Genetic analysis of docility score of Australian Angus and Limousin cattle

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. F. Walkom ◽  
M. G. Jeyaruban ◽  
B. Tier ◽  
D. J. Johnston

The temperament of cattle is believed to affect the profitability of the herd through impacting production costs, meat quality, reproduction, maternal behaviour and the welfare of the animals and their handlers. As part of the national beef cattle genetic evaluation in Australia by BREEDPLAN, 50 935 Angus and 50 930 Limousin calves were scored by seedstock producers for temperament using docility score. Docility score is a subjective score of the animal’s response to being restrained and isolated within a crush, at weaning, and is scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 representing the quiet and 5 the extremely nervous or anxious calves. Genetic parameters for docility score were estimated using a threshold animal model with four thresholds (five categories) from a Bayesian analysis carried out using Gibbs sampling in THRGIBBS1F90 with post-Gibbs analysis in POSTGIBBSF90. The heritability of docility score on the observed scale was 0.21 and 0.39 in Angus and Limousin, respectively. Since the release of the docility breeding value to the Australian Limousin population there has been a favourable trend within the national herd towards more docile cattle. Weak but favourable genetic correlations between docility score and the production traits indicates that docility score is largely independent of these traits and that selection to improve temperament can occur without having an adverse effect on growth, fat, muscle and reproduction.

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-121
Author(s):  
Rodica Stefania Pelmuș ◽  
Mircea Cătălin Rotar ◽  
Cristina Lazăr ◽  
Răzvan Alexandru Uță

Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for test-day traits milk yield and the breeding value in Romanian Spotted, Simmental type cattle. Random regression test-day animal model was used to estimate the genetic parameters. The number of records were 2062 test-day from 302 cows. The data were obtained from Romanian Breeding Association Romanian Spotted, Simmental type. The heritability estimates values for milk yield ranged between 0.377 and 0.417. The heritability for fat test-day yield in our study was low the values ranged between 0.117 and 0.236 and for protein test-day yield was medium, the values ranged between 0.308 and 0.372. The breeding value for the best ten cows for milk yield ranged from 1946.57 to 3250.38 kg, for fat yield were between 64.92 and 98.86 kg and for protein ranged from 67.26 to 102.21 kg. The correlations between test-day milk yields ranging from 0.28 to 1. Genetic correlations between test day fat and protein yields were high.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
I. Udeh ◽  
S. I. Omeje

Estimates of genetic parameters for economic traits are important to enable the breeder estimate the breeding value of individuals available for selection. Thus, this study was carried out to estimate genetic parameters namely heritability and genetic correlations among egg production traits in two strain crosses using bivariate animal model in Bayesian (MCMC) method. The egg production data were obtained from four generations which comprised the base population of two commercial egg strains and the local chicken, the inbred population derived from the base population, the F1 crossbred population obtained from the crossing of the local and exotic inbred chickens and the backcross population obtained from the backcrossing of the crossbred to their parents. A total number of 1,138 daughters of 62 sires and 620 dams were used for the study. The autocorrelations among samples in the MCMC chain were less than 0.1 for all lag values indicating that all samples of the posterior distribution were independent. The estimated heritability for age at first egg, body weight at first egg, hen day egg number, weight of first egg, egg weight at thirty week and egg weight at forty week were 0.62, 0.48, 0.47, 0.53, 0.54 and 0.56 for strain 1 crosses and 0.43, 0.48, 0.49, 0.52, 0.52 and 0.53 for strain 2 crosses. The corresponding highest posterior density interval ranged from 0.22 to 0.91 for strain 1 crosses and 0.07 to 0.83 for strain 2 crosses. The genetic correlations among egg production traits ranged from 0.06 to 1.97 in strain 1 and 0.06 to 2.59 in strain 2 crosses. The estimates were within the range reported in literature for egg production traits in chicken and imply that appreciable amount of additive genes exist in the strain crosses which could be used for the selection of superior birds. The magnitude of genetic correlations implies that selection of one trait could lead to correlated response to the other traits.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-386
Author(s):  
L. Csató ◽  
I. Nagy ◽  
J. Farkas ◽  
L. Radnóczi

