A comparison of production traits and welfare implications between horned and polled beef bulls

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Stookey ◽  
L. A. Goonewardene

Data from two record of performance test stations (ROP) were used to compare selected traits of polled and horned bulls. The University of Saskatchewan (SASK) ROP test station provided data on 578 Charolais (CH) and 375 Hereford (HE) bulls from 1985 to 1992, while the Alberta (ALTA) Hereford ROP station provided data on 1485 HE bulls from 1985 to 1993. Polled and horned CH bulls from SASK showed similar (P > 0.05) on-test average daily gain (ADG), while polled HE bulls from SASK showed significantly higher (P < 0.03) ADG than their horned counterparts (1.41 ± 0.01 and 1.36 ± 0.02, respectively). Polled CH bulls were 11.4% fatter than horned bulls at the end of the test (P < 0.01). No significant differences in ADG, weight per day of age (WPDA) or scrotal circumference (SC) were observed between polled and homed HE bulls in ALTA. These results show no disadvantage for polled bulls compared to horned for ADG, WPDA, adjusted SC and adjusted yearling weight. From a welfare perspective, it may be advantageous to use polled bulls to circumvent the need for dehorning. Key words: Polled horned bulls ADG test station

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. de ROSE ◽  
J. W. WILTON

Data collected from Canadian central test stations were used to obtain estimates of genetic progress for test station average daily gain (ADG-T), height at hooks (HH), ultrasonically measured backfat thickness midway between the 11th and 12th ribs (FAT) and scrotal circumference (SC). Where possible, records for preweaning average daily gain (ADG-W) from the Federal-Provincial Herd Record of Performance program were obtained for tested bulls. Estimated breeding values were regressed on year of birth to obtain estimates of genetic trend for each trait, for the six principal breeds enrolled in the testing program: Aberdeen Angus (AA), Charolais (CH), Hereford (HE), Limousin (LM), Shorthorn (SH) and Simmental (SM). Estimated trends were generally significant with the exception of those for the LM breed, and the trait of SC. For FAT, trends were generally positive for the exotic breeds, and negative for the British breeds. Significant positive trends were observed for HH, ADG-W and ADG-T for most breeds. Examples of estimated genetic trends, for the HE breed, were 0.0022 kg d−1 yr−1, 0.0023 kg d−1 yr−1, 0.090 cm yr−1 (NS), − 0.029 mm yr−1, and 0.009 cm yr−1 (NS), respectively, for ADG-W, ADG-T, HH, FAT and SC (NS = not significant). Most estimated trends were low, in the order of 0.1 to 0.5% of population mean per year. Key words: Genetic trend, central test stations, beef bulls


1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Tholen ◽  
KL Bunter ◽  
S Hermesch ◽  
HU Graser

Data sets from 2 large Australian piggeries were used to estimate genetic parameters for the traits weaning to conception interval (WCIi-l,i) and farrowing interval (FIi-l,i), number born alive (NBAI), average piglet birthweight (BWi), 21-day litter weight (W21i), and sow stayability (STAYli) recorded for each ith parity, as well as sow average daily gain (ADG) and backfat (BF) recorded at the end of performance test. Over parities and herds, heritabilities for each trait were in the ranges: WCI/FI, 0.0-0.10; NBA, 0.09-0.16; BW, 0.11-0.35; W21, 0.12-0.23; STAYli, 0.02-0.09; ADG, 0.35-0.37; BF, 0.36-0.45. Genetic correlations between NBAl and NBA from later parities were significantly different from 1. In addition, in 1 herd negative genetic correlations (rg = -0.04 to -0.25) were found between sow stayability traits and NBA1, but not NBA recorded in later parities. Stayability was Unfavourably correlated with ADG and BF, and favourably correlated with WCI12. However, WCI12 was unfavourably correlated genetically with BF (rg = -0.24) but uncorrelated with ADG. Antagonistic relationships also existed between NBA and BW, NBA and W21, and BW and STAY. In addition to the traditional traits currently included in pig-breeding programs (e.g. ADG, BF, and NBA), traits such as WCI, BW, and STAY should also be considered as selection criteria to minimise the detrimental effects of antagonistic genetic relationships between traits.


1970 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 255-260
Author(s):  
S. Yu. Ruban ◽  
N. G. Lysenko ◽  
L. V. Mitioglo ◽  
I. V. Goraichuk ◽  
A. I. Kolesnyk ◽  
...  

Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze effects of SNPs CAPN316 in CAST282 in calpain and calpastatin genes on offspring productive traits produced by dairy and beef bulls. Methods. Data on offspring productivity included milk performance traits (for dairy bulls), birth weight and average daily gain (for beef bulls). Molecular genetic analysis was performed by PCR-RFLP. χ²-, t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis at significance levels of 0.05. Results. In progeny of dairy bulls number of alleles C in both SNPs demonstrated negative correlation with milk yield (r=-0.577), fat yield (r=-0.794) and protein yield (r =-0.798). G allele of CAPN316 (“wild type”) was associated with increased number of beef bulls progeny. Body weight and average daily gain was better in GG-bulls offspring. Conclusions. C alleles of SNPs CAPN316 in CAST282 being associated with meat quality traits were found to be ineffective in selection for milk production traits. Keywords: calpain and calpastatin genes, SNP, CAPN316, CAST282, bull’s genotype, evaluation on progeny, offspring productivity.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 645-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. COULTER ◽  
G. C. KOZUB ◽  
D. R. C. BAILEY ◽  
R. J. MAPLETOFT ◽  
W. F. CATES

Over an 8-yr interval, (1975–1982) scrotal circumference (SC) was measured on 4557 1-yr-old beef bulls from 1796 sires and eight breeds. Measurements were taken upon completion of a 140-d growth performance test. During the period 1977–1983, SC was measured on 7835 2-yr-old beef bulls from 2570 sires and six breeds. Two-year-old bulls were measured during reproductive examinations at spring bull sales. All SC measurements were adjusted for fixed effects of location-year and age, and heritability estimates were calculated within-breed using a paternal half-sib analysis. Heritability estimates for the SC trait in Angus, Charolais, horned Hereford, polled Hereford, Shorthorn, Simmental, Limousin and Maine-Anjou breeds in 1-yr-old bulls were 0.22 ± 0.20, 0.46 ± 0.14, 0.89 ± 0.17, 0.83 ± 0.26, 1.01 ± 0.31, 0.63 ± 0.19, 0.94 ± 0.29 and 0.59 ± 0.22. Heritability estimates for SC in 2-yr-old bulls of the first six breeds were 0.00 ± 0.21, 0.60 ± 0.25, 0.57 ± 0.07, 0.65 ± 0.10, 0.69 ± 0.34 and 0.20 ± 0.24. Owing to the small number of sires or sons within sires for some breed-age groups and the exclusion of some sources of variation in the statistical model, the estimates of heritability may not be precise and should be used to indicate approximate levels of heritability for a particular breed. Key words: Heritability, testicular size, scrotal circumference, beef bulls


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-957 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. King ◽  
R. A. Petracek ◽  
R. D. H. Cohen ◽  
C. L. Guenther

Charolais (C), Maine-Anjou (MA), Simmental (S) and Brown Swiss (SB) bulls were evaluated using production traits of their steer calves from birth to slaughter. Traits measured were calving ease, birth weight, preweaning average daily gain (ADG), adjusted weaning weight, ADG to slaughter; liveweight at slaughter, days on feed, carcass weight, grade fat, loin-eye area, cutability and dressing percent. For most traits the ranking was MA ≥ C ≥ S ≥ SB. Key words: Beef sire, calving ease, growth, carcass


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 965-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. KOOTS ◽  
R. D. H. COHEN ◽  
H. H. NICHOLSON

Trends were determined for the performance traits of beef bulls of five breeds tested at the Saskatoon ROP bull Test Station between 1965 and 1986. Means were calculated for each year for each breed with respect to start-of-test weight, end-of-test weight, average daily gain-on-test, and adjusted 200-day weight. A significant (P < 0.05) year-of-test effect was found for each of the four traits studied for Angus; for start-of-test, end-of-test and 200-d weight for Hereford and Shorthorn; for start-of-test and end-of-test weight for Simmental; and for only start-of-test weight for Charolais. These data suggest that bulls in all five breeds were significantly heavier each year when entering the test and that all except Charolais were heavier each year when completing the test but that only the Angus breed gained weight on test at a significantly faster rate each year. Key words: Record of performance, bull, beef


1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (115) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
CA Morris ◽  
BM Goss ◽  
RH Wolskel

