A note on heritability estimates for growth traits in male and female Romanov sheep

1993 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 326-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. María ◽  
K. G. Boldman ◽  
L. D. van Vleck

A total of 1855 records were analysed using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) techniques to estimate heritabilities separately for males and females lambs on birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 90-day weight (W90) and average daily gains birth to weaning (Cl) and weaning to 90 days (C2). An animal model including fixed effects of year × season, parity, litter size and rearing type; and random effects of direct genetic effect (h2D) and residual was applied. Estimates ofh2Dfor BWwere 048 (males) and 0·50 (females); for WW 0·35 (males) and 0·22 (females); for W90 0·21 (males) and 0·31 (females); for Cl 0·20 (males) and 0·25 (females); and for C2 0·18 (males) and 0·29 (females).

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Rasali ◽  
G. H. Crow ◽  
J. N. B. Shrestha ◽  
A. D. Kennedy ◽  
A. Brûlé-Babel

Bivariate linear animal models were fit using MTDFREML programs for the analysis of cows’ stayability to 3 yr (STAY3, n = 1, 703) as a binary scored trait paired with body weights at birth (BW, n = 6,116), 205-d weaning (WW, n = 5,360,) and 1 yr of age (YW, n = 5250) in Angus cattle. For STAY3, the model included a fixed effect due to herd ×year of cow’s birth along with a random direct genetic effect. For each of BW, WW and YW, the model included fixed effects due to herd ×birth year, birth season, birth type, calf’s sex and the age of dam (as linear and quadratic covariates), while the random effects were direct and maternal genetic effects and permanent maternal environmental effects. Survival analysis revealed that the risk of cows, 10 yr or less in age, being culled from five Canadian Angus herds was highest between 2 and 3 yr of age. The direct heritability (h2) estimates for BW, WW and YW were 0.54, 0.73 and 0.47, respectively, and corresponding maternal heritability estimates were 0.14, 0.33 and 0.13, respectively. Furthermore, the direct h2 estimate for STAY3 from three bivariate analyses was 0.23–0.24. Estimates of direct-maternal genetic correlations of BW, WW and YW were -0.18, -0.70 and -0.39, respectively. The direct genetic correlations of STAY3 with BW, WW and YW were -0.15 to -0.09 indicating that selection for growth would have less detrimental influence on the stayability trait of cows. The correlations of direct genetic effects of STAY3 with maternal genetic effects of BW, WW and YW were between 0.20 and 0.25, indicating their favorable relationships as correlated traits. Key words: Stayability, growth traits, heritability, genetic correlations, beef cattle


1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 353-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. THUNEBERG-SELONEN ◽  
J. PÖSÖ ◽  
E. MÄNTYSAARI

The heritability and repeatability for trotting performance traits were estimated from individual race results. Data comprised of records from 1991 to 1995 for 4808 Finnhorses and from 1993 to 1995 for 5869 Standardbred trotters. The statistical model included the additive genetic effect of an animal and two permanent environmental effects, and the fixed effects of sex, age, starting method*starting lane combination, driver and race. The first permanent environmental effect described repeatability over a horse’s career while the second one characterized repeatability within a racing year. Variance components for three trotting performance traits were estimated by the animal model and the method of restricted maximum likelihood (REML). Heritability and repeatability estimates were moderately high for time at finish (h 2 =0.23–0.28 and r=0.50–0.57), moderate for ranking within a race (h 2 =0.12 and r=0.25) and low for earnings (h 2 =0.05–0.09 and r=0.15–0.18). Time at finish seemed to be the most usable measure of trotting performance because of its wide information substance. However, time at finish does not take into account records of disqualified horses or of those which did not finish, but use of earnings, either from individual race results or preferably from annual records, is one possible way to consider records of such horses.;


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 75-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Vostrý ◽  
B. Hofmanová ◽  
H. Vostrá Vydrová ◽  
J. Přibyl ◽  
I. Majzlík

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of melanoma to investigate a possible genetic variation of this trait in the Old Kladruber horse. A total of 564 grey varieties of the Old Kladruber horse, 238 males and 326 females, with five generations of ancestors (n = 1245 animals) were analysed. Melanoma status was recorded for different stages. Three different analyses were conducted: a linear animal model (LM) with melanoma classified into five categories, threshold animal model (TM) with melanoma classified into five categories and threshold animal model (TMb) with melanoma classified into two categories (0 = absence, 1 = presence). All models included the fixed effects of year of evaluation, age, line, sex, greying level, random direct genetic effect, and the effect of animal’s permanent environment. Heritability for melanoma occurrence was estimated for LM – 0.09, for TM – 0.27, and for TMb – 0.11. The coefficient of repeatability was estimated for LM – 0.77, for TM – 0.90, and for TMb – 0.99. The values of the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearmen’s rank correlation coefficient among breeding values estimated by LM, TM, and TMb models were from 0.82 to 0.88 and from 0.83 to 0.90, respectively, for data with pedigree information and from 0.77 to 0.84 and 0.77 to 0.88, respectively, for a subset of animals with measurements. Results suggest that additive genetic variation of melanoma occurrence in the Old Kladruber horse seems large enough to be exploited in a specific breeding programme.  