Abstract. Genetic parameters for various backfat measurements (BF1FT, BF2FT, BF3FT, BF1ST, BF2ST, BF3ST), average backfat thickness (ABFFT), loin muscle area (LMAFT), fat depth between the 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae (SF1FT), fat depth between the 3rd and 4th ribs (SF2FT), lean meat percentage (LMPFT) were estimated. The analysis was based on the national database of the field and station tests, using animal model in Hungarian Large White (LW), Hungarian Landrace (LR) breeds, and A-line of the Ka-Hyb hybrid (MLW) between May 1996–February 2001. Heritability for BFFT traits ranged between 0.15–0.35. Similar interval was received for ABFFT (0.20–0.36) but reasonably higher estimates were observed in BFST traits (0.41–0.75). SFFT heritabilies (0.18–0.37) were close to those of BFFT traits while somewhat higher values were found in LMPFT (0.26–0.45) and LMAFT (0.31–0.58). Genetic correlations were generally positive among all fat depth measurements and negative with LMPFT. Genetic correlations between LMAFT-LMPFT were positive but contradictory results were found between LMAFT and fat depth measurements. The genetic correlations between BFFT traits and their station test counterparts (BFST) varied between 0.12–0.64.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247779
Author(s):  
U. Rajkumar ◽  
L. Leslie Leo Prince ◽  
K. S. Rajaravindra ◽  
S. Haunshi ◽  
M. Niranjan ◽  
...  

Variance and covariance components of growth and production traits were analyzed employing REML animal model to assess the Dahlem Red (PD-3) chicken population for direct additive genetic, maternal effects and to estimate the estimated breeding value (EBV), genetic parameters, genetic trends and rate of inbreeding (ΔF) utilizing seven generation’s data. The generation and hatch had significant (P≤0.01) effect on the body weight at 0 day (BW0), 2 (BW2), 4 (BW4) and 6 weeks (BW6) and shank length at six weeks of age (SL6). The average least squares means (LSM) for BW6 and SL6 were 273.93±0.62 g and 53.97±0.05 mm, respectively. All the production traits were significantly (P≤0.01) influenced by generation and hatch. The average LSM for age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg production up to 40 weeks (EP40) and egg mass up to 40 weeks (EM40) were 168.82±0.25 d, 72.60±0.41 eggs and 4.21±0.07 kg, respectively. Model 5 with additive direct, maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual variance components was the best for BW0, BW2 and BW4 based on the AIC values obtained in WOMBAT. Model 4 was the best model for BW6, SL6, ASM, EP40 and EM40 with additive direct, maternal permanent environmental and residual variance components. Maternal effects were higher during early age, decreased with age, and remained present until 20 weeks of age. The heritability (h2) estimates were low to moderate in magnitude for all the growth traits and ranged from 0.02±0.03 to 0.19±0.03. The maternal heritability was high at hatch (0.35±0.06), decreased gradually until 4th week (0.02±0.01) and ceased afterwards. The heritabilities of EP40 (0.11±0.03) and EM40 (0.12±0.04) were low. The direct additive genetic correlations (ra) between BW2, BW4, BW6 and SL6 were high and positive (P≤ 0.05). The additive genetic and maternal permanent environmental correlation between EP40 and EM40 were high and positive (P≤ 0.05). The EBV of EM40 was significant (P≤ 0.05) with 0.48 kg/generation in PD-3 chicken at the end of the seventh generation. The EBV of EP40 showed an increasing trend with a genetic gain of 1.87 eggs per generation. The average inbreeding coefficient of the population was 0.019 and average ΔF was 0.007 over the last seven generations of selection. The EBV trends for primary and associated traits showed linear trends in the desired direction and negligible inbreeding.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Volanis ◽  
A. Kominakis ◽  
E. Rogdakis

