Growth and Maturation of Angus Cattle

Growth and Maturation of Angus Cattle
Author: Miroslav Kaps
Publisher:
Total Pages: 230
Release: 1997
Genre: Aberdeen-Angus cattle
ISBN:

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for growth, maturity and carcass traits, and to analyze relationship of each of these traits with mature weight. Growth data utilized in the study consisted of repeated weight measurements of 3044 Angus cows. A Brody growth curve was fitted to the data for each cow individually in order to predict asymptotic (mature) weight, age when animal reached 65% of mature weight, and weights, growth rates, degrees of maturity and relative growth rates at 365 and 550 days of age. Carcass data consisted of 3477 records of steers, including hot carcass weight, back fat-thickness, rib-eye area, cutability and marbling score. Genetic parameters of mature weight were estimated from a single-trait animal model for asymptotic weight, a two-trait animal model for asymptotic and weaning weight, and a two-trait animal model for repeated mature weights (measured after 4 y of age) and weaning weight. Heritability estimates for growth and carcass traits were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood from a set of two-trait animal models considering a given trait and weaning weight which was in the model to account for any effect of culling. Similarly, genetic correlations between mature weight and other traits were obtained from a set of three-trait models. A sample of 29943 animals was used for weaning weight measurements. Fixed effects in the models included weaning, cow and carcass contemporary groups. For the carcass traits the effect of slaughter age was included in the model as a covariate. Random effects in the model included direct genetic, maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects for weaning weight, but only direct genetic and repeated measurements (if in the model) for each of the other traits. Estimates of heritability for mature weight were. 44,.51 and. 57 for the single-trait model with asymptotic weight, two-trait model with asymptotic weight and two-trait model with repeated weights, respectively. The reduced heritability estimate from the single-trait model was most likely due to the effect of culling, thus, a genetic evaluation for mature size should be considered in a multiple-trait model including mature weight as well as some earlier measured growth trait. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Genetics of Growth and Reproductive Performance of Kenya Boran Cattle

Genetics of Growth and Reproductive Performance of Kenya Boran Cattle
Author: Chrilukovian Wasike
Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN: 9783659184598

Animal models were used to estimate genetic parameters and trends for growth and reproduction of Kenya Boran cattle. Sex, age of animal, parity and year-season effects affected birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 12month weight (12W), 18month weight (18W) and 24month weight (24W). Herd-year-season of birth and calving, and age at birth and calving affected age at first calving (AFC), pooled calving interval (CI) and calving intervals (CI1), (CI2) and (CI3). Direct heritability (h2) from univariate analyses of growth were low to moderate. Maternal heritability for WW, 12W and 24W were low. Direct-maternal genetic correlations were negative. The h2 for reproductive traits were low. The h2 from multivariate analyses for growth were moderate. The genetic correlations (rg) between growth traits were positive. The rg between reproductive traits were negative. The h2 from random regression analysis ranged from 0.11 to 0.33. The rg were positive tending to unity but declined with increase in lag between age points similar to permanent environmental correlation. The rp was negative between extreme points and positive between intermediate and later points with spikes along the diagonal