Results from farm performance tests of Landrace and Large White pigs were collected over 14 months in a nucleus herd in Western Australia. They were used to make offspring-sire estimates of heritability for average daily gain and two combined ultrasonic fat depths (CK fat). Pigs were tested at about 85 kg and average daily gain was estimated from birth. Only 60% of records from the offspring of homebred sires were analysed, together with the performance test records from all of these sires. Data were adjusted for breed, and then contemporary deviations were estimated as the deviation of a pig's performance from that of all his contemporaries. The offspring-sire heritability estimates accounted for the effects of breed and sex, with sums of squares then being pooled, giving values of 0.05 � 0.1 6 and 0.57 � 0.15 for average daily gain and CK fat, respectively. Adjustments for body weight increased the estimates to 0.27 and 0.68 but with larger standard errors. These latter heritability estimates were very similar to the paternal half sib estimates. The means of all offspring of homebred and purchased boars indicated no advantage of purchased boars over homebreds in the Landrace breed. However, for Large Whites, the purchased boars were genetically superior in average daily gain and inferior in CK fat (by 2.1 and 0.9 a, respectively, in the performance of progeny). The heritability estimates from this study, applied to group-fed farm-tested pigs, suggest similar results to those from central tests or farm tests in Queensland. However, some attention should be given in tested pigs to variation in final liveweights, and possibly to a start weight at weaning instead of at birth.


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Goonewardene ◽  
P. A. Day ◽  
N. Patrick ◽  
H. D. Scheer ◽  
D. Patrick ◽  
...  

Birth weights of Boer (BO) sired kids were 9% higher than Alpine (AL) sired kids. Weaning, 160 d weight and preweaning average daily gain (ADG) were similar for the AL × AL, AL × SA and BO × AL. Breed of dam was significant (P < 0.02) for birth, weaning, 100-d weight, and preweaning ADG. Similar dressing percentage (DP) and ribeye muscle area (REA) were observed among AL × AL, AL × SP, and BO × SP crosses. Key words: Crossbreeding, Boer, Alpine, growth, carcass, ultrasound


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 665-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. JEFFRIES ◽  
R. G. PETERSON

Genetic parameters were estimated for 2403 purebred Yorkshire pigs over a 2-yr period, representing 21 sires. The traits studied included average daily gain, age adjusted to 90 kg, ultrasonic measurements of backfat at the mid-back and loin positions, total and adjusted total ultrasonic backfat and corresponding carcass backfat measurements. Least squares analyses were used to estimate and adjust for the effects of sex, year-season and sex by year-season interaction. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were calculated for all traits using both half- and full-sib estimates. Adjusted age and adjusted total ultrasonic backfat measurements were found to have the highest heritabilities of the live traits in this study. Estimates of heritability for adjusted age and adjusted total ultrasonic backfat were 0.24 ± 0.10 and 0.26 ± 0.10 based on half-sib and 0.56 ± 0.07 and 0.41 ± 0.06 from full-sib analyses. The genetic correlation between these two traits was −0.07 ± 0.28 based on the half-sib method. The total phenotypic correlation was −0.01 ± 0.02. Key words: Swine, ultrasonic backfat, heritabilities, genetic correlations


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1049-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. SHARMA ◽  
R. T. BERG

Relationships of scrotal circumference (SC) with body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (FT) as measured from scanograms were studied. A total of 935 observations on growing multibreed synthetic beef bulls on a postweaning performance test were available from a commercial herd for this study. Significant breed group, period and group × period interaction effects were noted on SC, BW and FT. BW and SC increased significantly during the test in all breed groups, while FT showed no change in three breed groups. Repeatability pooled across groups for SC was estimated as 0.72; 0.66 after adjusting for BW. Significant correlations were noticed between SC and BW within each breed group. Partial correlations between SC and BW at constant FT were not different from gross correlations. Linear regression coefficients of SC on BW were significant in all groups and showed heterogeneity among groups but not between periods within groups. Adjustments of SC for BW should, therefore, be breed group specific. BW alone accounted for considerable variation in SC, from 38 to 76%. Simple correlation coefficients between SC and FT were low and significant in only two groups. A significant but low positive relationship was noted between SC and FT at constant BW in a group fed a high-concentrate diet during the postweaning gain period, but there was no relationship in four other groups. Results indicated that the method of adjusting SC for FT as an indirect way of adjusting for scrotal fat was not satisfactory. Key words: Bulls, scrotal circumference, growth


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