Genetic parameters for meat quality and carcass traits and their correlation with wool traits in Australian Merino sheep

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 715 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
E. Safari ◽  
P. J. Taylor ◽  
W. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Muscle Ph

Estimates of genetic parameters for carcass traits in Merino sheep are presented, including muscle pH and colour, which are indicators of meat quality. The inclusion of these in the parameter set for genetic evaluation will provide the basis for more accurate estimated breeding values and the design of better breeding programs for improving meat traits in straightbred Merino sheep and crossbred lamb production. Data from 1045, nineteen-month-old Merino rams, the progeny of 125 sires from 3 strains that are representative of the industry, were used. Heritability and genetic correlations were estimated by fitting an animal model using a REML procedure in univariate and multivariate analyses. The traits included fasted pre-slaughter liveweight; dressing %; carcass tissue depth at the GR site (FATGR); fat depth at the C site (FATC); eye muscle depth (EMD), width (EMW), and area (EMA); ultimate pH and colour (L*, a*, b*) of the eye muscle. Multivariate analyses were used to estimate genetic correlations among meat traits and between wool traits (clean wool weight and mean fibre diameter) and selected carcass and meat traits. Estimates of heritability were: liveweight 0.51 (±0.10), dressing % 0.39 (±0.10), FATGR 0.33 (±0.09), FATC 0.20 (±0.08), EMD 0.27 (±0.08), EMW 0.15 (±0.07), EMA 0.23 (±0.08), muscle pH 0.27 (±0.09), and 0.14 (±0.07), 0.02 (±0.06), and 0.04 (±0.06) for the meat colour measurements L*, a*, and b* respectively. There was a favourable genetic correlation between muscle pH and colour L* of –0.56 (±0.23). There were also significant genetic correlations between wool weight and FATGR (–0.34 ± 0.16) and between mean fibre diameter and muscle colour L* (–0.66 ± 0.27). The study indicates that there is genetic variation for carcass traits, including indicators of meat quality, with scope for selection to improve meat production and quality in Merino sheep.

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.

scholarly journals Estimates of genetic parameters and cluster analyses for carcass and meat quality traits in birds

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriane Molardi Bainy ◽  
Rodrigo Pelicioni Savegnago ◽  
Luara Afonso de Freitas ◽  
Beatriz do Nascimento Nunes ◽  
Jaqueline Oliveira Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Multiple Trait ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
Meat Quality Traits

Abstract: The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters for bird carcass and meat quality traits, as well as to explore the genetic patterns of the breeding values of this population using cluster analyses. Data from 1,846 birds were used to estimate the genetic parameters of production and quality traits using the multiple-trait animal model, and cluster analyses were performed. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.08± 0.03 for meat pH measured 24 hours after slaughter to 0.85± 0.09 for body weight. The genetic correlations between production traits were high and positive. The genetic correlations between meat quality traits were low and were not informative due to the high standard errors (same magnitudes as those of the genetic correlations). The genetic correlations between meat production and quality traits were negative, except between production traits and meat lightness intensity. Based on breeding values (EBVs), the evaluated population can be divided into four groups through cluster analyses, and one group is suitable for selection because the birds presented EBVs above and around the average of the population, respectively, for production and quality traits. Therefore, it is possible to obtain genetic gains for production-related traits without decreasing meat quality.

scholarly journals Estimation of Genetic Parameters by Single-Trait and Multi-Trait Models for Carcass Traits in Hanwoo Cattle

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1061
Author(s):  
Swati Srivastava ◽  
Bryan Irvine Lopez ◽  
Sara de las Heras-Saldana ◽  
Jong-Eun Park ◽  
Dong-Hyun Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Genomic Information ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Hanwoo Cattle ◽  
Genomic Model

Hanwoo breed is preferred in South Korea because of the high standards in marbling and the palatability of its meat. Numerous studies have been conducted and are ongoing to increase the meat production and quality in this beef population. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare genetic parameters for carcass traits using BLUPF90 software. Four models were constructed, single trait pedigree model (STPM), single-trait genomic model (STGM), multi-trait pedigree model (MTPM), and multi-trait genomic model (MTGM), using the pedigree, phenotype, and genomic information of 7991 Hanwoo cattle. Four carcass traits were evaluated: Back fat thickness (BFT), carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle area (EMA), and marbling score (MS). Heritability estimates of 0.40 and 0.41 for BFT, 0.33 and 0.34 for CWT, 0.36 and 0.37 for EMA, and 0.35 and 0.38 for MS were obtained for the single-trait pedigree model and the multi-trait pedigree model, respectively, in Hanwoo. Further, the genomic model showed more improved results compared to the pedigree model, with heritability of 0.39 (CWT), 0.39 (EMA), and 0.46 (MS), except for 0.39 (BFT), which may be due to random events. Utilization of genomic information in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has allowed more capturing of the variance from the traits improving the variance components.

