Genetic parameters for reproductive performance of breeding cows and carcass traits of fattening animals in Japanese Black (Wagyu) cattle

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Oyama ◽  
T. Katsuta ◽  
K. Anada ◽  
F. Mukai

AbstractReproductive performance is receiving increased attention from beef cattle producers. There are concerns that intensive selection for carcass traits might reduce the reproductive performance of females. Genetic parameters among six carcass traits and, age at first calving (AFC), gestation length (GL), days open (DO) and calving interval (CI) under year-round artificial insemination were estimated. Reproductive traits were extracted from 174005 calving records of Japanese Black cows and were analysed with 31364 carcass records. The restricted maximum likelihood procedure under animal models was used to estimate the parameters. Heritabilities of AFC, GL, DO and CI were estimated to be 0.20, 0.40, 0.05 and 0.05, respectively, and those of carcass traits were higher, ranging from 0.38 to 0.56. Genetic correlations of CI with AFC and GL were 0.25 and 0.16, respectively, while no relationship was observed between AFC and GL. Correlations among carcass traits were generally favourable and a slightly negative estimate was obtained between subcutaneous fat thickness and marbling score. Genetic correlations for AFC were -0.27 with carcass weight and -0.24 with marbling score. In contrast, GL, DO and CI were genetically independent of carcass traits. Genetic relationships between reproductive and carcass traits were generally low, and therefore serious antagonism was not observed. The results suggested that selection for carcass traits would not compromise genetic progress in reproductive traits.

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Crews ◽  
Jr., M. Lowerison ◽  
N. Caron ◽  
R. A. Kemp

Genetic parameters for three growth and five carcass traits were estimated for Charolais using a combination of carcass progeny test, purebred field performance and pedigree data. Heritabilities and genetic and residual correlations were derived from variance components for birth weight (BWT, n = 54 221), 205-d weaning weight (WT205, n = 31 384), postweaning gain (PWG, n = 19 403), hot carcass weight (HCW, n = 6958), average subcutaneous fat thickness (FAT, n = 6866), longissimus muscle area (REA, n = 6863), marbling score (MAR, n = 6903) and estimated carcass lean yield percentage (PLY, n = 6852) with an animal model (n = 78 728) and restricted maximum likelihood. Breed of dam and contemporary group appropriate to each trait were included as fixed effects in the model, whereas random effects included direct genetic for all traits, maternal genetic for BWT and WT205, and maternal permanent environmental for WT205. Carcass traits were adjusted to a constant harvest age of 425 d. Heritability estimates of 0.53, 0.22, and 0.21 were obtained for direct components of BWT, WT205, and PWG, respectively, and maternal heritabilities were 0.16 and 0.10 for BWT and WT205, respectively. Direct × maternal genetic correlations for BWT (-0.49) and WT205 (-0.35) were negative. Heritabilities for HCW, FAT, REA, MAR, and PLY were 0.33, 0.39, 0.43, 0.34, and 0.46, respectively. Genetic correlations among direct effects for growth traits were moderately positive and generally uncorrelated with maternal effects across traits. Lean and fat deposition in the carcass generally had negative, unfavorable genetic correlations, although improvement in lean yield and marbling score may not be strongly antagonistic. Genetic correlations of direct and maternal components of growth traits with carcass traits suggested that selection for increased growth rate would not be antagonistic to improvement in carcass yield or meat quality. Key words: Carcass, Charolais, correlation, genetic parameters, growth


2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oikawa ◽  
T. Sanehira ◽  
K. Sato ◽  
Y. Mizoguchi ◽  
H. Yamamoto ◽  
...  

