Selecting terminal beef sires on their estimated breeding values for economic efficiency

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 127-127
Author(s):  
Margaret E King ◽  
P J Broadbent
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Calving Difficulty

The selection objective of the SAC Simmental MOET Project, is to improve the economic efficiency of lean, or saleable, meat production in crossbred beef production systems.The factors which contribute to the selection objective are the yield of saleable meat, feed intake and calving difficulty. These goal characteristics are combined into an index by taking into account their respective financial values and costs. Calves generated by multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) are weaned from their recipient dams at 10 weeks old and placed in performance test from 5 to 11 months of age. At the end of the performance test, saleable meat yield is estimated from liveweight at end of test, ultrasonic fat depth measurements and muscling score. Calving difficulty is predicted from the birthweight and gestation length of the animal on test whilst feed intake is measured directly by recording individual food intakes during performance testing. The estimated breeding value for the selection index of an animal is expressed in £'s (pounds sterling) as deviations from a mean of zero for the SAC population of Simmentals. It is calculated using the information for each animal plus that of all its relatives in its own and other performance tests by means of BLUP procedures.The objective of the work described here was to evaluate the effectiveness of the selection index in identifying sires of superior genetic merit for use in crossbred beef production systems.

Effects of Performance Testing on Superovulatory Response in Juvenile Simmental Heifers

1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 ◽  
pp. 20-20
Author(s):  
L.D. Tregaskes ◽  
P.J. Broadbent ◽  
J.A. Roden
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Multiple Ovulation ◽  
Agricultural College ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Calving Difficulty

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) is being used by the Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen to accelerate genetic change in the Simmental breed. The selection goal of the project is improving the efficiency of lean meat production. The factors in this goal are saleable meat (predicted from liveweight, fat depth and muscling score), food intake and calving difficulty (predicted from gestation length and birth weight). Success of the project depends on the generation of sufficient grade 1 embryos from selected donor heifers in a 12 week period following a performance test. Performance testing to assess beef characteristics can produce precociously fat heifers which may be detrimental to embryo production. The onset of puberty in heifers is also highly variable and influenced by many factors including body weight and nutrition. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of superovulatory response to performance on test and age at the onset of puberty.

The effect of duration of performance test on genetic gain in pigs

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 423
Author(s):  
CP McPhee
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Equal Weight ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Selection Scheme ◽  
Value Determination

The problem of making the best use of a limited number of performance-testing places in the genetic improvement of pigs is examined. A model is given which balances the duration of testing and its effect on the accuracy of breeding value determination, against throughput and its effect on selection intensity. The model is a phenotypic one with easily estimated parameters in lieu of the more exact genetic one whose parameters are difficult to estimate. It is illustrated with data taken from the Queensland performance-testing station which evaluates boars on an index combining feed conversion ratio, growth rate and back fat. Full performance records from 26 to 90 kg liveweight are subdivided into four consecutive parts of equal weight interval. A range of feasible one and two stage selection schemes based on performance in one or more of these parts are compared. Relative to the present full testing scheme, the best single stage selection, that based on performance in the last two parts (3 + 4), is 14% more efficient. The best two stage selection scheme, also a 3 + 4 part test with a 50% culling at the end of part 3, is 19 0%, more efficient. Highest efficiencies are achieved by imposing a preliminary culling on growth rate before entry to the testing facility; e.g. selection of the best 25% on part 3 growth rate followed by part 4 index selection within the test facility is 36% more efficient than the present full test. The limitations of the model and some practical problems of part testing schemes are discussed.

scholarly journals RESULTS OF BREEDING VALUE EVALUATION OF SOWS WITH THE USE OF TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE METHODS

2020 ◽  
pp. 212-224
Author(s):  
V.I. Khalak ◽  
V.S. Kozir ◽  
Yevhen Rudenko
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Pair Correlation ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Research Results