Abstract. A total of 4466 monthly test day records of 555 Greek Sfakia dairy ewes were used to estimate heritabilities as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations for udder score (US), average daily milk yield (MY), fat percentage (FC) and protein percentage (PC) of milk. Genetic parameters were estimated with a multitrait animal model with correlated residuals. Heritabilities were between 0.17 and 0.24, 0.41 and 0.47, 0.32 and 0.52 and 0.44 and 0.55, for test day US, MY, FC and PC, respectively. Within traits, genetic correlations between test days were between 0.54 and 0.57, 0.71 and 0.96, 0.79 and 0.99 and 0.85 and 0.99 for US, MY, FC and PC, respectively. Genetic correlations between milk traits and US were negative and of very low magnitude (−0.04 to −0.06). Genetic correlations between MY – FC and MY – PC were negative and of varying magnitude, from −0.37 to −0.52 and from −0.44 to −0.50, in the four test days, respectively. Fat and protein percentages were found to be highly, positively, correlated.


2002 ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Hinni Luehrs-Behnke ◽  
Rainer Roche ◽  
Ernst Kalm

In Germany, the new integrated breeding value estimation is based on a multiple-trait animal model, considering simultaneously information from performance test of stallion on station, performance test of mares as well as competition results of sport horses. The objective of this study was to estimated the genetic parameters of the traits used in the integrated breeding evaluation including all German warmblood breeds. The analysed data consisted of 4527, 40670 and six million records for performance tests of stallions, mares and for competition results, respectively. Genetic parameters were estimated with a multivariate BLUP animal model. Heritabilities for traits obtained from stallions tested on station ranged from 0.33 (jumping under rider) to 0.51 (trot) and for the traits from mare performance test from 0.27 (walk) to 0.38 (trot). Genetic correlations between corresponding traits recorded on performance test of stallions and mares ranged from 0.87 (canter) to 0.98 (free jumping). Heritabilities of competition traits from horses (build up for sport) were estimated as 0.12 and 0.11 for dressage and jumping, respectively. The use of all traits for estimation of genetic values of horses is expected to reduce pre-selection and optimal combines all information resources based on the estimated genetic parameters.


Author(s):  
А.И. МАМОНТОВА ◽  
С.А. НИКИТИН ◽  
Е.Е. МЕЛЬНИКОВА ◽  
А.А. СЕРМЯГИН

Целью проведенных исследований являлась отработка и адаптация применения методик BLUP AM (Animal Model — модель животного) и TDM (Test-Day Model — модель тестового дня) для прогнозирования племенной ценности быков-производителей и оценки селекционно-генетических параметров на популяции скота симментальской породы четырех регионов РФ. Проведен сравнительный анализ указанных методов с более ранним методом BLUP SM (Sire Model — модель отца). Рассчитана племенная ценность быков и коров симментальской породы по признакам молочной продуктивности: удой за 305 дней, выход молочного жира, выход молочного белка. Анализ полученных средних значений достоверности оценок быков-производителей, рассчитанных на основе сопоставляемых методов, свидетельствует, что достоверность для признака «удой за 305 дней» при переходе от метода SM1 к AM1 увеличивается на 2,4%, а при переходе от SM1 к TDM1 — на 7,8%. Даны варианты генетического тренда по удою с использованием различных уравнений моделей расчета племенной ценности. На основании полученных данных можно сделать вывод о том, что модель тестового дня позволяет не только повысить точность оценок быков, но и более рельефно выявить их ранги, а также несколько уменьшить срок получения достоверных оценок производителей по качеству потомства по продуктивным признакам. The purpose of this research was to develop and adapt the application of BLUP AM (Animal Model) and TDM (Test-Day Model) methods for predicting the sires breeding value and evaluating genetic parameters for Simmental cattle population in four regions of the Russian Federation. A comparative analysis of these methods with the earlier BLUP SM (Sire Model) method is performed. The breeding value for sires and cows of Simmental breed was calculated by milk production traits: milk yield for 305 days; milk fatyield; milk proteinyield. The sires reliability of average breeding value calculated by different methods reveal that milk yield for 305 days when switching from the SM1 to AM1 method increases by 2.4%, and when switching from SM1 to TDM1 — by 7.8%.The variants of the genetic trend for milk yield are given using various equations of BLUP and TDM. Based on the obtained data, it can be concluded that the Test-Day model allows increasing the accuracy of bull’s evaluation and also more clearly identifying their ranks, as well as slightly reducing the time for obtaining reliable estimates of bulls by offspring for production traits.


