Factors affecting performance response of pigs exposed to different challenge models: a multivariate approach

Abstract Factors associated with the severity with which different challenge models (CMs) compromise growth performance in pigs were investigated using hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) analysis. One hundred seventy-eight studies reporting growth performance variables (average daily gain [ADG], average daily feed intake [ADFI], gain:feed [GF], and final body weight [FBW]) of a Control (Ct) vs. a Challenged (Ch) group of pigs using different CMs (enteric [ENT], environmental [ENV], lipopolysaccharide [LPS], respiratory [RES], or sanitary condition [SAN] challenges) were included. Studies were grouped by similarity in performance in three clusters (C1, C2, and C3) by HCPC. The effects of CM, cluster, and sex (males [M], females [F], mixed [Mi]) were investigated. Linear (LRP) and quadratic (QRP) response plateau models were fitted to assess the interrelationships between the change in ADG (∆ADG) and ADFI (∆ADFI) and the duration of challenge. All variables increased from C1 through C3, except for GF, which decreased (P < 0.05). LPS was more detrimental to ADG than ENV, RES, and SAN models (P < 0.05). Furthermore, LPS also lowered GF more than all the other CMs (P < 0.05). The ∆ADG independent of ∆ADFI was significant in LPS and SAN (P < 0.05), showed a trend toward the significance in ENT and RES (P < 0.10), and was not significant in ENV (P > 0.10), while the ∆ADG dependent on ∆ADFI was significant in ENT, ENV, and LPS only (P < 0.05). The critical value of ∆ADFI influencing the ∆ADG was significant in pigs belonging to C1 (P < 0.05) but not C2 or C3 (P > 0.10). The ∆ADG independent of duration post-Ch (irreparable portion of growth) was significant in C1 and C2 pigs, whereas the ∆ADFI independent of duration post-Ch (irreparable portion of feed intake) was significant in C1 pigs only (P < 0.05). Moreover, the time for recovery of ADG and ADFI after Ch was significant in pigs belonging to C1 and C2 (P < 0.05). Control F showed reduced ADG compared with Ct-M, and Ch-F showed reduced ADFI compared with Ch-M (P < 0.05). Moreover, the irreparable portion of ΔADG was 4.8 higher in F (−187.7; P < 0.05) compared with M (−39.1; P < 0.05). There are significant differences in growth performance response to CM based on cluster and sex. Furthermore, bacterial lipopolysaccharide appears to be an appropriate noninfectious model for immune stimulation and growth impairment in pigs.

Download Full-text

PSII-20 Evaluation of Different Vitamin Concentrations in a Commercial Wean-to-Finish Program

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.302 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 170-171

Author(s):

Robyn Thompson ◽

Brandon Knopf ◽

Carine Vier ◽

Ning Lu ◽

Wayne Cast ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Experimental Unit ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Our objective was to evaluate the effects of different vitamin concentrations on growth performance of wean-to-finish pigs under commercial conditions. A total of 900 barrows and gilts (PIC337×Camborough; initially 5.34±0.13 kg) were used in a 136-d growth trial with 25 pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets were fed in 3 phases during nursery (5-6, 6-13, and 13-26 kg) and 5 phases during grow-finish (26-44, 44-65, 65-87, 87-108, and 108-128 kg). Dietary treatments consisted of: 1) NRC: vitamin concentrations following NRC (2012) recommendations; 2) PIC: vitamin concentrations following PIC (2016) recommendations; 3) Low-PIC: vitamin concentrations that ranged from 0 to 91% of PIC recommendations. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with pen as the experimental unit. During the nursery period, pigs fed PIC and Low-PIC diets had greater (P< 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared to pigs fed NRC diets. There was no evidence (P >0.10) for differences in average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F). During the grow-finish period, there was no evidence (P >0.10) for differences in growth performance. During the overall wean-to-finish period, pigs fed PIC diets had lower (P< 0.05) ADG and final body weight compared to pigs fed NRC and Low-PIC diets. There was no evidence (P >0.10) for differences in ADFI or G:F. Pigs fed PIC diets had the greatest serum vitamin D3 at the end of nursery and finish periods (P< 0.05) and the greatest serum Vitamin E at the end of nursery period (P< 0.05). In summary, pigs fed PIC and Low-PIC diets had greater nursery feed intake and serum vitamin E and D3 concentrations compared to pigs fed NRC diets. Data from this study have demonstrated that pigs fed diets with reduced vitamin concentrations compared to PIC (2016) recommendations had improved wean-to-finish growth rate.

