scholarly journals Breeding value for type traits in beef cattle in theCzech Republic

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 385-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Veselá ◽  
J. Přibyl ◽  
P. Šafus ◽  
L. Vostrý ◽  
K. Šeba ◽  
...  

The type was evaluated in 5 424 young animals of twelve beef breeds. Ten type traits were evaluated: height at sacrum (HS), body length (BL), live weight (LW), front chest width (CW), chest depth (CD), pelvis (P), shoulder muscling (SM), back muscling (BM), rump muscling (RM) and production type (PT). The traits represent two groups: (1) traits scoring body measurements and body capacity (HS, BL, LW, CW, CD, P) and (2) traits scoring muscling (SM, BM, RM, PT). These fixed effects were included in the model: breed, sex, HYS, mother&rsquo;s age, linear regression on age at evaluation and average gain from birth to evaluation. Fixed effects in the model explained 40% to 60% of variability. The highest values of heritability coefficient were estimated for HS (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.51) and LW (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.50). BL had the lowest values of heritability coefficient (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.25). The values h<sup>2</sup> = 0.25&ndash;0.32 were calculated for the traits scoring body capacity (CW, CD, P). The range of values for muscling traits was h<sup>2</sup>&nbsp;= 0.26&ndash;0.35. The coefficient of heritability for PT was h<sup>2</sup> = 0.34. All traits scoring muscling and PT showed high genetic correlations (r<sub>g</sub> &gt; 0.95). The traits scoring body capacity (P, CW, CD) were highly genetically correlated with muscling r<sub>g</sub> &gt; 0.83. Breeding values were determined by a multi-trait animal model. Standard deviations of breeding values were higher in HS (s<sub>BV</sub> = 0.71) and LW (s<sub>BV</sub> = 0.84), which was connected with a different method of evaluation of these traits. They were in the range of 0.19 (BL) to 0.30 (RM) in the other traits. &nbsp;

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-625
Author(s):  
A. Ali ◽  
K. Javed ◽  
I. Zahoor ◽  
K.M. Anjum

Data on 2931 Kajli lambs, born from 2007 to 2018, were used to quantify environmental and genetic effects on growth performance of Kajli sheep. Traits considered for evaluation were birth weight (BWT), 120-day adjusted weight (120DWT), 180-day adjusted weight (180DWT), 270-day adjusted weight (270DWT), and 365-day adjusted weight (365DWT). Fixed effects of year of birth, season of birth, sex, birth type, and dam age on these traits were evaluated using linear procedures of SAS, 9.1. Similarly, BWT, 120DWT, 180DWT, and 270DWT were used as fixed effects mixed model analyses. Variance components, heritability and breeding values were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood. The genetic trend for each trait was obtained by regression of the estimated breeding values (EBV) on year of birth. Analyses revealed substantial influence of birth year on all traits. Sex and birth type were the significant sources of variation for BWT and 120DWT. Season of birth did not influence birth weight meaningfully, but had a significant role in the expression of 120DWT, 180DWT, and 270DWT. Heritability estimates were generally low (0.003 ± 0.018 to 0.099 ± 0.067) for all traits. With the exception of the genetic correlation of 180DWT and 365DWT, the genetic correlations between trait were strong and positive. Only 365DWT had a positive genetic trend. Although the heritability estimates for almost all weight traits were low, high and positive genetic correlations between BWT and other weight traits suggest that selection based on BWT would result in the improvement of other weight traits as a correlated response.Keywords: bodyweight, breeding value, genetic correlation, sheep


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojca Simčič ◽  
Barbara Luštrek ◽  
Miran Štepec ◽  
Betka Logar ◽  
Klemen Potočnik

