scholarly journals Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects on growth traits of sheep

2012 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 603-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ghafouri-Kesbi ◽  
H. Baneh

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to estimate (co)variance components and corresponding genetic parameters for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 6-month weight (W6), 9-month weight (W9), average daily gain from birth to weaning (WWDG), average daily gain from weaning to 6 months (W6DG) and average daily gain from 6 months to 9 months (W9DG) for a nucleus flock of Iranian Makooei sheep. Genetic parameters were estimated by REML procedure fitting six animal models including various combinations of maternal effects. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to determine the most appropriate model. Estimates of direct heritability (h2) ranged from 0.13 (W6DG) to 0.32 (BW). Maternal effects were found to be important in the growth performance of the Makooei sheep, indicating the necessity of including maternal effects in the model to obtain accurate estimates of direct heritability. Estimates of maternal heritability (m2) ranged from 0.05 (W6) to 0.16 (WWDG) and the estimates of proportion of maternal permanent environmental variance to phenotypic variance (c2) were in the range between 0.05 (BW) and 0.10 (W6). Direct additive genetic correlations were positive in all cases and ranged from 0.00 (BW/W9DG) to 0.99 (WW/WWDG). Phenotypic correlations showed a broad range from −0.27 (WW/W9DG) to 0.99 (WW/WWDG). Estimates of genetic parameters showed that genetic improvement through selection programs is possible. WW would be a suitable selection criterion since it has acceptable direct heritability and relatively high genetic correlation with other traits.

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 41-41
Author(s):  
Jorge Hidalgo ◽  
Shogo Tsuruta ◽  
Daniela Lourenco ◽  
Yijian Huang ◽  
Kent Gray ◽  
...  

Abstract Genomic selection increases intensity of selection and decreases generation interval. However, intensive selection reduces genetic variation and can strengthen undesirable genetic correlations. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in genetic parameters of litter size (LS), number born alive (NBA), number born dead (NBD) and average daily gain (ADG) and weight at off-test (WT) in pigs over time. The data set contained 20,086 (LS), 21,230 (NBA), 21,230 (NBD), 144,717 (ADG) and 144,718 (WT) phenotypic records. Pedigree file included 369,776 animals born between 2001 and 2018, of which 39,038 were genotyped. Two trait models were evaluated (LS-ADG, LS-WT, NBA-ADG, NBA-WT, NBD-ADG and NBD-WT) using 3-year sliding subsets starting from 2010. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated using GIBBS2F90 program. Computations were performed with (BLUP) or without (ssGBLUP) genotypes. For BLUP (ssGBLUP), the changes in heritability from 2010–2012 to 2015–2018 were 0.08 to 0.09 (0.08 to 0.06) for LS, 0.33 to 0.24 (0.37 to 0.16) for ADG, 0.11 to 0.07 (0.10 to 0.07) for NBD, and 0.32 to 0.24 (0.38 to 0.17) for WT. Differences were also observed for genetic correlations as they were -0.23 to -0.73 (-0.31 to -0.58) for LS-ADG, -0.24 to -0.74 (-0.31 to -0.50) for LS-WT, -0.33 to -0.65 (-0.41 to -0.53) for NBA-ADG, -0.35 to -0.66 (-0.42 to -0.45) for NBA-WT, 0.12 to 0.04 (0.12 to 0.16) for NBD-ADG, and 0.11 to 0.05 (0.11 to 0.22) for NBD-WT. Genomic selection in pigs reduced heritabilities and emphasized the antagonistic relationship that are under strong selection. Heritabilities estimated from ssGBLUP declined more than those by BLUP while changes in the genetic correlations were smaller and more gradual by ssGBLUP. Differences between ssGBLUP and BLUP could be caused by genomic pre-selection unaccounted for by BLUP.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 971 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Prayaga ◽  
J. M. Henshall

