Maternal body composition in seedstock herds. 2. Relationships between cow body composition and BREEDPLAN EBVs for Angus and Hereford cows

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
S. J. Lee ◽  
K. A. Donoghue ◽  
W. S. Pitchford

Relationships between BREEDPLAN estimated breeding values (EBVs) for 600-day weight, maternal effect on calf weaning weight (Milk), fat depth at P8 site (Rump), 12/13th rib fat depth (Rib), eye muscle area (EMA), and intramuscular fat (IMF) with body composition measures in first- and second-parity Angus and Hereford cows were investigated. More than 4000 Angus and 1000 Hereford cows were measured for weight, height, ultrasound P8 fat depth (P8), 12/13th rib fat depth (RIB), loin EMA and IMF (%) at pre-calving and weaning. The body composition measurements were then regressed against mid-parent BREEDPLAN EBVs. Increased 600-day weight EBV was associated with increased weight and height but decreased P8 and rib fat depths and EMA when considered on a weight-constant basis. BREEDPLAN EBVs for Rump, Rib, EMA and IMF were closely related to the equivalent ultrasound measure in Angus and Hereford cows at pre-calving and weaning in the first two parities. These results indicate that current BREEDPLAN carcass EBVs are associated with cow body composition, so if producers want to change the body composition of their cows, they can do so using existing BREEDPLAN carcass EBVs, and there appears no requirement for additional EBVs to describe cow body-composition traits for subcutaneous fat, EMA and IMF.

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gertruida L. van Wyk ◽  
Louwrens C. Hoffman ◽  
Phillip E. Strydom ◽  
Lorinda Frylinck

Weaner male Boer Goats (BG; n = 36; 21 bucks and 15 wethers) and large frame Indigenous Veld Goats (IVG; n = 41; 21 bucks and 20 wethers) were raised on hay and natural grass ad libitum and the recommended amount of commercial pelleted diet to a live weight between 30 and 35 kg. Carcass quality characteristics (live weight, carcass weights, dressing %, chilling loss and eye muscle area) were measured. The right sides of the carcasses were divided into wholesale cuts and dissected into subcutaneous fat, meat and bone. Large frame Indigenous Veld Goat (IVG) wethers were slightly lighter than the IVG bucks with no significant difference observed between BG. Wethers compared to bucks had higher dressing %, subcutaneous fat % in all primal cuts, intramuscular fat %, kidney fat % and, overall, slightly less bone %. Some breed–wether interactions were noticed: IVG wethers were slightly lighter than the IVG bucks, but the IVG bucks tended to produce higher % meat compared to other test groups. Judged on the intramuscular fat % characteristics, it seems as if wethers should produce juicier and more flavorsome meat compared to bucks.


1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Thompson ◽  
R Barlow

The effect of sire breed on the growth and development of carcass characteristics was examined in 104 steer carcasses, over the weight range of c. 300 to 600 kg liveweight. The carcasses were obtained from 28 straightbred Hereford, 27 Brahman x Hereford, 23 Simmental x Hereford and 26 Friesian x Hereford steers, which were grown on pasture and slaughtered in four groups when the Herefords weighed c. 270, 370, 470 and 570 kg liveweight. Changes in carcass characteristics with weight were examined by using the linear form of the allometric equation (log10Y = log10A+blog10X). As liveweight increased, the proportion of carcass in the body increased (b = 1.152). At the same liveweight, Brahman cross steers had heavier carcasses than the Hereford steers, which were heavier than either the Simmental or Friesian cross steers (P < 0.05). Fat thickness at the 12th-13th rib site, and kidney and channel fat weight both increased at a proportionally faster rate than carcass weight (b = 1.511 and 1 567 respectively). At the same carcass weight, Hereford and Brahman cross carcasses had a greater fat thickness than Simmental and Friesian cross carcasses (P i 0.05). Differences between sire breeds in kidney and channel fat weight were not significant (P > 0.05). C:rcass length and eye muscle area increased at a proportionally slower rate than carcass weight (b = 0.268 and 0.466 respectively). At the same carcass weight, Friesian cross carcasses were longer, and Simmental cross carcasses had a larger eye muscle area than the other breed crosses (P < 0.05). As total side weight increased, the proportions of subcutaneous and intermuscular fatAincreased (b = 1.554 and 1.535 respectively), and the proportions of muscle and bone decreased (b = 0.938 and 0.676 respectively). At the same side weight, the Hereford and Brahman cross carcasses had more subcutaneous fat than the Simmental and Friesian cross carcasses (P < 0.05). The Hereford carcasses had more intermuscular fat than the Simmental cross carcasses, which had more muscle than the other breed crosses (P < 0.05). Friesian cross carcasses had more bone than the Simmental crosses, with Brahman cross and Hereford carcasses having the least bone (P < 0.05). Brahman cross carcasses had a higher conformation score than the Simmental cross and Hereford carcasses, the Friesian cross carcasses having the lowest (P < 0.05). Samples of the M. longissimus from Brahman cross carcasses had a higher Warner-Bratzler shear force than samples from the other breed crosses (P < 0.05).