2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bálint Üveges ◽  
Bálint Halpern ◽  
Tamás Péchy ◽  
János Posta ◽  
István Komlósi

The objective of our research was to determine the heritability of head scale numbers of Vipera ursinii rakosiensis. 430 specimens (177 males and 253 females) were included in the analysis, most of which were born and raised in the Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Centre between 2004 and 2008. Due to the controlled breeding conditions, the dams of the offspring were known, and the sires were known in 51% of the cases. Only the ancestors of the wild caught specimens were unknown, but these animals were included as parents in the analysis. Photographic identification was used to identify and characterise the specimens, the majority over consecutive years. We counted the following scales: loreal-, circumocular-, apical-, and crown (intercanthal- and intersupraocular-) shields, as well as presence-absence data of other characteristics which are detailed further in the article. The variance and covariance components were determined via the restricted maximum likelihood method. The repeatability animal model consisted of the year of birth and the sex of the snakes as fixed effects, the dam as permanent environmental, and the animal as random effects. Heritability values varied between 0.32 and 0.70. We also report scale numbers and statistics of differences between scale numbers of sexes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Alfredo Martínez ◽  
Juan Esteban Pérez ◽  
Teófilo Herazo

<p>Se establecieron componentes de varianza, así como parámetros fenotípicos y genéticos, respecto de las variables ‘peso al nacimiento’, ‘peso al destete’ (ajustado a los 270 días) y ‘peso a los 480 días’ en un hato del ganado criollo colombiano Costeño con Cuernos. Se analizaron 2.281 registros de pesos al nacer, 1.722 de pesos al destete  y 1.086 de pesos ajustados a los 480 días utilizando la metodología de máxima verosimilitud restringida (DFREML). También se ajustó un modelo animal que incluyó efectos genéticos directos, maternos y de ambiente permanente, asumiendo como efectos fijos el año de nacimiento, el sexo del ternero y el número de partos de la madre; finalmente, se estimaron los parámetros genéticos ‘heredabilidad’, ‘repetibilildad’ y se establecieron correlaciones genéticas y fenotípicas. Se reportan bajas estimaciones de heredabilidad de los efectos directos, que varían entre 0,17 ± 0,001 y 0,21 ± 0,074 para los pesos al nacer y al destete, respectivamente; así mismo, fue baja la heredabilidad de los efectos genéticos maternos con relación al peso al nacimiento, aunque estos estimados aumentaron respecto de los pesos al nacer y al destete. Las correlaciones entre efectos directos y maternos fueron negativas, pero el mayor valor se encontró para el peso al nacimiento (-0,89). La contribución del ambiente permanente como proporción de la varianza fenotípica total fue baja y disminuyó a medida que aumentó la edad del animal.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Genetic and phenotypic evaluation to characterize growth traits of the native Colombian breed Costeño con Cuernos</strong></p><p>For a herd of native Colombian breed of cattle -Costeño con Cuernos (CCC)- estimates of variance components for phenotypic and genetic parameters were obtained for birth weight, weight at weaning (adjusted to 270 days) and weight at 480 days. Using the restricted maximum likelihood (REMI) methodology, 2281 birth weight records (PN), 1722 weaning weight records and 1086 weight records adjusted to 480 days were analyze by fitting a model which included direct and maternal genetics effects as well as permanent environmental effects, assuming that fixed effects were year of birth weight, calf gender and the mother number of births. The genetic parameters for heritability, repeatability, genetic and phenotypic correlation were estimated and genotypic and phenotypic correlation was established. Heritability estimates for direct effects are low and range from 0.17 ± 0.001 and 0.21 ± 0.074 for birth and weaning weight respectively; while estimates for maternal genetics effects were also low for PN, they were higher for weaning weight and weight at 480 days. There was a negative correlation between direct and maternal effects, and the higher value was for PN (-0.89). The contribution of the variable permanent environment measured as the contribution of the phenotypic variance was low and diminished as animal age increased.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 878-892
Author(s):  
Luis Antonio Saavedra-Jiménez ◽  
Rodolfo Ramírez-Valverde ◽  
Rafael Núñez-Domínguez ◽  
Agustín Ruíz-Flores ◽  
José Guadalupe García-Muñiz ◽  
...  