Adaptability in tropical beef cattle can be assessed by measurable traits such as growth under the influence of environmental stressors, by parasite resistance as measured by indicator traits such as tick counts (TICK) and faecal egg counts of worms (EPG), by heat resistance as measured by indicator traits such as rectal temperatures (TEMP) and coat scores (COAT) and, to a certain extent, temperament of the animal as measured by flight time (FT). Data from a crossbreeding experiment involving various genotypes derived from tropically adapted British, Sanga-derived, Zebu cross, Zebu and Continental beef cattle breeds were analysed to estimate variance components and genetic parameters of growth, adaptive and temperament traits. Breed group differences were accounted for by including fractional coefficients of direct and maternal additive and dominance genetic effects as covariates. In the univariate analyses, 6 models were compared ranging from the simplest model with animal as the only random effect to the full model comprising direct and maternal additive genetic variance and their covariance and the permanent environment effect due to dam (growth traits) and animal (adaptive and temperament traits). The heritability estimates were 0.41, 0.21, 0.19, 0.28, 0.41 and 0.15 for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), preweaning average daily gain (PREADG), yearling weight (YWT), final weight at about 18 months of age (FWT) and post-weaning average daily gain (POADG), respectively. The maternal component of additive genetic variance as a proportion of phenotypic variance in BWT, WWT and PREADG was 0.15, 0.10 and 0.10, respectively. The heritability estimates for TICK, EPG, TEMP, COAT and FT were 0.13, 0.24, 0.12, 0.26 and 0.20, respectively. High positive genetic and phenotypic correlations were observed among growth traits. Low (insignificant) genetic correlations were observed between TICK, EPG and growth traits. However, genetic correlations between growth traits and heat tolerance traits (TEMP and COAT) were moderately negative implying that as the ability of an animal to handle heat stress increases, growth also increases at the genetic level. Genetic correlations among TICK, EPG and TEMP were moderately positive, suggesting that closely-linked genes affect these adaptive traits. The significant negative genetic relationship between TEMP and FT suggests that cattle with high heat resistance have desirable temperament. With the increasing crossbred populations in the northern Australian beef cattle industry, the best breeding strategy should aim to exploit both crossbreeding and within population selection to make improvements in growth, adaptive and temperament traits to increase overall productivity of the enterprise.


2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 264-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Mohammadi ◽  
M. M. Shahrebabak ◽  
H. M. Shahrebabak ◽  
A. Bahrami ◽  
M. Dorostkar

Abstract. Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for lamb growth traits for the Shal sheep using an animal model. Data on lamb growth performance were extracted from available performance records at the Shal sheep Station in Qazvin, Iran. Studied traits were body weights of lambs at birth (BW), at 3 months of age as weaning weight (WW), 6 months weight (6MW), 9 months weight (9MW), yearling weight (YW), average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG) and Kleiber ratio from birth to weaning (KR). Significant random effects for each trait were determined by fitting additive direct genetic effects, additive maternal effects, covariance between additive direct and additive maternal effects, maternal permanent environmental and maternal temporary environmental (common litter) effects under twelve animal models. Univariate analyses were carried out under the most appropriate model, determined by AIC test. Direct heritability estimates for BW, WW, ADG, KR, 6MW, 9MW and YW were 0.13, 0.19, 0.18, 0.05, 0.16, 0.18 and 0.19, respectively. Maternal additive genetic effects were fitted only for BW and WW; corresponding estimates of 0.12 and 0.10 obtained for maternal heritability of BW and WW, respectively. Maternal permanent environmental effects have low contribution in expression of KR and lead to estimates of 0.06 and 0.06 for maternal permanent environmental variance as a proportion of phenotypic variance (c2) of these traits, respectively. All pre-weaning traits, except KR, were affected by litter effects. The magnitude of ratio of common litter variance to phenotypic variance (l2) was 0.05, 0.12 and 0.14 for BW, WW and ADG, respectively. Direct genetic correlations were positive and ranged from 0.09 for KR-YW to 0.80 for WW-ADG; phenotypic ones ranged from 0.18 for KR-YW to 0.87 for WW-ADG.