AbstractRestricted maximum likelihood analyses fitting an animal model were conducted to estimate genetic parameters with a pooled-data set of performance tests (growth traits and food intake) on 661 bulls and progeny tests (growth traits and carcass traits) on 535 steers. Traits studied included concentrate intake (CONC), roughage intake (ROU), TDN conversion (TCNV), TDN intake (TINT) of bulls; rib eye area (REA), marbling score (MARB), dressing proportion (DRES) and subcutaneous fat depth (SCF) of steers. Body weight at start (BWS), body weight at finish (BWF) and average daily gain (ADG) of all animals were measured. Estimated heritabilities were 0·18 (CONC), 0·71 (ROU), 0·11 (TCNV) and 0·36 (TINT); 0·02 (REA), 0·49 (MARB), 0·15 (DRES), 0·15 (SCF), and from 0·20 to 0·38 for growth traits. Genetic correlations of ROU were different from those of CONC, probably due to inconsistent restrictions on concentrate intake; those of TINT with the weights, ADG and SCF were high. MARB showed positive genetic correlations with growth traits and low correlations with TINT and SCF. High potentiality for improvement of marbling score was suggested.


1981 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Martin ◽  
D. Nicholson ◽  
C. Smith ◽  
D. I. Sales

SUMMARYData on 902 ewes (1755 records) bom over 7 years in the synthetic ABRO Dam Line were analysed by least squares. Reproductive traits of the ewe were not affected by whether she was a single or a twin or by the age of her dam. Ewe age had major effects on all reproductive traits. Litter weight traits were affected by the sex distribution and the age of the litter when weighed.Heritability estimates, both by half sib and regression methods, were low for litter size, low to moderate for litter weights, and higher for ewe and fleece weights. Genetic correlations among the litter-weight traits were high. Together with the heritability estimates, they indicated that selection on litter weight at birth (and perhaps other traits) might give a greater change in total litter weight at weaning, the main measure of ewe productivity and the objective in improvement, than would direct selection.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 703
Author(s):  
PA Kenney ◽  
ME Goddard ◽  
LP Thatcher

Three and a half thousand lambs from Border Leicester x Merino ewes mated to 133 sires from five Poll Dorset, one White Suffolk, one Siromt, two Meridale and four Merino studs were slaughtered, their carcasses halved and one side divided into six primals. Subcutaneous fat was dissected from all six primals, and bone from only the three rear primals. There were four slaughter groups: average slaughter weights of 30 and 35 kg for ewes and 35 and 45 kg for cryptorchids. Heritabilities and phenotypic and genetic correlations for all traits measured (>50) are published in an appendix. Where comparisons were available, estimates were similar to those for purebred animals. Genetic parameters for various assessments of fat were similar except for channel and omental fat. The GR fat depth was the best predictor for total subcutaneous fat, cannon bone length for total bone, and eye muscle area for total soft tissue. Carcass weight and GR appear to be the most important measurements for use in selection for breeding of sires for the prime lamb industry. Slaughter weight and fat depth at the C site could be used as suitable alternatives on live animals. Production of lean meat is not likely to be increased greatly by including measurements other than liveweight and GR in a selection index. Of the other measurements bone length and eye muscle measurements showed most promise.


1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Roy ◽  
W. J. Boylan ◽  
M. E. Seale

Data from a swine breed development project provided estimates of the genetic correlation among six performance and carcass traits. The data from the new breed, called Managra, were obtained over a 7-year period. Most genetic relationships examined were such that selection for improvement of one trait would yield a favorable improvement in another. Both carcass backfat and live backfat probe were found to be negatively correlated with area of loin eye and length of carcass. A positive genetic correlation was found between post-weaning daily gain and loin eye area. A high positive genetic correlation was found between birth weight and loin eye area. An unfavorable association involved a positive genetic correlation between birth weight and backfat.Correction factors for effect of carcass weight on the magnitude of carcass trait measurements and differences in means between sexes were obtained.Heritability of the traits was estimated by paternal half-sib correlation. The estimates for carcass traits were moderately high and agree well with most other estimates reported in the literature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 47-47
Author(s):  
Roberto D Sainz ◽  
Nayanny Guimarães ◽  
Cláudio U Magnabosco ◽  
Fernando Lopes