2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-298
Author(s):  
J. Bizelis ◽  
A. Kominakis ◽  
E. Rogdakis ◽  
F. Georgadopoulou

Abstract. Production and reproduetive traits in Danish Landrace (LD) and Large White (LW) swine were analysed by restricted maximum likelihood methods to obtain heritabilities as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations. Production traits were: age, backfat thickness (BT), muscle depth (MD) and the ratio BT/MD, adjusted to Standard bodyweight of 85 kg. Reproduction traits were: number of pigs born (NB) and number of pigs weaned (NW) per sow and parity. Heritabilities for age, BT, MD and BT/MD were 0.60, 0.44, 0.51 and 0.42 for LD and 0.36, 0.44, 0.37 and 0.45 for LW, respectively. Genetic correlations between age and BT were −0.22 in LD and – 0.44 in LW. The genetic correlation between age and MD was close to zero in both breeds. Genetic correlation between BT and MD were −0.36 and −0.25 in LD and LW, respectively. Heritabilities for NB were 0.25 in LD and 0.13 in LW while heritabilities for NW were close to zero in both breeds. Genetic correlation between NB and NW was 0.46 and 0.70 in LD and LW, respectively.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mohammadi ◽  
S. Alijani

This study was conducted to compare of random regression (RR) animal and sire models for estimation of the genetic parameters for production traits of Iranian Holstein dairy cows. For this purpose, the test day records were used belonged to first three lactations of cows and for, milk, fat and protein yields traits where, collected from 2003 to 2010, by the national breeding center of Iran. The genetic parameters were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood algorithm. To compare the model, different criterion -2logL value, AIC, BIC and RV were used for considered traits. Residual variances were considered homogeneous over the lactation period. Obtained results showed that additive genetic variance was highest in the beginning and end lactation and permanent environmental variance was highest in beginning of lactation than other lactation period. Heritabilities estimate for milk, fat and protein yields by RR animal and sire models were found to be lowest during early lactation (0.05, 0.04 and 0.07; 0.05, 0.19 and 0.13; 0.14, 0.19 and 0.15, for milk, fat and protein yields and in first, second and third lactation respectively). However, estimated heritabilities during lactation did not vary among different order Legendre polynomials, and also between RR animal and sire models. The variation in genetic correlations estimate in the RR animal and sire models was larger in the first lactation than in the second and third lactations. Thus, based on the results obtained, it can be inferred that the RR animal model is better for modeling yield traits in Iranian Holsteins.


2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Boujenane ◽  
J. Kansari

AbstractGenetic parameters for body weights in Timahdite sheep were estimated using records of 10370 lambs from the ‘Société Nationale de Développement de l’Elevage’ born in 1988-89 to 1998-99. An animal model with derivativefree restricted maximum likelihood procedures was used. Random effects were direct and maternal additive genetic, maternal permanent environmental, and error. Direct and maternal heritability estimates were 0·05 and 0·05 for birth weight, 0·02 and 0·07 for weight at 30 days, 0·07 and 0·08 for weight at 70 days, 0·06 and 0·01 for weight at 90 days. Estimates of fraction of variance due to maternal permanent environmental effects were close to zero, except for weight at 90 days. Genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects were –0·55, –0·51, –0·50 and –0·17 for body weights at birth, 30, 70 and 90 days, respectively. Estimates of direct genetic correlations among body weights were positive and high, ranging from 0·69 to unity. Phenotypic correlations were positive and moderate to high, being lower than their corresponding direct genetic correlations. Estimates of correlations between maternal genetic effects among weights were positive and high, varying from 0·79 to unity. Cross-correlations between direct genetic effects for one weight and maternal genetic effects for another weight were consistently negative, ranging from –0·05 to –0·63. These results indicate that selecting for improved maternal and/or direct effects in Timahdite sheep is expected to generate only slow genetic progress in terms of early growth.


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