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Pieterse ◽  
L. C. Hoffman ◽  
F. K. Siebrits ◽  
E. L. Gloy ◽  
E. Polawska

A study was conducted with 192 pigs of three sex types with treatments according to slaughter weight (65 kg to 144 kg). The main statistical differences observed were for slaughter weight with significant (P < 0.05) and highly significant (P < 0.01) differences describing more than 10% of variance observed for all characteristics (liveweight, warm carcass weight, dressing percentage, eye muscle area, subcutaneous fat thickness, intramuscular fat area, subcutaneous fat : eye muscle area, intramuscular fat : eye muscle area, fat thickness, muscle depth, carcass length, ham circumference, ham length and chest depth) measured. Sex differences (P < 0.05) were also observed for dressing percentage, fat measurements and muscle depth measured between the 5th and 6th lumbar vertebrae. Sex type differences, in all instances, accounted for 10% or less variance except for subcutaneous fat : eye muscle area ratio (18.47%). It was shown that although significant sex type differences (P < 0.05) existed; slaughter weight had the largest effect on carcass characteristics in the given circumstances accounting for most of the observed variance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
S. J. Lee ◽  
I. K. Nuberg ◽  
W. S. Pitchford

The present paper quantifies the variation in selection direction and genetic merit for the 10 Angus seedstock herds that contributed the majority of the data to the industry herd component of the Beef CRC Maternal Productivity Project. Differences in multi-trait selection direction for 17 BREEDPLAN estimated breeding values (EBVs) ranged between 16 and 63 degrees. Important differences among herds for selection direction for individual EBVs were identified. Specifically, some herds had been selecting to increase rib-fat and rump-fat EBV, while others were decreasing them. On the basis of a principal component analysis, 78% of the between herd difference in genetic merit as assessed by 17 EBVs was accounted for by two principal components. For 2000-born calves, the first principal component accounted for 50% of the genetic variation between herds and was most closely associated with days to calving EBV. Of the genetic merit for 2009-born calves, the first principal component accounted for 49% of the between herd variation and had the strongest weightings with BREEDPLAN rib-fat and rump-fat EBVs. The second principal component accounted for 29% of the variation and was most strongly related with BREEDPLAN EBVs for traits gestation length, milk and eye muscle area and 200-, 400- and 600-day weight. The variation at 2009 is consistent with outcomes from qualitative research that hypothesised that the main differences in genetic merit among herds are associated with rib-fat and rump-fat EBVs, but there were also differences in selection emphasis for weight traits. Despite differences in genetic merit among herds being generally small, they will manifest themselves in different productivity outcomes depending on the management system. Seedstock breeders and bull buyers should be aware of this and target their animal selection accordingly.


1998 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Francis ◽  
N. B. Jopson ◽  
R. P. Littlejohn ◽  
S. K. Stuart ◽  
B. A. Veenvliet ◽  
...  