The article presents the results of research on the reproductive qualities of sows of different breeding value, as well as determines the economic efficiency of their use in the industrial complex. The study was conducted in agricultural formations of the Dnipropetrovsk region (LLC "Druzhba-Kaznacheyivka", LLC "Vidrodzhennia") and the laboratory of animal husbandry of the State Institution Institute of Grain Crops NAAS. The work was performed according to the research program of NAAS №30 "Innovative technologies of breeding, industrial and organic production of pig products" ("Pig breeding"). Evaluation of sows on the grounds of reproductive qualities was carried out taking into account the following indicators: fertility, head; high fertility, kg, number of piglets at weaning, head, nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 28 days, kg, nest weight at the time of weaning at the age of 60 days (estimated), kg, safety, %. The breeding value of animals was determined by the multiplicity and weight of the nest at the time of weaning (according to Annex 7 of the Instructions for grading pigs) and the selection index of reproductive qualities of sows (SIVYAS). The index of alignment (homogeneity) of the sow's nest by live weight of piglets at the time of their birth (ІВГ0) was calculated according to the method of V.I. Khalak (2012), the economic efficiency of research results - according to conventional methods. Biometric processing of research results was performed according to the methods of G.F. Lakin (1990). It was found that sows of the "elite" class were superior to peers of the "extracurricular" class in terms of multiplicity, several piglets at weaning, nest weight at weaning at 28 days and nest weight at weaning at 60 days (estimated) by an average of 28, 76%. The difference between sows of classes M + and M- (distribution class for SIVYAS) in terms of multiplicity, number of piglets at the time of weaning, the weight of the nest at the time of weaning at the age of 28 days and weight of the nest at the time of weaning at the age of 60 days (estimated) is 34.32. 34.78, 27.60 and 28.30 %, respectively. The coefficients of pair correlation between the absolute indicators of reproductive qualities of sows, the index "alignment (homogeneity) of the sow's nest by live weight of piglets at birth" and the selection index of reproductive qualities of sows (SIVYAS) at 83.33-100.0 % are reliable from -0.446 to +0.989. The criterion for the selection of highly productive animals according to the Instructions for grading pigs is the class "elite", according to the selection index of reproductive qualities of sows (SIVYAS) - 97.85-123.99 and more points. The use of sows of the class "elite" and М+ (according to SIVYAS) provides additional products at the level of +11.84 - 16.49 %.

Corrigendum - The effect of duration of performance test on genetic gain in pigs

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 423
Author(s):  
CP McPhee
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Equal Weight ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Selection Scheme ◽  
Value Determination

The problem of making the best use of a limited number of performance-testing places in the genetic improvement of pigs is examined. A model is given which balances the duration of testing and its effect on the accuracy of breeding value determination, against throughput and its effect on selection intensity. The model is a phenotypic one with easily estimated parameters in lieu of the more exact genetic one whose parameters are difficult to estimate. It is illustrated with data taken from the Queensland performance-testing station which evaluates boars on an index combining feed conversion ratio, growth rate and back fat. Full performance records from 26 to 90 kg liveweight are subdivided into four consecutive parts of equal weight interval. A range of feasible one and two stage selection schemes based on performance in one or more of these parts are compared.Relative to the present full testing scheme, the best single stage selection, that based on performance in the last two parts (3 + 4), is 14% more efficient. The best two stage selection scheme, also a 3 + 4 part test with a 50% culling at the end of part 3, is 19%, more efficient. Highest efficiencies are achieved by imposing a preliminary culling on growth rate before entry to the testing facility; e.g. selection of the best 25% on part 3 growth rate followed by part 4 index selection within the test facility is 36% more efficient than the present full test. The limitations of the model and some practical problems of part testing schemes are discussed.