Download Full-text

PSIV-2 A comparison of feedlot growth and performance of beef x Holstein crossbred steers and Holstein steers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 298-299

Author(s):

Bailey L Basiel ◽

Chad D Dechow ◽

Tara L Felix

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Department Of Agriculture ◽

Feedlot Performance ◽

Performance Variables ◽

Dried Distillers Grains ◽

And Performance ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Objectives were to compare feedlot performance and carcass traits of F1 beef × Holstein steers and Holstein steers. Angus or Limousin × Holstein crossbred [n = 27; age = 12 ± 3 months; body weight (BW) = 435 ± 8 kg] and Holstein (n = 20; age = 11 ± 2 months; BW = 400 ± 9 kg) steers were fed at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Livestock Evaluation Center for 111 days. Feed intake was recorded using the GrowSafe Feed Intake Monitoring System (Model 4000E, GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary AB, Canada). The diet contained corn silage, dried distillers grains, soybean meal, and cracked corn and was formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of beef cattle (NASEM, 2016). Growth performance variables of interest and carcass measurements were analyzed with the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). USDA assigned quality grades (QG) and yield grades (YG) were analyzed the with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Breed was a fixed effect in all models. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between breeds in average daily gain or feed efficiency. Crossbreds exceeded Holsteins in initial (P < 0.01) and final BW (P = 0.01), dry matter intake (P = 0.03), hot carcass weight (P < 0.01), backfat (P = 0.03), and ribeye area (REA; P < 0.01). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the Holsteins received a QG of Choice or above while 74% of crossbreds graded USDA Choice or above (P = 0.01). However, 75% of Holsteins were YG 2 or lower while only 45% of crossbreds achieved YG 2 or less (P = 0.05). There was no improvement in efficiency when crossbreds were compared to Holsteins; however, carcasses from crossbreds were more likely to grade USDA Choice or above while yielding greater REA and backfat than Holsteins.

Download Full-text

Metabolizable energy levels in diets with high lysine for growing and finishing pigs

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n1p365 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 365 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Soraia Viana Ferreira ◽

Lívia Maria dos Reis Barbosa ◽

Camila Schultz Marcolla ◽

Marcos Henrique Soares ◽

Dante Teixeira Valente Júnior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Water Losses ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Metabolizable Energy Intake ◽

Daily Gain

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of metabolizable energy (ME) levels in diets with high digestible lysine concentration on performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of barrows from 95 to 158 days of age. Eighty commercial hybrid barrows (50 ± 1.82 kg) selected for lean meat deposition, were assigned to four dietary treatments (3,150, 3,235, 3,320, and 3,400 kcal EM kg-1) in a randomized design with 10 replicate pens per treatment and two pigs per pen. From 95 to 116 days of age, we observed no effects of ME on final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), metabolizable energy intake (MEI), and feed conversion (F: G). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased linearly with increasing ME levels (? = 5.79961 - 0.00096790X - r2 = 0.89). From 95 to 137 days of age, no effects of ME were observed on final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), metabolizable energy intake (MEI), and feed conversion (F: G). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased linearly with increasing ME (?= 6.1176 - 0.001X - r2= 0.97). From 95 to 158 days, of age no effects of ME were observed on FBW and ADG. Dietary ME influenced the ADFI and F: G, which decreased linearly with increasing ME concentrations (?= 8.12951 - 0.00149X - r2= 0.99; ?= 6.0914 - 0.001X - r² = 0.75, respectively). There was a linear increase in loin eye area (LEA) with increasing ME (? = - 29.851 + 0.0207 X - r² = 0.87). Backfat thickness, pH, and temperature, measured at different times after slaughter (0 min, 45 min, 3 h, and 24 h), were not affected by dietary ME. The level of ME also did not affect the meat quality parameters Color L*, Color a*, Color b*, Warner-Bratzler shear force, thaw water losses, cooking water losses, sum of water losses, intramuscular fat content, and TBARS. Diets with 3,400 kcal kg-1 ME, corresponding to 2.75, 2.57, and 2.31 g digestible lysine/Mcal of ME for pigs from 95 to 116, 116 to 137, and 95 to 158 days of age, respectively, resulted in best performance and carcass traits, without negative effects on meat quality.

