Growth and carcass traits of bulls and veal calves of continental cattle breeds 1. Growth and food conversion efficiency

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Khalil ◽  
F. Pirchner
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Equal Proportion ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Pair Correlations ◽  
Veal Calves ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Corrected Data ◽  
Mature Weight

ABSTRACTBetween six and 11 twin pairs each of the breeds Braunvieh (BV), Fleckvieh (FV), Grauvieh (GV), Pinzgauer (Pi) and Friesians (Fr) were either treated uniformly or separated and fattened to veal or to yearling bull stage. The aim of the experiment was the comparison of Central European breeds and to investigate genotype × rearing system interaction both within and between breeds. Veal calves were slaughtered at about 120 to 150 kg live weight (proportionately about 0·13 of estimated mature weight of bulls) and yearling bulls at 410 to 460 kg live weight, corresponding to proportionately 0·38 of estimated mature weight. In general, the dual-purpose breeds had higher growth rates both absolute (AGR) and relative (RGR) and better food conversion ratios (FCR) than the dairy breed, Friesian, and this was true irrespective of whether correlations were made to constant age, weight, maturity (equal proportion of adult weight) or carcass fatness. However, the early-weaned Friesian calves grew fastest in the early phase of the growing period and this probably reflected their superior appetite.Interactions between breeds and rearing system (bull v. veal) were significant for RGR and for maturity-corrected FCR which was mainly caused by shifting of the positions of BV and Pi.The pooled genetic correlations between performance in the different fattening categories were considerably below unity. The twin-pair correlations indicated high heritabilities which are biased by contributions from dominance and maternal environment. While in data corrected to comparable maturity, AGR and RGR were highly positively correlated, their correlation became negative in agecorrected data. The correlations with FCR displayed an equivalent change with sign reversed. The correlations between wither height and heart girth with AGR were positive for age-corrected data but negative or barely positive, respectively, for data corrected to equal maturity. Again, FCR behaved similarly but with sign reversed.

The evaluation of economically optimal rations for bacon pigs formulated by curve fitting and linear programming techniques

1966 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Dent ◽  
P. R. English
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
High Growth ◽  
High Growth Rate ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Programming Techniques ◽  
Rates Of Growth ◽  
Food Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Better Than

Least cost rations for specific rates of growth in the growing and finishing periods were given to pigs slaughtered at 200 lb. live-weight. During the growing period pigs grew very close to the planned rates in spite of the fact that some food was rejected. Pigs given rations for a low growth rate in the growing period grew slightly faster than planned in the finishing period. In the finishing period pigs given rations for the high growth rate grew on average very near to this rate. The pigs given the ration for the low growth rate grew slightly faster than planned. Food conversion efficiency was for all pigs very near to, or slightly better than, that planned. The rations had no adverse effect on carcass quality.

Relationships between pre-weaning growth, post-weaning growth and mature body size in Chios sheep

1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Mavrogenis ◽  
A. Constantinou
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Pedigree Information ◽  
Mature Weight ◽  
Chios Sheep ◽  
Birth Type

ABSTRACTThe study examined early measures of growth and their relationships with mature body size. Data on 792 purebred females of the Chios breed, born and reared on two experimental farms between 1978 and 1986, were analysed. Pedigree information and records on live weight at birth, at weaning, 105 days of age and at first and subsequent matings was recorded. There were flock-year differences for all traits studied (P < 0·01) and birth type was important for all traits except post-weaning growth rate. Dam lactation number had no significant effect on birth weight and pre-weaning growth rate, but it significantly affected all subsequent weights and post-weaning growth rate. Estimated heritabilities increased with age and ranged from 0·13 (s.e. 0·14) (birth weight) to 0·30 (s.e. 0·15) (mature weight). Genetic correlations were generally positive between weights and growth traits. Phenotypic correlations were positive and followed the pattern of the genetic correlations. The results suggest that selection for 105-day weight will result in increased mature weight.