2001 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. AL-SHOREPY

Genetic parameters were estimated for purebred and crossbred lambs of a local breed using a single trait animal model. The traits recorded were: birth weight (BWT), weight at 30 days (WT30), weaning weight (WWT), average daily gain from 1 to 30 days (ADG1) and average daily gain from 30 to 90 days (ADG2). Five different animal models were fitted for each trait; all including additive direct genetic variance and various combinations of additive maternal and environmental maternal effects. The most appropriate model was chosen based on likelihood ratio tests. Additive maternal and permanent environmental effects were important (P < 0·05) for birth weight in purebred and crossbred lambs, when compared with a model containing only additive direct effects. Inclusion of maternal permanent environmental effects provided a better fit (P < 0·05) for weaning weight in purebred lambs than a model containing only additive direct effects. Estimates of heritability from the model containing additive direct, maternal effects and maternal permanent environmental effects, but not additive direct-maternal correlation, for combined purebred and crossbred lambs were 0·32 for BWT, 0·19 for WT30, 0·24 for WWT, 0·26 for ADG1 and 0·12 for ADG2. Estimates of additive maternal and maternal permanent environmental variances, respectively, as a proportion of phenotypic variance were 0·06 and 0·07 for BWT, 0·05 and 0·02 for WT30, 0·02 and 0·03 for WWT, 0·03 and 0·05 for ADG1 and 0·00 and 0·03 for ADG2. Estimates of direct-maternal correlation in subsequent analyses were significant and ranged from −0·16 to −0·95 for live weights and from −0·73 to −1·0 for daily gains. However, the very large negative correlations probably resulted from undefined non-genetic covariances as well as possible antagonistic genetic effects. These results indicate that it would be possible to improve growth traits in a local sheep breed through genetic selection.


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


2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 564-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ghafouri-Kesbi

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADGa), weaning to 6 months (ADGb), weaning to 9 months (ADGc), 6 months to 9 months (ADGd) and corresponding Kleiber ratios (KRa, KRb, KRc and KRd) in Mehraban sheep. A derivative-free algorithm combined with a series of six univariate linear animal models was used to estimate phenotypic variance and its direct, maternal and residual components. In addition, bivariate analyses were done to estimate (co)variance components between traits. Estimates of direct heritability (h2) were 0.10, 0.11, 0.16, 0.09, 0.13, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.08 for ADGa, ADGb, ADGc, ADGd, KRa, KRb, KRc and KRd, respectively and indicate that in Mehraban sheep genes contribute very little to the variance of the growth rate and Kleiber ratio. Estimates of maternal heritability (m2) were 0.10, 0.08 and 0.05 for ADGa, KRa and KRb, respectively. Direct additive genetic correlations ranged from −0.32 (KRa-KRd) to 0.99 (ADGb-KRb) and phenotypic correlations ranged from −0.53 (ADGa- ADGd) to 0.99 (ADGa-KRa). Estimates of direct heritability and genetic correlations show that genetic improvement in efficiency of feed utilization through selection programmes is possible, though it would generate a relatively slow genetic progress.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 42-42
Author(s):  
Breno Fragomeni ◽  
Zulma Vitezica ◽  
Justine Liu ◽  
Yijian Huang ◽  
Kent Gray ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to implement a multi-trait genomic evaluation for maternal and growth traits in a swine population. Phenotypes for preweaning mortality, litter size, weaning weight, and average daily gain were available for 282K Large White pigs. The pedigree included 314k individuals, of which 35,731 were genotyped for 45K SNPs. Variance components were estimated in a multi-trait animal model without genomic information by AIREMLF90. Genomic breeding values were estimated using the genomic information by single-step GBLUP. The algorithm for proven and young (APY) was used to reduce computing time. Genetic correlation between proportion and the total number of preweaning deaths was 0.95. A strong, positive genetic correlation was also observed between weaning weight and average daily gain (r = 0.94). Conversely, the genetic correlations between mortality and growth traits were negative, with an average of -0.7. To avoid computations by expensive threshold models, preweaning mortality was transformed from a binary trait to two linear dam traits: proportion and a total number of piglets dead before weaning. Because of the high genetic correlations within groups of traits, inclusion of only one growth and one mortality trait in the model decreases computing time and allows for the inclusion of other traits. Reduction in computing time for the evaluation using APY was up to 20x, and no differences in EPD ranking were observed. The algorithm for proven and young improves the efficiency of genomic evaluation in swine without harming the quality of predictions. For this population, a binary trait of mortality can be replaced by a linear trait of the dam, resulting in a similar ranking for the selection candidates.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 783 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Bunter ◽  
S. Hermesch ◽  
B. G. Luxford ◽  
H-U. Graser ◽  
R. E. Crump

