevity. Further, the development of a routine evaluation for conformation traits has not been possible so far. The objectives of this project were therefore the development of a routine breeding value estimation for longevity for those breeds for which a breeding value estimation is already carried out. Further, a routine genetic evaluation for conformation traits based on linear scorings for the breeds Gämsfärbige Gebirgsziege, Saanenziege, Tiroler Bergschaf, Merinoland and Jura should be established. As of August 2022, more than 16 000 linear descriptions of all considered breeds were available. Genetic parameter estimations and genetic evaluation test runs were carried out with this dataset. With regard to longevity, two different target traits were defined depending on breed group. For dairy breeds, these are the number of days in certain (cumulative) periods from the first lambing/kidding onwards, considering relative milk yield within herd. The advantage of this approach is that the performance of animals with an extended milking period can be better modelled. For breeds without milk yield, the number of lambings/kiddings in certain periods was defined (cumulatively) as a target trait. For both kinds of traits, genetic parameters were estimated and breeding value estimations were carried out. Consideration of conformation as an auxiliary trait for longevity is not yet feasible, since the genetic parameters are still unreliably estimated. However, the genetic analyses are to be repeated in the next few years, as soon as linearly described animals have also had the chance to become older and survive later periods. With regard to the weighting in the total merit index including longevity, first model calculations were carried out with regard to the genetic gain. Results will be made available to the breeding organizations as a basis for discussion. The official introduction of the new estimated breeding values for longevity and conformation and the corresponding adjustment of the breeding objectives (total merit indices) is planned for 2023. |