Genetic improvement of wool production in Spanish Merino sheep: genetic parameters and simulation of selection strategies

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Valera ◽  
F. Arrebola ◽  
M. Juárez ◽  
A. Molina
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Selection Criterion ◽  
Selection Combining ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Staple Length

Wool production of the Spanish Merino breed was analysed after several decades of genetic selection to improve meat production. Genetic parameters (heritability and correlations) were estimated for greasy fleece weight, staple length, crimp frequency and fibre diameter of 1869 Spanish Merino purebred sheep. Heritabilities ranged from 0.08 ± 0.050 (fibre diameter) to 0.22 ± 0.060 (staple length), and the genetic correlations ranged from –0.63 ± 0.159 (crimp frequency – staple length) to 0.75 ± 0.222 (fibre diameter – staple length). Genetic simulations were developed to show the consequences of eight selection strategies, which included single trait selection on wool traits and liveweight (the current selection criteria) and index selection combining traits. The results show that it is possible to improve wool and growth traits at the same time. Also, our results show there is indirect genetic progress for wool characteristics using the current liveweight selection criterion.

scholarly journals Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Correlation between Yearling Ultrasound Measurements and Carcass Traits in Hanwoo Cattle

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1425
Author(s):  
Masoumeh Naserkheil ◽  
Deuk-Hwan Lee ◽  
Hong-Sik Kong ◽  
Jiyeon Seong ◽  
Hossein Mehrban
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Ultrasound Measurements ◽  
Heritability Estimates

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.

scholarly journals Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 4. Correlations among animal, carcass, and meat quality traits

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Reverter ◽  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
D. M. Ferguson ◽  
D. Perry ◽  
M. E. Goddard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Quality Measures ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Meat Colour

Beef cattle data from temperate (TEMP, n = 3947) and tropically (TROP, n = 4137) adapted breeds were analysed to compute estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations between animal, abattoir carcass, and meat quality measures. Live animal traits included: liveweight (S2LWT), scanned subcutaneous rump fat depth (S2P8), scanned eye muscle area (S2EMA), flight time (S1FT), and finishing average daily gain (FADG). Carcass traits included: hot carcass weight (CWT), retail beef yield percentage (RBY), intramuscular fat percentage (IMF), subcutaneous rump fat depth (P8), eye muscle length by width (ELW), and meat colour score (MEATC). Meat quality measures taken on 2 muscles [M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and M. semitendinosus (ST)] included: shear force of LTL (LTL_SF) and ST (ST_SF); compression of the ST (ST_C); cooking loss % of the LTL (LTL_CL%) and ST (ST_CL%); Minolta LTL L* (LTL_L*), a* (LTL_a*), ST a* (ST_a*); and consumer-assessed LTL tenderness score (LTL_TEND). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between animal measures and related carcass traits were moderate to very high for TEMP and TROP. Genetic correlations between S2LWT and CWT were 0.89 and 0.82, between S2P8 and P8 0.80 and 0.88, and between S2EMA and ELW 0.62 and 0.68, for TEMP and TROP, respectively. Genetic correlations between animal measures and other carcass traits varied; moderate genetic correlations were estimated between S2P8 and RBY (–0.57, –0.19 for TEMP, TROP) and S2P8 and IMF (0.39, 0.23 for TEMP, TROP). Genetic correlations between animal and meat quality measures were moderate to low. For TEMP, moderate genetic correlations were estimated between S2P8 and LTL_TEND (0.38), FADG and ST_a* (–0.49), and FADG and LTL_TEND (0.45); and for TROP, S1FT and LTL_SF (–0.54), and S2EMA and LTL_L* (–0.46). Phenotypic correlations between animal and meat quality were generally low and close to zero. Several moderate to high genetic correlations existed between carcass and meat quality traits. In general, fatness measures were genetically correlated with tenderness (e.g. IMF and LTL_TEND 0.61, 0.31 for TEMP, TROP). CWT was genetically correlated with meat colour (CWT and LTL_L* 0.66, 0.60 for TEMP, TROP) and objective tenderness measures (CWT and ST_C –0.52, –0.22 for TEMP, TROP). Once again phenotypic correlations between carcass and meat quality were low, indicating that few phenotypic predictors of meat quality traits were identified. Several of the genetic correlations show that both animal and abattoir carcass traits may be of use as indirect measures for carcass and meat quality traits in multiple trait genetic evaluation systems.