The study aimed to compare two grouping strategies for unknown parents or phantom parent groups (PPG) on the genetic evaluation of growth traits for Mexican Braunvieh cattle. Phenotypic data included birth (BW), weaning (WW) and yearling (YW) weights. Pedigree included 57,341 animals. The first strategy involved 12 PPG (G12) based on the birth year of the unknown parent’s progeny and the sex of the unknown parent, while the second involved 24 PPG (G24) based on the birth year of the unknown parent’s progeny and 4-selection pathways. The animal models included fixed effects and the random direct additive genetic effect; WW also included random maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. Product-moment correlations between EBV from G0 (no PPG) and G12 were 0.96, 0.77 and 0.69 for BW, WW and YW, respectively, and between EBV from G0 and G24 were 0.91, 0.54, and 0.53, respectively. Corresponding rank correlations between G0 and G12 were 0.94, 0.77, and 0.72, and between G0 and G24 were 0.89, 0.61, and 0.60. Genetic trends showed a base deviation from the genetic trend of G0, except for BW of G12. The results did not support the use of the two grouping strategies on the studied population and traits, and further research is required. Introducing PPG to the model, enough phenotype contribution from descendants to PPG, and avoiding collinearity between PPG and fixed effects are important. Genetic groups should reflect changes in the genetic structure of the population to the unknown parents, including different sources of genetic materials, and changes made by selection over time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (9) ◽  
pp. 3669-3683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piush Khanal ◽  
Christian Maltecca ◽  
Clint Schwab ◽  
Kent Gray ◽  
Francesco Tiezzi

Abstract Swine industry breeding goals are mostly directed towards meat quality and carcass traits due to their high economic value. Yet, studies on meat quality and carcass traits including both phenotypic and genotypic information remain limited, particularly in commercial crossbred swine. The objectives of this study were to estimate the heritabilities for different carcass composition traits and meat quality traits and to estimate the genetic and phenotypic correlations between meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits in 2 large commercial swine populations: The Maschhoffs LLC (TML) and Smithfield Premium Genetics (SPG), using genotypes and phenotypes data. The TML data set consists of 1,254 crossbred pigs genotyped with 60K SNP chip and phenotyped for meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits. The SPG population included over 35,000 crossbred pigs phenotyped for meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits. For TML data sets, the model included fixed effects of dam line, contemporary group (CG), gender, as well as random additive genetic effect and pen nested within CG. For the SPG data set, fixed effects included parity, gender, and CG, as well as random additive genetic effect and harvest group. Analyses were conducted using BLUPF90 suite of programs. Univariate and bivariate analyses were implemented to estimate heritabilities and correlations among traits. Primal yield traits were uniquely created in this study. Heritabilities [high posterior density interval] of meat quality traits ranged from 0.08 [0.03, 0.16] for pH and 0.08 [0.03, 0.1] for Minolta b* to 0.27 [0.22, 0.32] for marbling score, except intramuscular fat with the highest estimate of 0.52 [0.40, 0.62]. Heritabilities of primal yield traits were higher than that of primal weight traits and ranged from 0.17 [0.13, 0.25] for butt yield to 0.45 [0.36, 0.55] for ham yield. The genetic correlations of meat quality and carcass composition traits with growth traits ranged from moderate to high in both directions. High genetic correlations were observed for male and female for all traits except pH. The genetic parameter estimates of this study indicate that a multitrait approach should be considered for selection programs aimed at meat quality and carcass composition in commercial swine populations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 677-679
Author(s):  
Tea Štimac ◽  
Ana-Maria Šopić-Rahelić ◽  
Jelena Ivandić ◽  
Eduard Ekinja ◽  
Isaac Blickstein

Abstract Objective To assess the effect of fetal gender in small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates with birth weight less than the fifth percentile by gestational age. Methods We compared male and female SGA neonates for maternal and neonatal outcomes in the following gestational age subgroups: at <32 + 6, 33 + 0–36 + 6 and at ≥37 + 0 weeks of gestation. Results We examined 159, 154 and 2363 SGA neonates born at <32 + 6, 33 + 0 to 36 + 6 and ≥37 weeks of pregnancy, respectively, whose birth weight was below the fifth percentile for gestational age and who met our inclusion criteria. Overall, there were no significant differences between the mothers of males and females, except that there were more males at term and the incidence of nulliparas was greater among the mothers of males. In terms of outcomes, males had a similar incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and admissions to intensive care. Interestingly, low Apgar scores were more common in preterm females born at 33–37 weeks and vice versa in births over 37 weeks. Conclusion Our data do not support an advantage of either gender in preterm birth of infants who are most likely growth restricted.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 302-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Vostrý ◽  
Z. Veselá ◽  
A. Svitáková ◽  
H. Vostrá Vydrová