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of 26 individual and four composite type traits in first parity Cika cows. An analysis of variance was performed with the generalized linear model procedure of the SAS/STAT statistical package, where the fixed effects of year of recording, cow’s age at recording and days after calving as a linear regression were included in the model. The variance components for the direct additive genetic effect and the herd effect in all type traits were estimated using the REML method in the VCE-6 software package. The estimated heritabilities ranged from 0.42 to 0.67 for the measured body frame traits, from 0.36 to 0.80 for the scored autochthonous traits, from 0.11 to 0.61 for the scored body frame traits, and from 0.20 to 0.47 for the scored udder traits. The estimated heritabilities for the composite traits called “autochthonous characteristics”, “muscularity”, “body frame” and “udder” were 0.55, 0.19, 0.19, and 0.26, respectively. The estimated genetic correlations among the measured body frame traits were positive and high, while the majority of them among the scored body frame traits were low to moderate. The estimated proportions of variance explained by the herd effect for the composite traits “autochthonous characteristics,” “muscularity,” “body frame” and “udder” were 0.09, 0.28, 0.14, and 0.10, respectively. The estimated heritabilities for the type traits of first parity Cika cows were similar to those reported for other breeds where breeding values have been routinely predicted for a long time. All estimated genetic parameters are already used for breeding value prediction in the Cika cattle population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J Twomey ◽  
Andrew R Cromie ◽  
Noirin McHugh ◽  
Donagh P Berry

Abstract Despite the importance of validating any technology prior to recommendation for use, few studies exist in the scientific literature which have demonstrated the superior performance of high-ranking animals in a given total merit index; this is especially true for maternal cattle selection indexes. The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the impact of the Irish total merit maternal-based index and provide the benefits of using the Irish total merit maternal-based beef index as part of a breeding policy. The validation exercise was undertaken using 269,407 records (which included the cow’s own records and her progeny records) from 92,300 females differing in a total merit index for maternal value; a comparison was also made with the Irish terminal index. Association analyses were undertaken within the framework of linear and threshold mixed models; the traits analyzed were fertility (e.g., calving interval), slaughter (e.g., harvest weight), live weight (e.g., weaning weight), and producer-recorded traits (e.g., docility). All traits were analyzed with the maternal index and terminal index fitted as covariate(s) separately. Depending on the independent variable analyzed, the other fixed effects included: parity of cow, heterosis and recombination loss of cow and/or progeny, gender of progeny, and the estimated breeding value of the sire; contemporary group was included as a random effect. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of using total merit indexes to improve performance in a whole range of different traits, despite the often antagonistic genetic correlations among traits that underpin the index. Cows excelling on the maternal index had less calving difficulty, superior fertility performance, lighter carcasses, and live weight, as well as being more easily managed. Additionally, progeny of higher maternal index cows were lighter at birth and more docile albeit with a small impact on slaughter traits. In contrast, higher terminal index cows had more calving difficulty, compromised fertility and had heavier carcasses themselves as well as their progeny. While the differences in phenotypic performance between groups on maternal index was, in most instances, relatively small, the benefits are: (1) expected to be greater when more genetically extreme groups of animals are evaluated and (2) expected to accumulate over time given the cumulative and permanent properties of breeding schemes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 217-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Vostrý ◽  
Z. Čapková ◽  
J. Přibyl ◽  
K. Mach

Genetic parameters, breeding values and inbreeding depression for 22 linear type description of conformation and type characters and 4 body measurements were evaluated in a group of 1744 horses of three original cold-blooded breeds in the Czech Republic in a long period of 18 years (1990&ndash;2007). Based on the values of Akaike's information criterion, residual variance and heritability coefficient, a model with fixed effects (sex, year of description, breed, and classifier) and with a random effect (animal) was selected. Heritability coefficients for the particular traits were in the range of 0.11 to 0.55 and genetic correlations ranged from &ndash;0.63 to 0.97. Inbreeding depression, expressed as coefficients of regression on one percent of inbreeding, was in the range of &ndash;0.0992 to 0.0242 points for the particular traits. The inclusion of inbreeding depression in the model resulted in a moderate change in h<sup>2</sup> in one-third of the traits. In two-thirds of traits, the value of r<sub>G</sub> increased or decreased by 0.01. Standard deviations of the breeding values for linear type description of conformation and type characters were in the range of 0.30 to 0.72 and 0.62 to 6.18 for body measurement traits. Among breeding values estimated by a model without inbreeding depression and a model with inbreeding depression, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient values for the particular traits were 0.916&ndash;0.999 (sample of all horses), 0.710&ndash;0.992 (10% of the best horses) and 0.827&ndash;0.998 (10% of the worst horses). If the average value of the inbreeding coefficient is low (0.03), then it is not necessary to include the influence of inbreeding depression in the model for the genetic evaluation of individuals of original cold-blooded horses kept in the Czech Republic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 463-472
Author(s):  
Ludmila Zavadilová ◽  
Eva Kašná ◽  
Zuzana Krupová ◽  
Michaela Brzáková