Genetic relationships between live animal scan traits and carcass traits of Australian Angus bulls and heifers

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1075
Author(s):  
Vinzent Börner ◽  
David J. Johnston ◽  
Hans-Ulrich Graser
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Eye Muscle

Genetic parameters of four ultrasound live-scan traits and five carcass traits of Australian Angus cattle were examined with regard to sex and age of the scanned individuals. Live-scans were subdivided according to whether the observation was obtained from a bull or a heifer. In addition, two age subset (‘young’ and ‘old’) within sex were formed by k-means clustering around two centres within sex according to the age at scanning. REML estimates for heritabilities, genetic, residual and phenotypic correlations for each trait and trait combination were derived from a series of uni-, bi- and tri-variate analysis. Statistically significant age effects could be found for heritablities of scan intra-muscular fat content in heifers and scan fat depth at P8 site and scan rib fat depth in bulls, and for genetic correlations between the scan traits fat depth at P8 site, rib fat depth and eye muscle area. However, differences in heritablities between age sets within sex did not exceed 0.05, and genetic correlations between scan traits of ‘young’ and ‘old’ animals were at least 0.9. Differences between genetic correlations of abattoir carcass traits and ‘young’ and ‘old’ live-scan traits, respectively, were not significant due to high standard errors but up to 0.44. The larger of these differences were found for combinations of scan-traits and non-target carcass traits and not for combination of scan-traits and their actual carcass target traits. Thus, although some results suggest an age effect on the genetic parameters of scan traits, the extent of this effect is of limited impact on breeding value accuracy and genetic gain of scan traits. Furthermore, a possible age effect on correlations to economically important carcass traits need to be underpinned by more carcass traits observations in order to get unambiguous results allowing to draw consequences of scanning younger individuals for accuracy of breeding values and genetic gain in carcass traits.

Phenotypic and genetic parameters for lamb and hogget traits in a flock of South Australian Merino sheep

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 205 ◽  
Author(s):  
JRW Walkley ◽  
RW Ponzoni ◽  
CHS Dolling
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
National Performance ◽  
Adjustment Factors ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
Australian Merino ◽  
Birth Type

The heritability of and phenotypic and genetic correlations among weaning weight (WW). greasy fleece weight (GFW), scouring yield (YLD), clean fleece weight (CFW), fibre diameter (FD), crimps per inch (CR) and staple length (SL) were estimated in a flock consisting of a control and 2 selection lines of South Australian Merino sheep. The effects of type of rearing, age of dam and sex were also examined. Estimates were compared with those currently in use in WOOLPLAN (National Performance Recording Scheme for non-pedigreed sheep) and in other studies. In general, agreement between the present study and other estimates was good, but there were some exceptions, namely: (i) standard deviation of GFW and FD; (ii) 'adjustment factors' for day of birth, type of rearing and age of dam for GFW, CFW and liveweight traits; (iii) heritability of YLD; (iv) phenotypic correlations of GFW and CFW with FD, and between YLD and CFW and (v) genetic correlations of WW with GFW, CFW and FD. It is concluded that special attention should be given to these exceptions in order to decide whether alterations to current 'accepted' parameter values are justified.

scholarly journals Genetic parameters and purebred–crossbred genetic correlations for growth, meat quality, and carcass traits in pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Esfandyari ◽  
Dinesh Thekkoot ◽  
Robert Kemp ◽  
Graham Plastow ◽  
Jack Dekkers
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Pedigree Information ◽  
Genomic Information ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Heritability Estimates