Attainment of puberty and response to superovulation in performance-tested Simmental heifers

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Tregaskes ◽  
P. J. Broadbent ◽  
J. S. M. Hutchinson ◽  
J. A. Roden ◽  
D. F. Dolman
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Reproductive Maturity ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Embryo Recovery ◽  
Age At Puberty

AbstractPuberty during performance test and the effect of reproductive maturity and performance on test on superovulatory response were investigated using Simmental heifers.Three generations of Simmental heifers (no. = 110) were performance tested for beef characteristics between 23 and 49 weeks of age over 3 years successively. Embryo recoveries were performed at 52 and 61 weeks of age following the end of the performance test. The onset of puberty was observed in 26 of 30 (87%) heifers in the 3rd year. The mean age at puberty was 284·7 (s.e. 6·63) days. Age at puberty was not significantly related to daily live-weight gain (1·5 (s.e. 0·02) kg) up to the onset of puberty. Heifers experienced zero to six oestrous cycles before initiation of the first superovulatory treatments. There was a non-significant tendency (P > 0·05) for heifers that were not cyclic to produce the highest yields of viable and grade 1 embryos at the first embryo recovery.Performance test characteristics recorded were: total food intake (1604·0 (s.e. 13·2) kg), total energy intake (1852·0 (s.e. 169·0) MJ metabolizable energy) and live-weight gain (263·9 (s.e. 2·2) kg) during test; live weight (486·5 (s.e. 31·5) kg), backfat depth (5·6 (s.e. 15) mm) and muscle score (9·6 (s.e. 0·10) units) at the end of test and estimated breeding value for the selection index (+£7·00 (s.e. 0·76)). These were used as independent variables in general linear models to study their relationship with various measures of superovulatory response. Recovery rate of ova and embryos; and the yields of viable and grade 1 embryos were not related to any aspects of performance on test.In conclusion, superovulation and embryo recovery were affected by reproductive maturity at the time of gonadotropin treatment and these procedures may be more effective in juvenile heifers before the establishment of cyclicity. Embryo production from 12- to 15-month-old Simmental heifers following a beef performance test was not related to their performance on test.

A terminal sire selection index for UK beef cattle

1998 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Amer ◽  
R. Crump ◽  
G. Simm
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Breeding Objective ◽  
Estimated Breeding Values ◽  
Genetic Regression ◽  
Calving Difficulty ◽  
Calving Traits

AbstractA selection index which incorporates estimated breeding values of traits recorded in the United Kingdom pedigree beef cattle breeds is described. The breeding objective is made up of commercial carcass, calving difficulty and gestation length traits. Economic values for these breeding objective traits are summarized from related studies, while partial genetic regression estimates of breeding objective traits on recorded traits are derived mainly from the literature.The selection index is described in terms of the reduction in expected genetic response from selection on the index when individual recorded traits are omitted and the expected genetic responses in breeding objective traits with selection on the index under the assumption of mass selection. Failure to record all calving traits (birth weight, calving difficulty and gestation length) resulted in a reduction in expected economic response to selection of 8% from the situation where both calving traits and production traits (400-day weight, ultrasonic fat and muscle depths, and muscling score) are recorded. With a few stated exceptions, the index is relatively robust to errors in estimates of individual parameters.It is suggested that the total index be used to assist commercial bull and semen buyers in their selection decisions but that two sub-indices for calving and production traits also be published to allow buyers to adjust emphasis on the two groups of traits depending on their individual production circumstances.

Evaluation of eleven cattle breeds for crossbred beef production: performance of progeny up to 13 months of age

1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Baker ◽  
A. H. Carter ◽  
C. A. Morris ◽  
D. L. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Cattle Breeds ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Calving Difficulty ◽  
Sire Breed