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a naturally occurring polypeptide produced in the liver, muscle and fat tissues. It is known to be associated with growth and development during the postnatal growth period. Evidence for strong genetic correlations between juvenile IGF-I and performance traits would suggest this physiological measure would be useful as an early selection criterion. This paper reports estimates of genetic parameters from 9 trials where IGF-I was measured in juvenile pigs. All trials involved populations undergoing active selection for improved performance (e.g. efficient lean meat growth). Juvenile IGF-I was moderately heritable (average h2: 0.31) and influenced by common litter effects (average c2: 0.15). Genetic correlations (rg) between juvenile IGF-I and backfat (BF), feed intake (FI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) traits were generally large and positive: rg averaged 0.57, 0.41 and 0.65, respectively. Phenotypic correlations (rp) between juvenile IGF-I and BF, FI or FCR were much lower (rp averaged 0.21, 0.09, and 0.15, respectively) as residual correlations between IGF-I and these performance traits were low, consistent with being measured at very different times. Correlations (genetic or phenotypic) between juvenile IGF-I and growth traits (e.g. lifetime daily gain or test daily gain) were relatively low, with average values within ± 0.09 of zero. Results from the trials reported here, and several physiological studies, indicate that information on juvenile IGF-I concentration can be used as an early physiological indicator of performance traits traditionally measured later in life. There is a clear role for juvenile IGF-I to facilitate pre-selection and more accurate selection of livestock for hard to measure traits, such as FCR, in pig breeding programs.


1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Mavrogenis ◽  
A. Louca ◽  
O. W. Robison

ABSTRACTData on 792 Chios lambs born during the 1972/73 and 1973/74 lambing seasons were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for birth weight, weaning weight, age at weaning, pre-weaning daily gain, body weight at 5, 10, 15 and 20 weeks of age, and postweaning daily gain. Body weight at 15 weeks of age had the highest heritability estimate (0·73 ± 0·17) and that of post-weaning daily gain was also high (0·56 ± 0·15). Selection for either weight at 15 weeks or post-weaning daily gain would be expected to yield a greater response than selection for pre-weaning daily gain or weaning weight. Genetic correlations among weights and/or gains were positive (approximately 0·20). Phenotypic correlations among weights and gains were generally higher than genetic correlations. However, the correlation between pre— and post-weaning daily gain was small (0·08). Likewise, post-weaning daily gain had low correlations with all weights before 10 weeks. Age at weaning had moderate negative associations with all weights but a very low positive correlation with post-weaning daily gain.


Author(s):  
I. Satish Kumar ◽  
G. Gangaraju ◽  
C. Vijaya Kumar ◽  
Sapna Nath

Data on growth traits of Nellore sheep were extracted from the records maintained at Livestock Research Station, Palamaner, Andhra Pradesh, India for a period of five years. The genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for growth traits i.e., average daily gain (ADG) from birth to 3 months (ADGa), 3 months to 6 months (ADGb), 6 to 12 months (ADGc) and the corresponding Kleiber ratio (KR) at respective stages of growth. The non genetic factors included in the model were having significance on most of the traits studied. The heritability estimates for ADG and corresponding KR ranged from 0.17 to 0.25. The estimates of genetic correlations among the traits ranged between -0.28 (Ka-Kb) and 0.99 (ADGb-Kb). The moderate estimates of heritability, high and positive genetic correlations among the traits in the study were suggestive of moderate genetic progress in the Nellore breed of sheep through selection.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document