AbstractCoopworth sheep selected for low (lean) or high (fat) backfat have large differences in plasma GH profiles. Fat genotype ram lambs (5 months old) were treated with growth hormone (GH) to simulate the plasma GH profiles of lean sheep and investigate whether exogenous GH could modify carcass fatness. For 77 days, bovine GH was administered at 25 Uglkg live weight per day either as a single, daily subcutaneous bolus (fat bolus) or via portable pulsatile infusion pumps (fat pump) which delivered GH solution at 90-min intervals into a jugular catheter. Measurements of body composition were made by computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonic scanning during the trial, with linear carcass measurements and proximate analysis undertaken at the end of the experiment.Before treatments began, mean plasma GH levels were lower (P < 0·01) in fat control (0·34 ugll) than in lean lambs (1·1 μg/l). Several weeks after the start of the trial, mean plasma GH had increased in both fat bolus (1·2 μg/l) and fat pump (0·45 μg/l) treatment lambs with major changes in the pulsatility relative to the fat control lambs. Although these changes were maintained in the fat bolus lambs, by the end of the trial there was no significant difference in mean plasma GH between fat pump and fat control sheep. Throughout the trial, plasma 1GF-1 levels were higher in fat bolus, fat pump and lean lambs than in fat control lambs. Analysis of body composition data over the GH treatment period revealed that the slope of the allometric equation for total fat relative to empty body weight was lower in the fat bolus lambs (1·07) than in the lean lambs (1·50) with fat control and fat pump treatment lambs intermediate (1·30 and 1·36, respectively). Subcutaneous fat was later maturing in lean lambs than in fat control and bolus treatment lambs when regressed against total fat, with the fat pump treatment lambs being intermediate. Linear carcass measurements revealed changes due to GH administration in the distribution of subcutaneous fat and eye muscle dimensions.It is concluded that sheep from the fat genotype show physiological responses to exogenous GH. Increasing plasma GH levels of fat sheep increased plasma IGF-1 and had variable effects on carcass fatness. The change in body composition may be affected by the mode of administration of exogenous GH.


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 785 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gazzola ◽  
C. J. O'Neill ◽  
J. E. Frisch

Summary. A Brahman sire (Select Brahman) whose steer progeny had both high marbling scores and high intramuscular fat content has been identified. The effect was independent of dam breed (5 different dam breeds were analysed), was present in both grain-finished and pasture-finished progeny, and was independent of hormone growth promotant treatment. From pasture, over twice as many progeny from the Select sire (62.5%) had high marbling scores as progeny from 10 other Brahman sires (25.9%). The effect was not as marked in grain-finished steers but the Select sire still produced one-third more high marbling progeny (84.6%) than the other sires (63.6%). The Select sire’s progeny were equal to or better than progeny from Tuli sires in producing high marbling scores. The intramuscular fat content (3.5 ± 0.3 g/100 g) of the progeny from the Select sire was greater than double that of progeny from other Brahman sires (1.9 ± 0.2 g/100 g; P<0.0001) and higher than progeny from Tuli sires (2.3 ± 0.1 g/100 g; P<0.0001). The increased marbling and intramuscular fat content were not associated with increased subcutaneous fat deposition, decreased muscle deposition, lower growth rate or smaller mature size since there were no differences in age, hot standard carcass weight, rump fat depth and rib eye muscle area between the Select sire’s progeny and those of other Brahman sires. The identification of a high marbling trait in a Bos indicus sire is of considerable significance to the northern Australian beef industry because it enables markets requiring marbled carcasses to be targeted while maintaining the advantages of tropical adaptation.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
H.Q. Li ◽  
B. Wang ◽  
Z. Li ◽  
H.L. Luo ◽  
C. Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of rumen-protected folic acid (RPFA) on slaughter performance, visceral organ and gastrointestinal tract coefficients, and meat quality in lambs. Sixty-six lambs from 120 Hu ewes were selected based on body weight and maternal diets, and then assigned to six groups using a randomized block experimental design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The first factor was folic acid (FA) as RPFA in the maternal diet (0 mg/kg [M0F], 16 mg/kg [M16F] or 32 mg/kg [M32F] on dry matter basis). The second factor was FA in the lambs’ diet from weaning until slaughter (0 mg/kg [OC] or 4.0 mg/kg [OF]). The results indicated that the addition of 16 mg/kg FA to the maternal diet increased pre-slaughter weight (PSW), dressing and meat percentage, the reticulum and omasum coefficients, length of the jejunum and ileum, tail fat and perirenal fat coefficient and a* value of the meat color. The addition of RPFA to the lambs’ diet increased PSW, dressing and meat percentage, eye muscle area, abomasum weight, weight and length of the small intestine, but reduced the coefficients of tail fat. A M×O interaction was observed for the weights of heart, lungs, rumen and total stomach, weight and coefficient of omental fat and the GR value. Collectively, RPFA in the maternal and lambs’ diet improved slaughter performance and meat quality by stimulating the morphological development of the gastrointestinal tract and the distribution of fat in the body.


