Multivariate analysis of litter size for multiple parities with production traits in pigs: I. Bayesian variance component estimation1

The objective of this study was to find QTL for milk production traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle on chromosomes 6, 7, 11, 14, and 23 where QTL were previously identified in other dairy cattle populations. Sixteen grandsire families were genotyped for 38 microsatellite markers on the selected chromosomes. A QTL mapping model based on variance component analysis was implemented via restricted maximum likelihood (REML) to estimate QTL positions and their effects. A significant QTL affecting fat percentage was found at the beginning of chromosome 14 (0 cM), near marker ILSTS039. Suggestive QTL associated with milk production traits appeared on other studied chromosomes (BTA6, BTA7, BTA11, and BTA23). This first QTL search on five chromosomes in Czech Fleckvieh population showed several suggestive QTL that can be promising for further studies and contribute to better understanding of genetics of milk production in the Czech Fleckvieh cattle.  

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Multivariate analysis to evaluate genetic groups and production traits of crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production ◽

10.1007/s11250-015-0985-2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 533-538 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Angelina Bossi Fraga ◽

Fabiane de Lima Silva ◽

Kuang Hongyu ◽

Darlim Da Silva Santos ◽

Thomas Wayne Murphy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Production Traits ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Zebu Cows

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Relationships between mobilisation of body reserves in hill ewes and lamb production to weaning

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200020214 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 ◽

pp. 118-118

Author(s):

N.R. Lambe ◽

J. Conington ◽

K.A. McLean ◽

L. Bunger ◽

G. Simm

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Litter Size ◽

Annual Cycle ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Production Traits ◽

Dry Period ◽

X Ray ◽

Litter Weight ◽

Genetic Potential ◽

X Ray Computed

Previous studies using X-ray computed tomography (CT) of Scottish Blackface hill ewes have shown that carcass fat, internal fat and muscle are depleted during pregnancy and early lactation and deposited during late lactation and the dry period (Lambe et al., 2003a). Muscle weights and proportions throughout the year are positively genetically correlated with total litter weight reared, largely due to increased litter size. Average weights of lambs reared were positively correlated with carcass fat weight or proportion pre-lambing and internal fat weight pre-mating, but negatively correlated with internal fat proportion pre-lambing (Lambe et al., 2005). However, is genetic potential to mobilise and regain increased amounts of tissue during the year positively associated with the ability to produce more and heavier lambs? The aim of this study was to address this question by relating total loss and gain of fat and muscle in ewes during the annual cycle with lamb production traits.

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The Share of Variance Components and Correlations Between Sow Production Traits in Different Treatments of the Litter Size (The Repeatability and Multi-Trait Models)

Contemporary Agriculture ◽

10.1515/contagri-2018-0030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 (3-4) ◽

pp. 207-214

Author(s):

Dragan Radojković ◽

Radomir Savić ◽

Mladen Popovac ◽

Čedomir Radović ◽

Marija Gogić

Keyword(s):

Litter Size ◽

Variance Components ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Production Traits ◽

Dispersion Parameters ◽

Total Variability ◽

Breeding Selection ◽

The Common ◽

Trait Model ◽

The Republic

Summary The share of variance components and correlations between the most important sow production traits (namely duration of fattening - DF, backfat thickness - BF and number of liveborn piglets - NBA) included in the pig breeding selection programme of the Republic of Serbia were estimated in this paper. The litter size at repeated farrowings (NBA1,..., NBA6) was treated as a separate trait (the multi-trait model), whereas the litter size at birth was treated as a trait repeated a number of times (the repeatability model)). The estimation of dispersion parameters was performed using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) method. The heritability of DF accounted for 23.5%, i.e. 23.3% depending on the model used, whereas BF accounted for 40.4% in both cases. The heritability of the litter size in consecutive farrowings (the multi-trait model) were in intervals ranging between 0.104 (NBA1) and 0.136 (NBA5). The heritability of NBA in the repeatability treatment accounted for 0.106, whereas the common litter environment and the permanent sow influence contributed to the total variability with 1.1% and 5.6%, respectively. Genetic correlations between the traits examined were not determined, with the exception of consecutive farrowings in the multi-trait treatment of the litter size. The genetic correlations recorded in this case proved positive and complete, with the exception of the correlation between the first and subsequent farrowings (farrowings 3 to 6) and the correlation between the second and the last farrowings (farrowings 5 and 6), which proved very strong.

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Selection for prolificacy in Finnsheep and in Norwegian sheep

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.72301 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 518-522

Author(s):

T. Ådnøy

Keyword(s):

Litter Size ◽

No Reduction ◽

Selection Response ◽

The Other ◽

Group Differences ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Production Traits ◽

Breeding Scheme ◽

Breed Group ◽

Selection For

Litter size (LS) at birth and other production traits were recorded for Finnsheep (F), Norwegian(N) breeds Dala (D), Steigar (St) and Spael (Sp), for N sheep crossed with 1/4 F and ½ F and for a group of sheep established by collecting offspring of highly prolific N(N+) ewes. The N breeds and the ¼ F group were part of the national breeding scheme. In the 1/2F and N+, selection was solely for LSB. The other groups were selected normally. There were 4263 lambings. In adults, there were no breed group differences in lambing-% (mean 94 %), but in 1-yr. olds there were differences: Sp 90 %, F and F-crosses 80—85 %, D 70 %, N+ 60 % and St 50 %. F-crosses had clearly the best LS’s (Fca. 3.0, 1/2F2.4, 1/4F2.0). Those of N+ decreased through the 5 years recorded from near 2.0 to 1.8 lambs. The other breed groups gave LS’s of 1.7—1.8. In the two groups selected for LS, no selection response was found. The reasons are not known. Although the pure F and ½ F gave lower weaning weights (34 and 38 kg at 150d.) than the other groups (41—45 kg), their weaned lamb yield per ewe was ca. 20 kg higher. Considering the poorer carcass quality observed in earlier experiments for these groups, the use of 1/4 F is recommended for Norwegian conditions. This breed group gave no reduction in weaning weight, but increased the LS by some 0.2 lambs.

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Correlations between weaning weight, carcass traits and ultrasonic body measurements in Welsh Mountain sheep

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600032979 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 84-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Saatci ◽

I. Ap Dewi ◽

Z. Ulutas

Keyword(s):

Litter Size ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Body Measurements ◽

Production Traits ◽

Ultrasonic Scanning ◽

Breeding Group ◽

Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽

Mature Size ◽

Lamb Growth

Selection in the CAMDA breeding group for Welsh Mountain sheep has been based since the start of the scheme on an index that includes litter size, maternal ability, lamb growth and mature size. Since 1987 fat and muscle depths have also been recorded in candidate replacement rams by ultrasonic scanning. Current consumer pressure to improve carcass quality suggests that emphasis be placed on developing an index that incorporates scanning results with other production traits. Construction of such an index requires estimates of the genetic and phenotypic correlations between traits in the selection objectives and criteria. Analyses were conducted to estimate these parameters based on data recorded in the nucleus of the CAMDA breeding group.

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