Abstract Frame score (FS) systems for beef cattle generally represent the relationships among growth, body composition, reproduction and mature size, in a simple and practical form. This study aimed to: 1) develop a FS system for Nelore cattle that is biologically sound, easy to interpret, and useful for producers; and 2) estimate the genetic parameters of the FS with productive and reproductive traits. An arbitrary scale (1 to 12) was devised so that each unit corresponds to 15 kg of carcass weight (1 @), as this is a common measure used for marketing beef cattle in Brazil. Therefore, ideal carcass weight, defined as having 6 mm of backfat, would be 18 @ (269 kg) and 15 @ (224 kg) for FS = 6 males and females, respectively. Data from 36,030 animals (22,405 males, 13,565 females) raised on pasture were obtained from participating herds of the National Association of Breeders and Researchers (ANCP). Genetic parameters were estimated in uni- and bicharacteristic analyses under an animal model, using the EM-REML algorithm (AIREMLF90) and Bayesian inference (GIBBS1F90). The heritability estimate for the new FS was 0.38, and its additive genetic correlations were 0.70, 0.72, 0.77, 0.33, -0.57, 0.27, and 0.28 with BW at 365 d, BW at 450 d, hip height, longissimus muscle area, subcutaneous fat thickness, scrotal circumference at 450 d, and age at first calving, respectively. The estimated heritability and genetic correlations indicate that there is enough additive genetic variability to allow for genetic response to selection. The estimates support the notion that larger frame animals are taller, heavier, leaner and later maturing, both in body composition as well as sexually. The new frame score may be a useful tool for genetic selection of animals that are best suited to their environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe M. W. Hickmann ◽  
José Braccini Neto ◽  
Luke M. Kramer ◽  
Yijian Huang ◽  
Kent A. Gray ◽  
...  

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is historically the most economically important swine disease worldwide that severely affects the reproductive performance of sows. However, little is still known about the genetic basis of reproductive performance in purebred herds during a PRRS outbreak through the comparison of maternal and terminal breeds. Thus, the objective of this work was to explore the host genetics of response to PRRS in purebred sows from two breeds. Reproductive data included 2546 Duroc and 2522 Landrace litters from 894 and 813 purebred sows, respectively, which had high-density genotype data available (29,799 single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNPs). The data were split into pre-PRRS, PRRS, and post-PRRS phases based on standardized farrow-year-week estimates. Heritability estimates for reproductive traits were low to moderate (≤0.20) for Duroc and Landrace across PRRS phases. On the other hand, genetic correlations of reproductive traits between PRRS phases were overall moderate to high for both breeds. Several associations between MARC0034894, a candidate SNP for response to PRRS, with reproductive performance were identified (P-value < 0.05). Genomic analyses detected few QTL for reproductive performance across all phases, most explaining a small percentage of the additive genetic variance (≤8.2%, averaging 2.1%), indicating that these traits are highly polygenic. None of the identified QTL within a breed and trait overlapped between PRRS phases. Overall, our results indicate that Duroc sows are phenotypically more resilient to PRRS than Landrace sows, with a similar return to PRRS-free performance between breeds for most reproductive traits. Genomic prediction results indicate that genomic selection for improved reproductive performance under a PRRS outbreak is possible, especially in Landrace sows, by training markers using data from PRRS-challenged sows. On the other hand, the high genetic correlations with reproductive traits between PRRS phases suggest that selection for improved reproductive performance in a clean environment could improve performance during PRRS, but with limited efficiency due to their low heritability estimates. Thus, we hypothesize that an indicator trait that could be indirectly selected to increase the response to selection for these traits would be desirable and would also improve the reproductive performance of sows during a PRRS outbreak.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Minick ◽  
M. E. Dikeman ◽  
E. J. Pollak ◽  
D. E. Wilson