Grassland performance of Hereford cattle selected for rate and efficiency of lean gain on a concentrate diet

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Hereford Cattle ◽  
Selection For

AbstractThe performance of 273 Hereford calves from lines previously selected for lean growth rate (LGR) or lean food conversion efficiency (LFCR), on a concentrate diet, was evaluated on a grassland diet over a period of 3 years. Both bull and heifer calves were tested, and each year the performance test ran from the 1st week of May (average age of 233 days) until the 1st week of October. Carcass lean content was predicted from body weight and ultrasonic backfat depth, and lean gain was calculated from the product of live-weight gain and predicted carcass lean content. The LGR line was superior to the control (C) line for live-weight gain on test, lean gain on test and lean gain from birth until the end of test. The LFCR line performed similarly to the C line for live-weight gain on test and lean gain on test, but was inferior for total lean gain. For lean gain on test, the proportional differences between the lines were similar to those predicted from parental breeding values for LGR, but they were smaller for total lean gain. The lines did not differ significantly for either fat depth or predicted carcass lean content.Heritabilities were high for all growth traits, e.g. 0·52 (s.e. 0·17), 0·54 (s.e. 0·17) and 0·59 (s.e. 0·17) for live-weight gain on test, lean gain on test and total lean gain, but lower for fat depth and carcass lean content, 0·25 (s.e. 0·17) and 0·14 (s.e. 0·16), respectively. Genetic correlations with LGR, measured on a concentrate diet, were 0·57 for lean gain on test and 0·56 for total lean gain. If only males were considered, these correlations rose to 0·80 and 0·70, respectively. Coheritabilities between the two environments for lean growth were close to 0·3. It is concluded that although there is some evidence for genotype × environment and genotype × sex interactions, selection for lean growth on a concentrate regimen will still be effective in improving grassland performance.

The early weaning of pigs: I. The effect upon growth of variations in the protein, fat, sucrose, antibiotic, vitamin and mineral contents of diets for pigs of 8–25 lb. live weight and a comparison of wet and dry feeding

1956 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Smith ◽  
I. A. M. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Antibiotic Level ◽  
Food Conversion Efficiency

1. The pigs in the three experiments reported were weaned at 10 days old and fed water and drymeal diets ad libitum until they reached 25 lb. live weight. They were housed individually in cages and records were kept of each pig's food consumption and of its live weight every third day.2. Most of the diets fed were based on roller-dried skim milk, rolled oat groats, white fishmeal, sucrose, dried yeast, cod-liver oil, minerals and antibiotic.3. Forty-eight pigs were used in Exp. 1, which was designed as a 4 × 2 factorial. Food-conversion efficiency was significantly improved by 10% when the crude protein in the diet was raised from 24 to 29%. Increasing the protein to 34 or 39% brought no further significant improvement. There were no significant differences between growth rates which were attributable to the four levels of protein.The inclusion of 10% sucrose in the diet did not result in increased food consumption, but there were significant improvements of 8% in growth rate and 10% in food conversion efficiency. There were no treatment interactions.4. Twenty-four pigs were used in Exp. 2, which was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial. Figs fed a diet containing 7% fat grew 4% faster and 6% more efficiently than others fed a diet containing 3·7% fat, but neither difference approached statistical significance. There was no advantage in feeding the meal as a slop, indeed, there was a tendency for the pigs to scour more than on dry feeding. As in Exp. 1 there was no treatment interaction.5. Forty-eight pigs were used in Exp. 3, which was designed as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial. The basal diet contained about 30% crude protein and 10% sucrose.An increase in the antibiotic level from 18 to 112 mg./lb. diet significantly increased growth rate by 7%, but the 9% increase in efficiency of food conversion was not statistically significant.The addition of a trace mineral supplement significantly improved rate of gain by 7%, but the 6% increase in efficiency of food conversion was not statistically significant.The addition of a complex vitamin mixture had no significant effect upon either rate or efficiency of growth.6. In all three experiments the shape of the growth curve of pigs weaned at 10 days old wag divided into two periods. During the initial ‘check period’, lasting about 10 days, the pigs ate only small amounts of food, grew very slowly, and sometimes scoured. After the ‘check period’ there was a sudden change to the ‘growing period’, during which the pigs ate increasing amounts of meal and grew rapidly.The only treatment which significantly affected the length of the check period was in Exp. 3, when the addition of the vitamin supplement to a diet containing a high antibiotic level shortened the check period by 3 days but then counteracted this advantage by reducing rate of gain during the growing period.7. Between 25 lb. weight and 8 weeks of age twenty-four pigs from the experiments reported were fed ad libitum on a dry-meal diet containing 22% crude protein. The average live weight of these pigs at 8 weeks was 49 lb.