Download Full-text

PSVI-2 Identification of correlations between aldehyde profiles of thermally oxidized soybean oils and growth performance of broilers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.359 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 204-205

Author(s):

Jieyao Yuan ◽

Brian Kerr ◽

Chi Chen

Keyword(s):

Soybean Oil ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Oxidation Products ◽

Soybean Oils ◽

Oxidized Oil ◽

Lipid Oxidation Products ◽

Pls Analysis ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Feeding oxidized oils can cause adverse effects on the growth performance of broilers, which have largely attributed to the presence of lipid oxidation products (LOP) in oxidized oils. This study was conducted to identify the potential correlations between growth performance and aldehyde profiles of differently-prepared thermally oxidized soybean oils. Seventy-seven broilers were randomly assigned to one of seven diets containing 7.5% fresh soybean oil or thermally oxidized soybean oil (OSO), including 1) 22.5°C, 0h; 2) 45°C, 336h; 3) 67.5°C, 168h; 4) 90°C, 84h; 5) 135°C, 42h; 6) 180°C, 21h; 7) 225°C, 10.5h, respectively. Broilers were provided ad libitum access to experimental diets for 28 days. Broilers body weight (BW) and feed intake were recorded weekly to calculate the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed (GF) ratio. The aldehydes in these oils were determined by the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The correlations between individual aldehydes and ADG, ADFI, or GF were examined by partial least squares (PLS) analysis. Feeding 135°C, 42h oxidized oil significantly decreased the ADG, ADFI, and GF value compared with other groups (p < 0.001). Among 17 aldehydes identified in thermally oxidized soybean oils, C9-C11 unsaturated alkenals, including 2-decenal, 2-undecenal, 2,4-nonadienal, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, 2,4-decadienal, and 2,4-undecadienal, had better inverse correlations with growth performance than C5-C8 saturated alkanals in broilers, suggesting different toxic effects from these aldehydes.

Download Full-text

Effect of feeding high yielding fodders on growth performance of growing Hilly Brown Bengal goat

Bangladesh Journal of Livestock Research ◽

10.3329/bjlr.v27i1.55171 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 73-81

Author(s):

MM Rahman ◽

NR Sarker ◽

MA Alam

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Natural Grass ◽

Daily Gain

This study was carried out to evaluate the feeding effect of high yielding fodders (HYF) on feed intake and growth performance of growing Hilly Brown Bengal (HBB) goat. For this purpose, a feeding trail was conducted with 16 growing HBB kids (4 to 5 months) by dividing equally in four groups having four replicates for a period of 75 days. The goats in group T0 (control) received natural grass along with 101.30g concentrates and adlibitum cowpea hay, whereas in group T1, T2 and T3, only natural grass was replaced by BLRI Napier 3, BLRI Napier 4 and Ruzi fodder, respectively. Total dry matter intake (DMI), roughages DMI, crude protein intake (CP), body weight gain (kg), average daily gain (g) and forth night body weight gain (g/day) were studied. Results revealed that, DMI (288.39, 285.71, 293.48 and 301.35 g/day in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively), body weight gain (3.60, 3.74, 3.73 and 3.77 kg in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively), average daily gain (47.32, 49.16, 49.12 and 48.92 g in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively) and feed conversion ratio (6.2, 5.9, 6.0 and 6.1 in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively) of HBB kids were not differed significantly (P>0.05) for all the treatment groups. The DMI from roughages (196.2, 193.5, 201.3 and 209.2 g/day in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively) and CP intake (38.7, 42.1, 48.3 and 38.8 g/day in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively) were significantly varied (P<0.05), while highest CP intake was found in the treatment group T2. Forthnight body weight (g/day) was not significantly (P>0.05) gained with feeding of HYF for all the treatment groups. From this study, it can be concluded that, growing HBB kids could equally be supplied with either BLRI Napier 3 or BLRI Napier 4 or Ruzi fodder in addition to ad libitum cowpea hay for better voluntary feed intake and growth. Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 27 (1&2), 2020: P. 73-81

Download Full-text

Effects of Glutamine on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Intestinal Barrier Function of Broilers

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-1207 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Q. J. Wu ◽

Z. H. Liu ◽

C. Jiao ◽

B. Y. Cheng ◽

D. D. Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Villus Height ◽

Crypt Depth ◽

Daily Gain

The effect of glutamine (Gln) on growth performance, intestinal morphology and intestinal barrier function were evaluated in broilers. A total of 320 birds were divided into a control group (CON) and three experimental groups (Gln 1, Gln 2 and Gln 3). Broilers of group CON received basal diet; broilers in group Gln 1, Gln 2 and Gln 3 were supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5 % Gln, respectively, for 42 days. The results indicated that Gln has no influence on the average daily gain (ADG) among the treatments in the periods of 1 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d and 1 to 42 d (P > 0.05). However, Gln improved average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed intake: average daily gain (F: G), increased the villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) and the activities of sucrose, the ZO1, claudin-1 and occluding mRNA expression levels (P 0.05). Moreover, Gln decreased the crypt depth of jejunum and ileum in broilers at days 21 and 42 (P 0.05). In conclusion, Gln had a positive effect on growth performance and gut parameters by modifying the function of the intestinal mucosa barrier.

