Genetic variation of the weaning weight of beef cattle as a function of accumulated heat stress

2015 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L. Santana ◽  
A.B. Bignardi ◽  
J.P. Eler ◽  
J.B.S. Ferraz
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Weaning Weight

scholarly journals Development of a genetic evaluation for hair shedding in American Angus cattle to improve thermotolerance

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harly J. Durbin ◽  
Duc Lu ◽  
Helen Yampara-Iquise ◽  
Stephen P. Miller ◽  
Jared E. Decker
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
The United States ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Functional Enrichment ◽  
Fescue Toxicosis ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Angus Cattle ◽  
Genetic Evaluations

Abstract Background Heat stress and fescue toxicosis caused by ingesting tall fescue infected with the endophytic fungus Epichloë coenophiala represent two of the most prevalent stressors to beef cattle in the United States and cost the beef industry millions of dollars each year. The rate at which a beef cow sheds her winter coat early in the summer is an indicator of adaptation to heat and an economically relevant trait in temperate or subtropical parts of the world. Furthermore, research suggests that early-summer hair shedding may reflect tolerance to fescue toxicosis, since vasoconstriction induced by fescue toxicosis limits the ability of an animal to shed its winter coat. Both heat stress and fescue toxicosis reduce profitability partly via indirect maternal effects on calf weaning weight. Here, we developed parameters for routine genetic evaluation of hair shedding score in American Angus cattle, and identified genomic loci associated with variation in hair shedding score via genome-wide association analysis (GWAA). Results Hair shedding score was moderately heritable (h2 = 0.34 to 0.40), with different repeatability estimates between cattle grazing versus not grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue. Our results suggest modestly negative genetic and phenotypic correlations between a dam’s hair shedding score (lower score is earlier shedding) and the weaning weight of her calf, which is one metric of performance. Together, these results indicate that economic gains can be made by using hair shedding score breeding values to select for heat-tolerant cattle. GWAA identified 176 variants significant at FDR < 0.05. Functional enrichment analyses using genes that were located within 50 kb of these variants identified pathways involved in keratin formation, prolactin signalling, host-virus interaction, and other biological processes. Conclusions This work contributes to a continuing trend in the development of genetic evaluations for environmental adaptation. Our results will aid beef cattle producers in selecting more sustainable and climate-adapted cattle, as well as enable the development of similar routine genetic evaluations in other breeds.

scholarly journals Review: Impacts of shade on cattle well-being in the beef supply chain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily N Edwards-Callaway ◽  
M Caitlin Cramer ◽  
Caitlin N Cadaret ◽  
Elizabeth J Bigler ◽  
Terry E Engle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Stress Susceptibility ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Shade is a mechanism to reduce heat load providing cattle with an environment supportive of their welfare needs. Although heat stress has been extensively reviewed, researched, and addressed in dairy production systems, it has not been investigated in the same manner in the beef cattle supply chain. Like all animals, beef cattle are susceptible to heat stress if they are unable to dissipate heat during times of elevated ambient temperatures. There are many factors that impact heat stress susceptibility in beef cattle throughout the different supply chain sectors, many of which relate to the production system, i.e. availability of shade, microclimate of environment, and nutrition management. The results from studies evaluating the effects of shade on production and welfare are difficult to compare due to variation in structural design, construction materials used, height, shape, and area of shade provided. Additionally, depending on operation location, shade may or may not be beneficial during all times of the year, which can influence the decision to make shade a permanent part of management systems. Shade has been shown to lessen the physiologic response of cattle to heat stress. Shaded cattle exhibit lower respiration rates, body temperatures, and panting scores compared to un-shaded cattle in weather that increases the risk of heat stress. Results from studies investigating the provision of shade indicate that cattle seek shade in hot weather. The impact of shade on behavioral patterns is inconsistent in the current body of research, some studies indicating shade provision impacts behavior and other studies reporting no difference between shaded and un-shaded groups. Analysis of performance and carcass characteristics across feedlot studies demonstrated that shaded cattle had increased ADG, improved feed efficiency, HCW, and dressing percentage when compared to cattle without shade. Despite the documented benefits of shade, current industry statistics, although severely limited in scope, indicate low shade implementation rates in feedlots and data in other supply chain sectors do not exist. Industry guidelines and third party on-farm certification programs articulate the critical need for protection from extreme weather but are not consistent in providing specific recommendations and requirements. Future efforts should include: updated economic analyses of cost versus benefit of shade implementation, exploration of producer perspectives and needs relative to shade, consideration of shade impacts in the cow-calf and slaughter plant segments of the supply chain, and integration of indicators of affective (mental) state and preference in research studies to enhance the holistic assessment of cattle welfare.