Studies on liquid skim milk for growing pigs. The effect of its abrupt removal from the diet and of supplementation with copper sulphate or amino acids

1960 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Barber ◽  
R. Braude ◽  
Zena D. Hosking ◽  
K. G. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Copper Sulphate ◽  
Skim Milk ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Food Utilisation ◽  
Better Than

Results of four experiments involving a total of 124 pigs covering the growth period between about 40 and 210 lb. live-weight indicated that:1. The growth rate and efficiency of food utilisation of pigs receiving liquid skim milk up to a maximum of 5¼ pints per head per day, was better than that of pigs receiving a balanced all-meal diet. This was equally so whether the liquid skim milk was fed throughout the growing period or was abruptly removed from the diet at either about 75 lb. or 120 lb. live-weight, provided the all-meal diet fed subsequently contained adequate protein.2. The addition of 0·1% copper sulphate to the meal fed with liquid skim milk significantly improved the growth rate and efficiency of food conversion.3. The addition of 0·2% dl-lysine and 0·1% dl-methionine to the meal fed with liquid skim milk had no effect on the performance of the pigs.4. Withdrawal of a protein supplement from the rations of pigs after they reached about 120 lb. live-weight adversely affected their performance.

Growth and carcass traits of bulls and veal calves of continental cattle breeds 2. Carcass composition

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. El-Hakim ◽  
H. Eichinger ◽  
F. Pirchner
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Veal Calves ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Genetic Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Genetic Coefficient

ABSTRACTSibs of five to 11 twin pairs each of five breeds were either slaughtered as veal or as yearling bulls. Highly significant breed differences were evident in the carcass tissue proportions which could be explained on the basis of differences in the physiology of dairy and dual-purpose animals, the former depositing more fat and more bone than dual-purpose breeds. Among the dual-purpose breeds the carcasses of the Pinzgauer (Pi) tended to rank between the carcasses of the Fleckvieh (FV), Braunvieh (BV), Grauvieh (GV) and those of the Friesian (Fr).The dual-purpose breeds FV, BV, GV had more meat in the hindquarter and in the shoulder than the FR while these in turn had more meat in the brisket and in the flank and shank muscles. Again the Pi group tended to rank between the aforementioned groups.Within breeds, large differences between twin pairs indicated high heritabilities for carcass tissue proportions and ratios. The heritability of commercial cut proportions was fairly high but the genetic variance was small, the genetic coefficient of variation being less than 0-02. The different degrees of sexual maturity and of carcass maturity also caused differences in the distribution of meat in the carcasses of young male animals.Significant mean squares for interactions between treatments and breeds, and genetic correlations of less than unity between performance of twin genotypes in veal and in bulls, indicated age and/or rearing system by genotype interactions between and within breeds for various slaughter traits.Phenotypic correlations between various slaughter traits were low except where part-whole relationships were involved. It is suggested that slaughter at comparable maturity in the respective treatments was the cause of the weak connection between the traits.

Genetic importance of fat and eye muscle depth in Merino breeding programs

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 690 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Brown ◽  
A. A. Swan
Keyword(s):  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Economic Index ◽  
Parasite Resistance ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Internal Parasite ◽  
Reproduction Traits

Australian Merino breeders have traditionally selected animals for breeding predominately on the basis of wool characteristics. Over recent decades, an increasing proportion of Merino breeders are interested in producing a ewe that can be used for prime-lamb production, but that also performs well for wool characteristics. Correlations between ultrasound carcass traits and other traits such as wool, internal parasite resistance and reproduction traits, are not very well known. The aims of this study were three-fold: (1) to estimate the genetic relationships between ultrasound carcass traits and wool, internal parasite resistance and reproduction traits, (2) to determine the value of recording ultrasound carcass traits in Merino breeding programs, and (3) to evaluate the impact of improving ewe genetic merit for fatness on their reproduction performance. Ultrasound fat and eye muscle depth had small to moderate genetic correlations with most traits, with positive correlations observed for bodyweight, fibre diameter, fibre curvature and reproduction, and negative correlations observed for fleece weight, fibre diameter coefficient of variation, worm egg count and breech wrinkle. As expected on the basis of these genetic correlations, estimated breeding values for fat depth of ewes had a positive association with their observed reproduction performance, but the effect explained only minimal variation in reproductive performance, and was extremely variable among flocks and years. A range of measurement scenarios was investigated for three standard MERINOSELECT indexes. Measuring fat and eye muscle depth resulted in 3%, 4% and 21% additional economic index gain for the fine, medium and dual purpose indexes, respectively, whereas measuring reproduction traits directly resulted in 17%, 27% and 45% additional gain in the economic index. Dual purpose index gains benefited more from measuring ultrasound carcass traits as it is the only index with a direct economic value placed on carcass traits. Measuring fat and eye muscle depth also resulted in a greater reduction in worm egg count. The results indicated that desirable genetic progress can be made in wool, ultrasound carcass, internal parasite resistance and number of lambs born and weaned simultaneously using multiple trait selection to account for the mix of favourable and unfavourable correlations between these traits. These results also demonstrated that the best method to maximise economic gain is to measure as many traits (or closely correlated traits) in the breeding objective as possible.