Heritabilities and correlations of Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), marbling score (MS), hot carcass weight (HCW),12–13th rib-fat (FAT), and ribeye area (REA) were calculated from 3360 Angus-, Charolais-, Hereford-, and Simmental-sired cattle in the C attleman’s Beef Board Carcass Merit Project. The heritabilities (± SE) for WBSF, MS, HCW, FAT, and REA were 0.34 ± 0.25, 0.43 ± 0.28, 0.73 ± 0.35, 0.16 ± 0.19, and 0.56 ± 0.31 in Angus; 0.43 ± 0.22, 0.30 ± 0.18, 0.21 ± 0.16, 0.35 ± 0.20, and 0.23 ± 0.16 in Charolais; 0.12 ± 0.11, 0.55 ± 0.22, 0.20 ± 0.14, 0.25 ± 0.15 and 0.34 ± 0.17 in Hereford; and 0.16 ± 0.14, 0.44 ± 0.20, 0.45 ± 0.20, 0.23 ± 0.16, and 0.30 ± 0.18 in Simmental. The genetic correlations, averaged across analysis type, for WBSF-MS, WBSF-HCW, WBSF-FAT, WBSF-REA, MS-HCW, MS-FAT, MS-REA, HCW-FAT, HCW-REA, and FAT-REA were -0.17, 0.32, -0.23, 0.30, 0.10, -0.17, 0.39, -0.15, 0.68, and -0.86 in Angus; -0.42, 0.77, 0.52, -0.05, -0.44, -0.22, -0.19, 0.66, -0.05, and -0.24 in Charolais; -0.43, -0.04, -0.33, 0.09, 0.08, 0.79, -0.14, -0.26, 0.50, and -0.38 in Hereford; and 0.55, 0.08, 0.62, -0.08, 0.30, 0.61, -0.14, 0.06, 0.65, and -0.48 in Simmental. Key words: Beef cattle, genetic parameters, carcass quality, tenderness


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Pryce ◽  
R. J. Esslemont ◽  
R. Thompson ◽  
R. F. Veerkamp ◽  
M. A. Kossaibati ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Dairy Information System (DAISY) was developed to record fertility and health information for use in research and to help farmers manage their farms. Data from 33 herds recording health and fertility over a 6-year period were used to study genetic relationships of several health, fertility and production traits. There were 10 569 records from 4642 cows of all parities. These were used to estimate genetic parameters for health: mastitis, lameness and somatic cell score (SCS), for fertility: calving interval, days to first service, conception to first service and for production: 305-day milk, butterfat and protein yields. Heritabilities for these traits were also estimated for the first three lactations. (Co)variances were estimated using linear, multitrait restricted maximum likelihood (REML) with an animal model. Mastitis and lameness were treated as all-or-none traits. The incidence of these diseases increased with lactation number, which may lead to variance component estimation problems, as the mean is linked to the variance in binomial distributions. Therefore, a method was used to fix the within-lactation variance to one in all lactations while maintaining the same mean. The heritability for SCS across lactations was 0·15. Heritabilities for other health and fertility traits were low and ranged between 0·013 and 0·047. All genetic correlations with the production traits were antagonistic implying that selection for yield may have led to a deterioration in health and fertility. The genetic correlation between SCS and mastitis was 0·65 indicating that indirect selection for improvements in mastitis may be achieved using somatic cell counts as a selection criterion. The potential use of linear type scores as predictors of the health traits was investigated by regressing health traits on sire predicted transmitting abilities for type. The results indicate that some type traits may be useful as future selection criteria.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1425
Author(s):  
Masoumeh Naserkheil ◽  
Deuk-Hwan Lee ◽  
Hong-Sik Kong ◽  
Jiyeon Seong ◽  
Hossein Mehrban

Genetic parameters have a significant role in designing a breeding program and are required to evaluate economically important traits. The objective of this study was to estimate heritability and genetic correlation between yearling ultrasound measurements, such as backfat thickness (UBFT), eye muscle area (UEMA), intramuscular fat content (UIMF), and carcass traits, such as backfat thickness (BFT), carcass weight (CW), eye muscle area (EMA), marbling score (MS) at approximately 24 months of age, as well as yearling weight (YW) in Hanwoo bulls (15,796) and steers (5682). The (co) variance components were estimated using a multi-trait animal model. Moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained and were 0.42, 0.50, 0.56, and 0.59 for CW, EMA, BFT, and MS, respectively. Heritability estimates for yearling measurements of YW, UEMA, UBFT, and UIMF were 0.31, 0.32, 0.30, and 0.19, respectively. Favorable and strong genetic correlations were observed between UIMF and MS (0.78), UBFT and BFT (0.63), and UEMA and EMA (0.65). Moreover, the estimated genetic correlation between YW and CW was high (0.84) and relatively moderate between YW and EMA (0.43). These results suggest that genetic improvement can be achieved for carcass traits when using yearling ultrasound measurements as selection criteria in ongoing Hanwoo breeding programs.


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