Genetic parameters for milk production of Australian beef cows and weaning weight of their calves

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 1155-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Meyer ◽  
M. J. Carrick ◽  
B.J.P. Donnelly
2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 60-61
Author(s):  
Travis Mulliniks ◽  
Joslyn Beard ◽  
Tasha King

Abstract Cow herd profitability can be greatly influenced by reproductive success, average age of herd, and genetic potential within the environment. Productivity is influenced by cow age with calf weaning weight, increasing from 2 to 5 yr of age in dams. With that in mind, increasing average age of the cowherd has the potential to increase cow/calf profitability. Culling cows before 5 yr of age negatively impacts production efficiency due to decreased calf weaning weight in younger cows and subsequently, increase replacement rate and costs. Therefore, reproduction in young cattle is important to overall economic efficiency within the cow herd and a driving factor in longevity. Due to decreased reproduction and offspring performance, young females have previously been considered an economic liability. The effect of increased average cow age within the herd along with increased pregnancy rate of young cows has shown to increase production efficiency by decreasing replacement rates and adding greater production potential with increased calf weaning weights. In young beef cows, partitioning nutrients away from lactational demands allows for nutrients to be utilized for cow growth and reproduction. An increase in selection for milk production has resulted in beef cows undergoing greater nutritional stress during early lactation, which ultimately reduces cowherd reproduction and efficiency. Although a big emphasis is placed on output traits, economic value of reproduction is 5 times greater than growth or maternal output traits in beef cattle. In addition, the value of the added milk production may not fully be captured, due to extensive environments with limited nutrients. Even in environments with greater feed resources, selection for milk production may led to a decrease in reproduction, production efficiency, and cowherd retention rate.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1822
Author(s):  
Cory T. Parsons ◽  
Julia M. Dafoe ◽  
Samuel A. Wyffels ◽  
Timothy DelCurto ◽  
Darrin L. Boss

We evaluated heifer post-weaning residual feed intake (RFI) classification and cow age on dry matter intake (DMI) at two stages of production. Fifty-nine non-lactating, pregnant, (Study 1) and fifty-four lactating, non-pregnant (Study 2) commercial black Angus beef cows were grouped by age and RFI. Free-choice, hay pellets were fed in a GrowSafe feeding system. In Study 1, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.01) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. In Study 2, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.02) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. Milk production displayed a cow age × RFI interaction (p < 0.01) where both 5–6-year-old and 8–9-year-old low RFI cows produced more milk than high RFI cows. For both studies, intake and intake behavior were not influenced by RFI (p ≥ 0.16) or cow age × RFI interaction (p ≥ 0.21). In summary, heifer’s post-weaning RFI had minimal effects on beef cattle DMI or intake behavior, however, some differences were observed in milk production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 129-130
Author(s):  
Gleise Medeiros da Silva ◽  
Tessa M Schulmeister ◽  
Federico Podversich ◽  
Federico Tarnonsky ◽  
Maria E Zamora ◽  
...  

Abstract A completely randomized design study with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluated the impact of artificial shade (SHADE or NO SHADE) and breed (ANGUS vs. BRANGUS) on performance of cows, nursing calves, and subsequent offspring. Twenty-four Angus and 24 Brangus black-hided pregnant cows (579 ± 8 kg BW; 6.5 yr; approximately 85 d of gestation) and their nursing calves were randomly allocated to 12 ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass pastures (Paspalum notatum Flüggé; 1.3 ha; n = 4 pairs/pasture), with or without access to artificial shade (NO SHADE BRANGUS [NSB], NO SHADE ANGUS [NSA], SHADE BRANGUS [SB], and SHADE ANGUS [SA]) for 56 d during summer. Body condition score (BCS) of cows and BW of pairs were obtained on d -1, 0, 55, and 56 (weaning weight). Following weaning, calves were randomly allocated to 4 pens (n = 12/pen) equipped with GrowSafe feed bunks for 14 d to measure feed intake (DMI) and efficiency (G:F). A shade × breed interaction (P &lt; 0.05) was observed for average daily gain (ADG) and BCS of cows, with SB being greatest (P ≤ 0.05). Pre-weaning calf ADG tended to be greater (P = 0.10) for SHADE vs. NO SHADE. Weaning weight and BW 14-d post-weaning were lesser for NSB vs. NSA, SA, and SB, whereas no differences in DMI, ADG, or G:F were observed (P &gt; 0.11). Gestation length was greater for SHADE vs. NO SHADE cows (292 vs. 274; P = 0.02), but calf birth weight was not different. Providing artificial shade to pregnant-lactating beef cows positively impacted the growth of Brangus but not Angus cows. However, weaning BW of calves from Angus cows regardless of shade access did not differ from that of Brangus calves with shade. Further research should investigate the potential long-term effects of shade on the subsequent offspring.


2013 ◽  
Vol 96 (11) ◽  
pp. 7284-7293 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.P. Savegnago ◽  
G.J.M. Rosa ◽  
B.D. Valente ◽  
L.G.G. Herrera ◽  
R.L.R. Carneiro ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J.A. Santos ◽  
M.G.C.D. Peixoto ◽  
R.R. Aspilcueta Borquis ◽  
R.S. Verneque ◽  
J.C.C. Panetto ◽  
...  