1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel

ABSTRACTA number of possible indices of body composition (live weight, skeletal size, total body water as estimated by deuterium oxide dilution, blood and red cell volumes as estimated by Evans Blue dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring) was examined using 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating, mature cows of Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, British Friesian, Galloway and Luing genotypes, ranging in body condition score from 0·75 to 4·5. Direct measurements of body composition in terms of water, fat, protein and ash were made following slaughter.Live weight, deuterium oxide dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eyemuscle area, and body condition score were all considered to be potentially useful predictors of body composition. Combinations of techniques offered better predictions than did any single index. Using a combination of measurements it was possible to predict body fat and protein with a residual s.d. of 13·1 kg and 3·15 kg respectively. Breed differences in the partition of fat among the main adipose tissue depots necessitated the development of specific prediction equations for body fat based on condition score and subcutaneous fat depth for different breeds. Equations remain to be developed for predicting body composition in cows in different physiological states.


1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 143-143
Author(s):  
M C Cia ◽  
S A Edwards ◽  
V L Glasgow ◽  
M Shanks ◽  
H Fraser

Low protein diets have been proposed as a way to enhance fat reserves and reduce liveweight gain in breeding animals of very lean genotypes. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different protein levels on daily gain, body composition and reproductive performance of gilts.At 118 (sem=0.28) days old, 54 genetically lean gilts ((Landrace x Large White) x Large White) were allocated, considering firstly age and secondly weight, between three treatments with different dietary lysine:energy (g/MJ DE) ratios: High (0.9), Medium (0.6) and Low (0.3), fed twice daily at 2.9 x maintenance energy. Animals were weighed weekly and backfat thickness (P2) and muscle depth values were also taken. Eye muscle area measurements were taken by real time ultrasonography (Aloka 500) at the end of the experiment At 160 days of age, puberty was induced by administration of exogenous gonadotropin (PG600).


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Donoghue ◽  
S. J. Lee ◽  
P. F. Parnell ◽  
W. S. Pitchford

The genetics of body composition traits measured before calving and at weaning in the first and second parities were evaluated in 5975 Angus and 1785 Hereford cows. Traits measured were liveweight, body condition score and hip height and ultrasound scanned measurements of subcutaneous P8 and 12/13th rib fat depth, loin eye muscle area and intramuscular fat percentage. Corresponding yearling measures on these animals were obtained for analyses of relationships between yearling information with later-in-life traits. There was moderate genetic variation in all body composition traits measured at pre-calving and weaning in Angus (h2 = 0.14–0.59) and Hereford (h2 = 0.14–0.64) cows. Genetic correlations between measurements of the same trait at pre-calving and weaning were consistently positive and high in both parities for both breeds, indicating animals were ranking similarly for the same trait measured over time. Genetic correlations between measurements of different traits were generally consistent over time (pre-calving and weaning) in both breeds, indicating genetic relationships between traits were not changing significantly over time. Genetic correlations with corresponding yearling measures of body composition were consistently positive and high for the first parity, and lower for the second parity. The results of this study indicate that genetic improvement in body composition traits in cows is possible, and that body composition information recorded at yearling age is a reasonably good predictor of later in life performance for these traits.


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