Genetic parameters were estimated for clinical mastitis in Czech Holstein cattle. The datasets included 14 329 cows with 28 626 lactations. Clinical mastitis was defined as 0/1 occurrence per lactation. Single- or multi-trait repeatability linear animal models were employed for estimation of (co)variances and prediction of conventional or genomic breeding values. The inclusion of the random herd-year-month effect in the model was analysed. The estimated heritability for clinical mastitis ranged from 2.10% to 2.72%, while permanent environmental variance ratios or random herd-year-month effect ratios were twice higher than heritability. In the multi-trait models, udder type traits, such as fore udder attachment, rear udder attachment, rear udder width, front teat placement and udder depth, were employed. The highest genetic correlations of clinical mastitis occurred with rear udder width (0.41) and the lowest with front teat placement (–0.10). Both the multi-trait model and the genomic model provided breeding value estimates with higher reliability. In contrast, the model with random herd-year-season effects provided breeding values with lower accuracy.


Author(s):  
Ludmila Zavadilová ◽  
Eva Kašná ◽  
Zuzana Krupová

Genomic breeding values (GEBV) were predicted for claw diseases/disorders in Holstein cows. The data sets included 6,498, 6,641 and 16,208 cows for the three groups of analysed disorders. The analysed traits were infectious diseases (ID), including digital and interdigital dermatitis and interdigital phlegmon, and non-infectious diseases (NID), including ulcers, white line disease, horn fissures, and double sole and overall claw disease (OCD), comprising all recorded disorders. Claw diseases/disorders were defined as 0/1 occurrence per lactation. Linear animal models were employed for prediction of conventional breeding values (BV) and genomic breeding values (GEBV), including the random additive genetic effect of animal and the permanent environmental effect of cow and fixed effects of parity, herd, year and month of calving. Both high and intermediate weights (80% and 50%, respectively) of genomic information were employed for GEBV50 and GEBV80 prediction. The estimated heritability for ID was 3.47%, whereas that for NID 4.61% and for OCD was 2.29%. Approximate genetic correlations among claw diseases/disorders traits ranged from 19% (ID x NID) to 81% (NID x OCD). The correlations between predicted BV and GEBV50 (84–99%) were higher than those between BV and GEBV80 (70–98%). Reliability of breeding values was low for each claw disease/disorder (on average, 3.7 to 14.8%) and increased with the weight of genomic information employed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 385-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zavadilová ◽  
E. Němcová ◽  
M. Štípková ◽  
J. Bouška

The relationships between conformation and longevity traits were analysed in 58 493 Czech Fleckvieh cows first calved from 1994 to 2003. All cows were scored for conformation during the first lactation. Genetic correlations between longevity and conformation traits were estimated by bivariate runs using the VCE 4.0 program for variance component estimation. The values of heritability for conformation traits were in the range from 0.06 to 0.63 and for longevity traits from 0.04 to 0.05. Low or intermediate genetic relationships between recorded linear traits and longevity trait were found. The correlations were lower for functional longevity. Body measurements showed negative genetic correlations with real as well as functional longevity (–0.12 to –0.29). The dairy character negatively correlated with longevity traits (–0.18 to –0.26). The muscularity and udder showed a zero correlation with functional longevity, while the feet and legs were not correlated with real longevity. The highest positive genetic correlations between real longevity and objectively scored linear type traits were found for hock (0.24), rear udder attachment (0.28), fore udder length (0.16) and central ligament (0.11). On the contrary, the correlation between the udder depth and the milk-corrected longevity was positive (0.28) and higher than in the case of real longevity.


Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
S. P. Dahiya ◽  
Z. S. Dahiya ◽  
C. S. Patil

Measurements of body conformation in sheep are of value in judging the quantitative characteristics of meat and also helpful in developing suitable selection criterion. Data on 349 Harnali sheep for body length (BL), body height (BH), heart girth (HG), paunch girth (PG), tail length (TL), head circumference (HC), ear length (EL), ear width (EW), face length (FL) and adult body weight (ABW) were analysed to study the relationship between linear body measurements and body weight. The mixed linear model with dam’s weight at lambing as covariate was used to study the effect of non-genetic factors on body measurements and body weight. High estimates of heritability were obtained for BL, BH, HG, TL, HC, EL, EW, FL and ABW while moderate estimate was obtained for PG. The phenotypic correlations of BL, BH, HG, PG, HC and FL with ABW were positive and significant (0.32±0.04 to 0.59±0.08). The genetic correlations of HG, PG, HC and FL with ABW were 0.51±0.13, 0.42±0.19, 0.44±0.13 and 0.43±0.15, respectively. Various combinations of linear type traits to predict ABW were found to have coefficient of determination as high as 0.92. It is concluded that heart girth is the most important trait for estimation of live weight in sheep and the prediction equation is Body weight = -63.72 + 1.23 HG with R2 = 0.87.


1997 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Veerkamp ◽  
S. Brotherstone

AbstractVariance components were estimated from an animal model using a restricted maximum likelihood procedure which allowed for unequal design matrices and missing observations (VCE). Data sets containing: (i) 15 275 records of linear type classifications on heifers, (ii) 3399 live weight and condition scores measured at calving and (iii) 1157 records of yield, dry-matter intake, average live weight and condition score during the first 26 weeks of lactation; were analysed jointly.Heritability estimates for dry-matter intake, live weight and condition score in the largest data set were 0·44, 0·44 and 0·35 respectively and the genetic correlation between condition score and the yield traits ranged from −0·29 to −0·46. The genetic correlation between milk yield and average live weight was negative (−0·09) but after adjusting for the genetic variation in condition score this correlation was positive (0·29). Genetic correlations between live weight and stature, chest width, body depth and rump width were consistently high (0·52 to 0·64; 0·75 to 0·86; 0·59 to 0·81; 0·56 to 0·74, respectively). Chest width and body depth were little to moderately correlated with dry-matter intake (0·25 to 0·28 and 0·20 to 0·34 respectively), and angularity (−0·47 to −0·77) and chest width (0·32 to 0·73) appeared to be good predictors of condition score. These correlations showed that (i) the relative value of live weight compared with food intake capacity determines the optimum direction of selection for stature, chest width, body depth and angularity, and consequently the optimum size of the dairy cow, and that (ii) live weight, condition score and food intake can be predicted from the type traits with little loss in accuracy. A restricted index which maintains condition score at its current level was predicted to reduce overall (economic) genetic gain by 5%.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244064
Author(s):  
Anne Ricard ◽  
Bernard Dumont Saint Priest ◽  
Marjorie Chassier ◽  
Margot Sabbagh ◽  
Sophie Danvy

The aim was to assess the efficiency of gaits characteristics in improving jumping performance of sport horses and confront accelerometers and judge scores for this purpose. A sample of 1,477 young jumping horses were measured using accelerometers for walk, trot, and canter. Of these, 702 were genotyped with 541,175 SNPs after quality control. Dataset of 26,914 horses scored by judges in breeding shows for gaits and dataset of 142,682 horses that performed in jumping competitions were used. Analysis of accelerometric data defined three principal components from 64% to 89% of variability explained for each gait. Animal mixed models were used to estimate genetic parameters with the inclusion to up 308,105 ancestors for the relationship matrix. Fixed effects for the accelerometric variables included velocity, gender, age, and event. A GWAS was performed on residuals with the fixed effect of each SNP. The GWAS did not reveal other QTLs for gait traits than the one related to the height at withers. The accelerometric principal components were highly heritable for the one linked to stride frequency and dorsoventral displacement at trot (0.53) and canter (0.41) and moderately for the one linked to longitudinal activities (0.33 for trot, 0.19 for canter). Low heritabilities were found for the walk traits. The genetic correlations of the accelerometric principal components with the jumping competition were essentially nil, except for a negative correlation with longitudinal activity at canter (-0.19). The genetic correlation between the judges’ scores and the jumping competition reached 0.45 for canter (0.31 for trot and 0.17 for walk). But these correlations turned negative when the scores were corrected for the known parental breeding value for competition at the time of the judging. In conclusion, gait traits were not helpful to select for jumping performances. Different gaits may be suitable for a good jumping horse.


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