Abstract Growth, meat quality, and carcass traits are of economic importance in swine breeding. Understanding their genetic basis in purebred (PB) and commercial crossbred (CB) pigs is necessary for a successful breeding program because, although the breeding goal is to improve CB performance, phenotype collection and selection are usually carried out in PB populations housed in biosecure nucleus herds. Thus, the selection is indirect, and the accuracy of selection depends on the genetic correlation between PB and CB performance (rpc). The objectives of this study were to 1) estimate genetic parameters for growth, meat quality, and carcass traits in a PB sire line and related commercial CB pigs and 2) estimate the corresponding genetic correlations between purebred and crossbred performance (rpc). Both objectives were investigated by using pedigree information only (PBLUP) and by combining pedigree and genomic information in a single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) procedure. Growth rate showed moderate estimates of heritability for both PB and CB based on PBLUP, while estimates were higher in CB based on ssGBLUP. Heritability estimates for meat quality traits were diverse and slightly different based on PB and CB data with both methods. Carcass traits had higher heritability estimates based on PB compared with CB data based on PBLUP and slightly higher estimates for CB data based on ssGBLUP. A wide range of estimates of genetic correlations were obtained among traits within the PB and CB data. In the PB population, estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations were similar based on PBLUP and ssGBLUP for all traits, while based on the CB data, ssGBLUP resulted in different estimates of genetic parameters with lower SEs. With some exceptions, estimates of rpc were moderate to high. The SE on the rpc estimates was generally large when based on PBLUP due to limited sample size, especially for CBs. In contrast, estimates of rpc based on ssGBLUP were not only more precise but also more consistent among pairs of traits, considering their genetic correlations within the PB and CB data. The wide range of estimates of rpc (less than 0.70 for 7 out of 13 traits) indicates that the use of CB phenotypes recorded on commercial farms, along with genomic information, for selection in the PB population has potential to increase the genetic progress of CB performance.

scholarly journals PSIII-13 Genetic parameters and the purebred–crossbred genetic correlation for growth, carcass, and meat quality traits in pigs

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 164-165
Author(s):  
Hadi Esfandyari ◽  
Dinesh M Thekkoot ◽  
Robert A Kemp ◽  
Graham S Plastow ◽  
Jack C M Dekkers
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Heritability Estimates ◽  
Negative Estimate ◽  
Crossbred Pigs

Abstract Growth, meat quality, and carcass traits are of economic importance in swine breeding. Understanding their genetic basis in commercial crossbred pigs and purebred-crossbred genetic correlations are necessary for a successful breeding program. The objectives of this study were to 1) estimate genetic parameters for growth, meat quality and carcass traits in a purebred sire line and related commercial crossbred pigs and 2) estimate the corresponding genetic correlations between purebreds and crossbreds (rpc). We analyzed 115266, 10927 and 43057 purebred records for growth, meat quality (n = 4) and carcass traits (n = 7), respectively. For crossbreds, there were 2000 pigs with growth records, with 900 of them having meat quality and carcass data. A series of univariate and bivariate analyses were used to estimate genetic parameters and rpc. Growth showed moderate heritability (0.20 ± 0.10 to 0.25 ± 0.01) in both purebreds and crossbreds. Heritability estimates for meat quality traits ranged from 0.21 ± 0.03 to 0.42 ± 0.04 in purebreds and from 0.17 ± 0.14 to 0.47 ± 0.15 in crossbreds. Carcass traits had higher heritability estimates in purebreds compared to crossbreds, except for hot carcass weight (0.10 ± 0.02 vs. 0.24 ± 0.16). Genetic correlations among meat quality traits were variable in both populations, whereas genetic correlations among carcass traits were similar in purebreds and crossbreds. Estimates of rpc were high for growth (0.99 ± 0.5) and for meat quality traits (0.94 ± 0.39 to 0.99 ± 0.2), except for Minolta color (-0.48 ± 0.56). Carcass traits had moderate to high estimates of rpc (0.64 ± 0.4 to 0.92 ± 0.3). Carcass fat had a negative estimate of rpc (-0.1 ± 0.5). However, ultrasound fat as an indicator trait for carcass fat had a high positive estimate of rpc (0.88 ± 0.14). Our results indicate that selection in purebreds can be efficient to improve these traits in both purebreds and crossbreds but for some traits, genetic gain can be improved by applying combined crossbred and purebred selection. Funding provided by Genome Canada and the National Research Council.

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