The most appropriate model for genetic parameters estimation for calving ease and birth weight in beef cattle was selected. A total of 27 402 field records were available from the Czech Charolais breed. For estimation of genetic parameters for calving ease and body weight, three bivariate models were tested: a linear-linear animal model (L-LM) with calving ease classified into four categories (1 &ndash; easy; 2&ndash;4 &ndash; most difficult), a linear-linear animal model (SC-LM) in which calving ease scores were transformed into Snell scores (Snell 1964) and expressed as percentage of assisted calving (ranging 0&ndash;100%), and a bivariate threshold-linear animal model (T-LM) with calving ease classified into four categories (1 &ndash; easy, 2&ndash;4 &ndash; most difficult). All tested models included fixed effects for contemporary group (herd &times; year &times; season), age of dam, sex and breed of a calf. Random effects included direct and maternal genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effect, and residual error. Direct heritability estimates for calving ease and birth weight were, with the use of L-LM, SC-LM, and T-LM, from 0.096 &plusmn; 0.013 to 0.226 &plusmn; 0.024 and from 0.210 &plusmn; 0.024 to 0.225 &plusmn; 0.026, respectively. Maternal heritability estimates for calving ease and birth weight were, with the use of L-LM, SC-LM, and T-LM, from 0.060 &plusmn; 0.031 to 0.104 &plusmn; 0.125 and from 0.074 &plusmn; 0.041 to 0.075 &plusmn; 0.040, respectively. Genetic correlations of direct calving ease with direct birth weight ranged from 0.46 &plusmn; 0.06 to 0.50 &plusmn; 0.06 for all tested models; whereas maternal genetic correlations between these two traits ranged from 0.24 &plusmn; 0.17 to 0.25 &plusmn; 0.53. Correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects within-trait were negative and substantial for all tested models (ranging from &ndash;0.574 &plusmn; 0.125 to &ndash;0.680 &plusmn; 0.141 for calving ease and from &ndash;0.553 &plusmn; 0.122 to &ndash;0.558 &plusmn; 0.118 for birth weight, respectively), illustrating the importance of including this parameter in calving ease evaluations. Results indicate that any of the tested models could be used to reliably estimate genetic parameters for calving ease for beef cattle in the Czech Republic. However, because of advantages in computation time and practical considerations, genetic analysis using SC-LM (transformed data) is recommended.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarke G. Poulsen ◽  
Birgitte Ask ◽  
Hanne M. Nielsen ◽  
Tage Ostersen ◽  
Ole F. Christensen

Abstract Background Several studies have found that the growth rate of a pig is influenced by the genetics of the group members (indirect genetic effects). Accounting for these indirect genetic effects in a selection program may increase genetic progress for growth rate. However, indirect genetic effects are small and difficult to predict accurately. Genomic information may increase the ability to predict indirect genetic effects. Thus, the objective of this study was to test whether including indirect genetic effects in the animal model increases the predictive performance when genetic effects are predicted with genomic relationships. In total, 11,255 pigs were phenotyped for average daily gain between 30 and 94 kg, and 10,995 of these pigs were genotyped. Two relationship matrices were used: a numerator relationship matrix ($${\mathbf{A}}$$ A ) and a combined pedigree and genomic relationship matrix ($${\mathbf{H}}$$ H ); and two different animal models were used: an animal model with only direct genetic effects and an animal model with both direct and indirect genetic effects. The predictive performance of the models was defined as the Pearson correlation between corrected phenotypes and predicted genetic levels. The predicted genetic level of a pig was either its direct genetic effect or the sum of its direct genetic effect and the indirect genetic effects of its group members (total genetic effect). Results The highest predictive performance was achieved when total genetic effects were predicted with genomic information (21.2 vs. 14.7%). In general, the predictive performance was greater for total genetic effects than for direct genetic effects (0.1 to 0.5% greater; not statistically significant). Both types of genetic effects had greater predictive performance when they were predicted with $${\mathbf{H}}$$ H rather than $${\mathbf{A}}$$ A (5.9 to 6.3%). The difference between predictive performances of total genetic effects and direct genetic effects was smaller when $${\mathbf{H}}$$ H was used rather than $${\mathbf{A}}$$ A . Conclusions This study provides evidence that: (1) corrected phenotypes are better predicted with total genetic effects than with direct genetic effects only; (2) both direct genetic effects and indirect genetic effects are better predicted with $${\mathbf{H}}$$ H than $${\mathbf{A}}$$ A ; (3) using $${\mathbf{H}}$$ H rather than $${\mathbf{A}}$$ A primarily improves the predictive performance of direct genetic effects.


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