Download Full-text

Effects of sodium bentonite supplements on growth performance of feedlot steers fed direct-cut or wilted grass silage based diets

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas07018 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (4) ◽

pp. 631-638 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. Berthiaume ◽

M. Ivan ◽

C. Lafrenière

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Latin Square ◽

Sodium Bentonite ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Feedlot Steers ◽

Dietary Components ◽

Daily Gain

Forty crossbred steers (initial liveweight: 339 ± 41 kg) were assigned to four equal groups in a 98-d feeding experiment to determine the effects of sodium bentonite supplements (2% of dietary dry matter) on their growth performance. The steers were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration based on direct-cut (two groups) or wilted (two groups) grass silage. One group of steers fed the same silage received the diet without supplementation (control), while the second group received the diet with the sodium bentonite supplement. The steers were housed in pens with electronic headgates in an unheated enclosed feedlot. Feed intake was recorded throughout the experiment and weighing conducted every 2 wk. Apparent digestibilities of dietary components were determined with four steers in a parallel 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and the efficiency of feed utilization were higher (P < 0.05) in steers fed wilted than in those fed the poorly fermented direct-cut grass silage. Bentonite increased (P = 0.04) ADG in steers fed the direct-cut grass silage, but in those fed the wilted grass silage ADG was virtually the same for both the control or the bentonite-supplemented steers. Except for energy, digestibility of nutrients was superior (P ≤ 0.05) in the wilted than in the direct-cut grass silage, but there were no effects (P > 0.05) of bentonite. It was concluded that it may be useful to supplement poorly fermented direct-cut silage diets with sodium bentonite, but not those based on wilted grass silage. Key words: Feedlot steers, sodium bentonite, grass silage, growth performance

Download Full-text

Nutritional evaluation of different varieties of sorghum and the effects on nursery pig growth performance

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Lori L Thomas ◽

Charmaine D Espinosa ◽

Robert D Goodband ◽

Hans H Stein ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Ileal Digestibility ◽

High Lysine ◽

Microbial Phytase ◽

Nursery Pig ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Five experiments were conducted to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in three sorghum varieties compared with corn and to determine the effects of sorghum varieties on nursery pig growth. In exp. 1, 48 barrows (initially 18.6 kg) were housed individually in metabolism crates. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial evaluating two levels of microbial phytase (0 or 500 units/kg) and four grain sources (corn, high-lysine, red, or white sorghum). Added phytase improved (P < 0.05) STTD of P in all ingredients, but was not different among the grains. In exp. 2, the DE and ME in the three sorghum varieties were not different from corn. In exp. 3, 10 growing barrows (initially 25.9 kg) with a T-cannula in the terminal ileum were used. Standardized ileal digestible Lys, Met, Thr, and Val were greater (P < 0.05) in corn than in the sorghum-based diets with no differences among the sorghum varieties. In exp. 4, 160 pigs (initially 6.3 kg) were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments with five pigs per pen and eight replicate pens per treatment in a 20-d experiment. Dietary treatments included corn or the three sorghum varieties, where the varieties of sorghum replaced corn on an SID Lys basis. No differences among treatments were observed in any growth performance parameters. In exp. 5, treatments consisted of a corn-based diet, a diet based on conventional sorghum (a mixture of red and white sorghum), and four diets with high-lysine sorghum containing increasing amounts of feed-grade AA, replacing soybean meal. Overall, pigs fed the high-lysine sorghum diet with the greatest amount of added feed-grade AA had the poorest gain:feed ratio (G:F; P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed all the other experimental diets. Within those fed the high-lysine sorghum and feed-grade AA, average daily gain, final body weight (linear, P < 0.10), and G:F (linear, P < 0.01) decreased as feed-grade AA increased. In summary, no differences in STTD of P or in DE and ME were observed among the grain sources. The SID AA values for the three sorghum varieties were not different; however, they were all lower than for corn. These results indicate that these varieties of sorghum can successfully replace corn in nursery pig diets if diets are formulated to account for differences in AA digestibility.