The incorporation of fertility indices in genetic improvement programmes

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Pryce ◽  
R.F. Veerkamp
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Days Open

AbstractIn recent years there has been considerable genetic progress in milk production. Yet, increases in yield have been accompanied by an apparent lengthening of calving intervals, days open, days to first heat and a decline in conception rates, which appears to be both at the genetic and phenotypic level. Fertility has a high relative economic value compared to production traits such as protein, making it attractive to include in a breeding programme. To do this there needs to be genetic variance in fertility. Measures of fertility calculated from service dates have a small genetic compared to phenotypic variance, hence heritability estimates are small, typically less than 5%, although coefficients of genetic variance are comparable to those of production traits. Heritabilities of commencement of luteal activity determined using progesterone profiles are generally higher, and have been reported as being from 0.16 to 0.28, which could be because of a more precise quantification of genetic variance, as management influences such as delaying insemination and heat detection rates are excluded. However, it might not be the use of progesterone profiles alone, as days to first heat observed by farm staff has a heritability of 0.15. The most efficient way to breed for improved fertility is to construct a selection index using the genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates of all traits of interest in addition to their respective economic values. Index traits for fertility could include measures such as calving interval, days open, days to first service, or days to first heat but there may also be alternative measures. Examples include traits related to energy balance, such as live weight and condition score (change), both of which have higher heritabilities than fertility measures and have genetic correlations of sufficient magnitude to make genetic progress by using them feasible. To redress the balance between fertility and production, some countries already publish genetic evaluations of fertility including: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

scholarly journals Description and comparison of growth parameters in Chianina and Nelore cattle breeds

1999 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sônia Mara Carrijo ◽  
Francisco A. Moura Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Inflection Point ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Von Bertalanffy Model ◽  
Cattle Breeds ◽  
Model Average ◽  
Different Ages ◽  
Mature Weight ◽  
Nelore Cattle ◽  
Weight Data

Weight data from birth to 18 months of age of Nelore and Chianina, both meat-producing cattle breeds, were analyzed. Data were corrected for significant effects of environment and utilized to estimate genetic parameters through the non-linear von Bertalanffy model. Average values found for growth parameters in Nelore were: mature weight (A), 312.87 kg; integration constant (B), 0.49; maturity rate (k), 0.13; age at inflection point (T(I)), 3.29 months; weight at inflection point (P(I)), 92.70 kg, and maturity interval (1/k), 8.04 months. For the Chianina animals, the values were 751.38 kg, 0.59, 0.10, 6.64 months, 222.63 kg, and 10.98 months, respectively. Nelore animals exhibited higher maturity rate, smaller maturity intervals, reaching mature weights younger than Chianina animals, although lighter than these at maturity. Heritability estimates presented low values, mainly for mature weight (0.093 and 0.212), age at inflection point (0.062 and 0.202), weight at inflection point (0.093 and 0.212) and maturity interval (0.057 and 0.309) (for Nelore and Chianina, respectively). The parameters mature weight and weight at inflection point presented positive genetic correlations with weights at different ages and with similar trends, increasing as age increased, in both breeds. Considering the development period analyzed, from birth to 18 months of age, the parameter maturity rate and the weights at different ages showed genetic correlations which increased until the weight at 150 and 205 days in Nelore and Chianina, respectively, and decreased from these ages on, and the genetic correlations among the parameter maturity interval and the weights at different ages were negative. They decreased until the weights at 150 and 205 days, respectively, in Nelore and Chianina, and increased from these ages on.

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