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
SARAH BUTSON ◽  
R. T. BERG

A milking experiment with range, single-suckled beef cows was conducted over two lactations in 1976 and 1977 at the University of Alberta Research Ranch. A total of 428 cows were milked, ranging from 2 to 10 yr of age and representing four breed groups of Herefords and crossbreds of traditional beef and dairy breeds. Measurements of milk were taken in June and September each year. Milk was extracted following an intrajugular injection of 20 IU of oxytocin. Samples were analyzed for butterfat percent, protein percent and lactose percent. Age and breed of dam differences in milk yields, constituent percentages and yields were assessed. Least squares means of yields pooled over the two periods each year indicated that dams with Holstein and Brown Swiss breeding (DS) yielded more milk than beef crossbreds and purebred Herefords. Average milk yields estimated over 24 h ranged from 5.7 kg/day for Herefords to 7.8 kg/day for DS dams. Compared to 2-yr olds at 100%, 3-yr olds produced 125%, 4-yr olds 136% and mature cows 139% greater yield. The difference between June and September yields was evident between breed groups. Hereford milk production exhibited the greatest decline over 87 days compared to all other crossbreds and DS were the most persistent. Mature cows maintained milk yields better than younger cows, and 2-yr old milk yields declined most noticeably. All crossbred groups produced less butterfat percent and lactose percent content than the Herefords, yet yielded more total energy. All constituent percentages were higher than those reported for commercial dairy cattle. All constituent percentages increased significantly from June to September at approximately 130 days in lactation. A significant decline was noted for all constituent yields in September. Dairy crossbreds demonstrated the highest persistency for all constituent yields. Beef Synthetic dams were intermediate in yield persistency. Average milk yields had negative (P < 0.05) correlations with average constituent percentages. Inter-correlations among constituent percentages were variable and generally small and negative. Key words: Lactation, range cows


2021 ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Afees Abiola Ajasa ◽  
Imre Füller ◽  
Barnabás Vágó ◽  
István Komlósi ◽  
János Posta

The aim of the current research was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters of weaning weight in Hungarian Simmental cattle. Weaning weight records were obtained from the Association of Hungarian Simmental Breeders. The dataset comprised of 44,278 animals born from 1975 to 2020. The data was analyzed using the restricted maximum likelihood methodology of the Wombat software. We fitted a total of six models to the weaning weight data of Hungarian Simmental cattle. Models ranged from a simple model with animals as the only random effect to a model that had maternal environmental effects as additional random effects as well as direct maternal genetic covariance. Fixed effects in the model comprised of herd, birth year, calving order and sex. Likelihood ratio test was used to determine the best fit model for the data. Results indicated that allowing for direct-maternal genetic covariance increases the direct and maternal effect dramatically. The best fit model had direct and maternal genetic effects as the only random effect with non-zero direct-maternal genetic correlation. Direct heritability, maternal heritability and direct maternal correlation of the best fit model was 0.57, 0.16 and -0.78 respectively. The result indicates that problem of (co-)sampling variation occurs when attempting to partition additive genetic variance into direct and maternal components.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Alfredo Martínez ◽  
Juan Esteban Pérez ◽  
Teófilo Herazo

<p>Se establecieron componentes de varianza, así como parámetros fenotípicos y genéticos, respecto de las variables ‘peso al nacimiento’, ‘peso al destete’ (ajustado a los 270 días) y ‘peso a los 480 días’ en un hato del ganado criollo colombiano Costeño con Cuernos. Se analizaron 2.281 registros de pesos al nacer, 1.722 de pesos al destete  y 1.086 de pesos ajustados a los 480 días utilizando la metodología de máxima verosimilitud restringida (DFREML). También se ajustó un modelo animal que incluyó efectos genéticos directos, maternos y de ambiente permanente, asumiendo como efectos fijos el año de nacimiento, el sexo del ternero y el número de partos de la madre; finalmente, se estimaron los parámetros genéticos ‘heredabilidad’, ‘repetibilildad’ y se establecieron correlaciones genéticas y fenotípicas. Se reportan bajas estimaciones de heredabilidad de los efectos directos, que varían entre 0,17 ± 0,001 y 0,21 ± 0,074 para los pesos al nacer y al destete, respectivamente; así mismo, fue baja la heredabilidad de los efectos genéticos maternos con relación al peso al nacimiento, aunque estos estimados aumentaron respecto de los pesos al nacer y al destete. Las correlaciones entre efectos directos y maternos fueron negativas, pero el mayor valor se encontró para el peso al nacimiento (-0,89). La contribución del ambiente permanente como proporción de la varianza fenotípica total fue baja y disminuyó a medida que aumentó la edad del animal.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Genetic and phenotypic evaluation to characterize growth traits of the native Colombian breed Costeño con Cuernos</strong></p><p>For a herd of native Colombian breed of cattle -Costeño con Cuernos (CCC)- estimates of variance components for phenotypic and genetic parameters were obtained for birth weight, weight at weaning (adjusted to 270 days) and weight at 480 days. Using the restricted maximum likelihood (REMI) methodology, 2281 birth weight records (PN), 1722 weaning weight records and 1086 weight records adjusted to 480 days were analyze by fitting a model which included direct and maternal genetics effects as well as permanent environmental effects, assuming that fixed effects were year of birth weight, calf gender and the mother number of births. The genetic parameters for heritability, repeatability, genetic and phenotypic correlation were estimated and genotypic and phenotypic correlation was established. Heritability estimates for direct effects are low and range from 0.17 ± 0.001 and 0.21 ± 0.074 for birth and weaning weight respectively; while estimates for maternal genetics effects were also low for PN, they were higher for weaning weight and weight at 480 days. There was a negative correlation between direct and maternal effects, and the higher value was for PN (-0.89). The contribution of the variable permanent environment measured as the contribution of the phenotypic variance was low and diminished as animal age increased.</p>


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