Download Full-text

Biological response of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli F4 (K88) when fed diets containing intestinal alkaline phosphatase

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/82/2021-cjas ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jansller Genova ◽

Paulo Evaristo Rupolo ◽

Antonio Diego Brandão Melo ◽

Liliana Bury de Azevedo dos Santos ◽

Geraldyne Nunes Wendt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Basic Solution ◽

Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Ph Values ◽

Daily Gain

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) added to diets on growth performance, diarrhoea incidence (DI), blood metabolites, relative organ weight, and intestinal morphometry of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (K88). A total of 64 crossbred entire male piglets (25-day-old and 7.16 ± 0.28 kg body weight) were allocated into four treatments: control diet (CD–), CD– + antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP), CD– + 15 mg IAP/kg of diet and CD– + 30 mg IAP/kg of diet, with eight replications. At 15 days, all piglets were orally challenged with 6 ml of a solution containing K88 (106 colony forming units/ml). Microencapsulated IAP in acid solution showed 14.43% solubility and pH values of 1.69, 1.72, 1.51, and 1.52 at the different times measured (0.5 h, 1.0 h, 17.0 h, and 24 h); differently, IAP in basic solution had 4.10% solubility and pH values increased (5.95, 6.10, 6.32 and 6.63) according to the different times, respectively. On days 25–35, piglets that received 30 mg IAP and CD– showed a better feed conversion ratio (P = 0.075) compared to those fed 15 mg IAP. Piglets that consumed 30 mg IAP or CD– had higher (P = 0.004) average daily gain on days 35–44. On days 35–44, the piglet average daily feed intake was lower (P = 0.033) with 15 mg IAP compared to AGP. In the entire period, piglets fed 15 mg IAP showed a reduction in average daily gain (P = 0.040) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.092). Piglets on 30 mg IAP showed an improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in DI in the pre-and post-challenge periods. The relative spleen weight of the piglet increased (P = 0.043) in response to 30 mg IAP. Overall, the addition of 30 mg IAP to diets improves the growth performance, attenuates DI, and promotes an increase in spleen relative weight to maintain the healthy state of piglets.

Download Full-text

Estimation of effect of breeding bulls and genetic parameters on early growth performance of calves at farm and field levels

Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18484 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 81-88

Author(s):

S Islam ◽

MA Hoque ◽

MAMY Khandoker ◽

NG Saha ◽

A Akhtar

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Genetic Correlation ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Early Growth ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Field Level

The present study was conducted using records on four breeding bulls maintained at the Artificial Insemination (AI) Center of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh and on 154 of their progeny maintained at BAU Dairy Farm (112) and some villages (42 progeny) adjacent to BAU for estimating the effect of breeding bulls and genetic parameters on early growth performance of the progeny at farm and field levels. Genetic correlations between traits of bulls and their progeny were also estimated. Bull traits were metabolic body weight (MWT), feed intake (FI) and residual feed intake (RFI) where progeny traits were birth weight (BWT), final body weight (FWT) at 90 days of age and average daily gain (ADG). Mean BWT of progeny at farm and field level was 16.34±1.85 to 17.62±1.97 kg and 13.89±2.78 to 16.11±2.98 kg, respectively. The FWT at farm progeny was 48.9±2.87 to 55.67±2.14 kg whereas 43.43±2.50 to 52.22±3.34 kg for field progeny. The ADG at farm and field progeny was 0.36±0.03 to 0.43±0.01 and 0.32±0.03 to 0.42±0.03 kg, respectively. The BWT and FWT of farm progeny were significantly (p>0.05) higher than the progeny of field level. Breeding bulls had significant (p<0.05) effect on FWT and ADG for both of the farm and field progeny. Estimated heritability was found to be moderate in case of BWT (0.32±0.19), but low for FWT (0.26±0.18) and ADG (0.29±0.20) for pooled average. The genetic correlation between bulls MWT and BWT was high (rg=0.54±0.17), but low with FWT(rg=0.26±0.18) and ADG (rg=0.28±0.23). Moderate in daily FI of bulls was genetically correlated with BWT (0.45±0.22), FWT (0.38±0.24) and ADG (0.35±0.25) for their progeny, while low but favorable negative genetic correlation (rg=-0.13±0.17) was observed between ADG of progeny and RFI of bulls. The negative correlation for RFI with ADG suggested that selection might result in better success in improving herd production efficiency without compromising progeny growth performance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18484 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 81-88

Download Full-text