Sire × herd interactions for weaning weight in beef cattle

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 2359-2365 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Notter ◽  
B. Tier ◽  
K. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Weaning Weight

Genetic variation in Nelore heifer pregnancy due to heat stress during the breeding season

2018 ◽  
Vol 218 ◽  
pp. 101-107
Author(s):  
M.L. Santana ◽  
J.P. Eler ◽  
G.A. Oliveira ◽  
A.B. Bignardi ◽  
R.J. Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Breeding Season

scholarly journals Factors affecting growth traits of beef cattle breeds raised inSlovakia

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Krupa ◽  
M. Oravcová ◽  
P. Polák ◽  
J. Huba ◽  
Z. Krupová
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
General Linear Model ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Sex Effect ◽  
Beef Cattle Breeds

Growth traits of purebred calves of six beef breeds (Aberdeen Angus &ndash; AA, Blonde d&rsquo;Aquitaine &ndash; BA, Charolais &ndash; CH,Hereford &ndash; HE, Limousine &ndash; LI and Beef Simmental &ndash; BS) born from 1998 to 2002 were analysed. Traits under study were birth weight (BW), weight at 120 days (W120), weight at 210 days &ndash; weaning weight (WW), weight at 365 days &ndash; yearling weight (YW) and average daily gains from birth to 120 days (ADG1), from birth to 210 days (ADG2), from birth to 365 days (ADG3), from 120 to 210 days (ADG4). General linear model with class effects of breed, dam&rsquo;s age at calving, sex, herd-year-season (HYS) and covariation of age at weighing was used for analyses. All effects significantly affected both weight and gain traits except for dam&rsquo;s age that was significant for BW, W120, YW and ADG3, and age at weighing that was significant for W120, WW, YW, ADG2, ADG3, ADG4. Estimated least squares means of growth traits were compared using Scheffe&rsquo;s multiple-range tests. Highest BW (40.57&nbsp;kg) and W120 (172.43 kg) were found for BA calves. BS calves had highest WW (260.30 kg), YW (424.07 kg), ADG1 (1&nbsp;154&nbsp;g), ADG2 (1 053 g), ADG3 (1 054 g) and ADG4 (1 098 g). Highest BW, YW, ADG3 and ADG4 were found for males-singles. Males-twins had highest W120, WW, ADG1 and ADG2. Calves descending from 5&ndash;7 years old dams had highest BW, W120, WW, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG4. The proportion of variability of growth traits explained by HYS effect (42.96&ndash;71.69%) was high, whereas proportions of variability explained by SEX effect (2.03&ndash;5.77%), age of dam (1.02&ndash;2.24%) and breed (1.05&ndash;2.21%) were low. Residuals accounted for 23.71 up to 53.79% of total variance. &nbsp;

scholarly journals Selection of a suitable definition of environment for the estimation of genotype × environment interaction in the weaning weight of beef cattle

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 407-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Vostrý ◽  
J. Přibyl ◽  
V. Jakubec ◽  
Z. Veselá ◽  
I. Majzlík
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Ratio Test ◽  
Residual Variance ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Genotype Environment Interaction ◽  
And Performance

Genotype by environment interactions for weaning weight in beef cattle were tested using several definitions of environments. Four breeds of beef cattle (Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Beef Simmental, and Charolais) were represented. The environments were defined according to five criteria: altitude, production areas, economic value of the land, less favourable areas, and performance levels of a breed within herds. Ten mixed models were compared including the effects of direct and maternal genetics, herd-year-season, maternal permanent environmental, breed, environment, genotype × environment interaction, sex of calf, and age of dam. The suitability of the models was tested by Akaike’s Information Criterion, likelihood ratio test, and magnitude of the residual variance. The most suitable definitions of environment were less favoured areas and herd levels of performance. Estimates of direct heritability ranged from 0.07 to 0.19. Genotype × environment interactions should be included in a genetic evaluation model for interbreed comparisons of beef cattle in the Czech Republic.

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