ABSTRACTEleven sire breeds were evaluated in New Zealand from the performance of their calves at two sites using Aberdeen-Angus cows, and at a third site using Angus and Hereford cows. The experiment was carried out over 5 years, generating a total of 4519 calves by 161 different sires. There were seven recently imported sire breeds, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Charolais, Chianina, Limousin, Maine Anjou, Simmental (including strains from four countries) and South Devon, and four local breeds, Angus, Friesian, Hereford and Jersey. Overall, 92% of calves survived at birth and through to weaning, with a range from 86% for the Charolais sire breed to 96% for the Friesian and Jersey breeds. The proportion of calves (from cows aged 3 years and over) experiencing birth difficulty averaged 8·6% and ranged from 17·7% for the Charolais, 15·1% for the Chianina and 13·7% for the Maine Anjou, to 2·3% for the Hereford and 0·9% for the Jersey. Birth weights by sire breed had a range of 7·2 kg, proportionally 0·23 of the mean for the Hereford × Angus cross. The birth weights of calves by imported sire breds were greater than those of calves sired by local breeds by 4·7 kg. Sire breeds were ranked in approximately the same order for the weights of calves at weaning (5 months of age) and at 13 months of age. As a proportion of the mean for the Hereford × Angus crosses, there was a range due to sire breed of 0×17 for weaning weight and 013 for 13-month weight. As a group, the imported sire breeds had calves with 13-month weights 11·5 kg heavier than Hereford × Angus or 250kg heavier than straightbred Angus calves; proportionally these advantages in weight were 005 and 011, respectively. There was no evidence of any major interaction between sire breed and location. The heritability estimates ranged from 0·01 to 0·05 for calving difficulty and survival traits, from 0·13 to 0·33 for live weights and from 0·06 to 0·12 for pre-weaning live-weight gains. For gestation length the estimate was 0·48.

The application of body weight data to performance testing of beef cattle

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Seebeck ◽  
DW Campion
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Adjustment Factor ◽  
Angus Cattle ◽  
Body Weight Data ◽  
Weight Data

A least squares method particularly suited to automatic computation, for calculating adjustments to remove extraneous variation in performance test data, is described. Multiplicative adjustments can be calculated for discontinuous variables, e.g. sex, or for continuous variables, e.g. age at weaning. By calculation of all desired adjustments simultaneously each adjustment factor is as free as possible from the effects of the other variables. Results are given of the application of the technique to weaning weights of stud Hereford and Aberdeen Angus cattle reared on one property. With the use of several different models of analysis, the effects of age of dam, sex, year of birth, age at weaning, sire, and birth weight were investigated and comparisons drawn between the two breeds used, and between this study and other published work. The effect of some of these variables on birth weight is discussed, and the relative effects of some of the variables on weaning weight and birth weight compared. The use of a combination of traits to form a selection index is also discussed.

A comparison of breeds and their crosses for beef production. I. Birth and weaning traits

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
JHL Morgan ◽  
GR Saul
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
Calving Difficulty ◽  
Friesian Cows

Hereford and Friesian cows aged 12-15 months in 1970, were inseminated with semen from Hereford, Friesian, Charolais and Brahman bulls each year from 1970 to 1973 to produce a total of 736 calves. All cows and calves were grazed together, and the total of 650 surviving calves weaned at c. 8 months of age. Cow age and year of calving were confounded. Hereford cows had longer gestations, smaller calves, more calving difficulty and greater calf mortality than Friesian cows. Hereford cows provided their calves with less than half as much milk as did Friesian cows; the weaning weight advantage of calves from Friesian cows varied from 48 % in 2-year-old cows to 22-24 % in 3-, 4- and 5-year-old cows. Relative to Hereford sires, the use of Charolais and Brahman sires on Hereford and Friesian cows resulted in increases in gestation length, birth weight, calf mortality and calving difficulty; the use of Friesian sires tended to increase calving difficulty, but did not increase gestation length, birth weight or calf mortality. In Hereford cows, the use of Charolais and Friesian sires, as compared with Hereford sires, increased weaning weight by 8 % on average over the 4 years (the increase was zero in 2- and 3-year-old cows and 11-18 % in 4- and 5-year-old cows); the use of Brahman sires did not increase weaning weight. In Friesian cows, the use of Charolais sires, as compared with Hereford sires, increased weaning weight by 5-10% in all years; the use of Friesian sires did not influence weaning weight whilst the use of Brahman sires reduced it by 5%. Heterosis from crossing the Hereford and Friesian breeds increased the weaning weight of the first-cross calves by 3.4%.

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