Genetic parameters for birth weight,weaning weight and age at first calving in Brown Swiss cattle in Mexico

Heritabilities and genetic correlations between birth weight (n = 13,741), adjusted 240-day weaning weight (WW, n = 8,806) and age at first calving (AFC, n = 3,955) of Brown Swiss cattle in Mexico were estimated. Data from 91 herds located in 19 of 32 states of Mexico from 1982 to 2006 were provided by the Mexican Brown cattle Breeder Association. Components of (co)variance, direct and maternal heritabilities were estimated for birth weight, WW and AFC using bivariate animal models. Direct and maternal heritabilities were 0.21 and 0.05 for birth weight, 0.40 and 0.05 for WW, whereas direct heritability for AFC was 0.08. The correlations between direct and maternal effects for birth weight and WW were −0.49 and −0.64, respectively. The genetic correlations between birth weight–WW and WW–AFC were 0.36 and −0.02, respectively. Under the conditions of this study, selection for increasing birth weight would increase WW, but increasing WW will not change AFC.     

Genetic relationships between calving and carcass traits for Charolais and Hereford cattle in Sweden

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between calving difficulty score and carcass traits in Charolais and Hereford cattle, treating first and later parity calvings as different traits. Genetic correlations between birth weight and carcass traits were also estimated. Field data on 59,182 Charolais and 27,051 Hereford calvings, and carcass traits of 5,260 Charolais and 1,232 Hereford bulls, were used in bivariate linear animal model analyses. Estimated heritabilities were moderate to high (0.22 to 0.50) for direct effects on birth weight, carcass weight, and (S)EUROP (European Community scale for carcass classification) grades for carcass fleshiness and fatness. Heritabilities of 0.07 to 0.18 were estimated for maternal effect on birth weight, and for direct and maternal effects on calving difficulty score at first parity. Lower heritabilities (0.01 to 0.05) were estimated for calving difficulty score at later parities. Carcass weight was positively genetically correlated (0.11 to 0.53) with both direct and maternal effects on birth weight and with direct effects on calving difficulty score. Carcass weight was, however, weakly or negatively (-0.70 to 0.07) correlated with maternal calving difficulty score. Higher carcass fatness grade was genetically associated with lower birth weight, and in most cases, also with less difficult calving. Genetic correlations with carcass fleshiness grade were highly variable. Moderately unfavorable correlations between carcass fleshiness grade and maternal calving difficulty score at first parity were estimated for both Charolais (0.42) and Hereford (0.54). This study found certain antagonistic genetic relationships between calving performance and carcass traits for both Charolais and Hereford cattle. Both direct and maternal calving performance, as well as carcass traits, should be included in the breeding goal and selected for in beef breeds.     

Genetic parameters for stayability, stayability at calving, and stayability at weaning to specified ages for Hereford cows

Genetic parameters for stayability to six ages (ST1, . . ., ST6), for five measures of stayability to calving (SC2, . . ., SC6), and for five measures of stayability to weaning (SW2, . . ., SW6), were estimated using records of 2,019 Hereford cows collected from 1964 to 1979 from a selection experiment with a control line and three lines selected for weaning weight, yearling weight, and an index of yearling weight and muscle score. The model included birth year of the cow as a fixed effect and the cow's sire as a random effect. Analyses were performed with 1) a generalized linear mixed model for binary data using a probit link with a penalized quasi-likelihood function, and 2) with a linear mixed model using REML. Genetic trends were estimated by regressing weighted means of estimated transmitting abilities (ETA) of sires by birth year of their daughters on birth year. Environmental trends were estimated by regressing solutions for year of birth on birth year. Estimates of heritability (SE) for ST were between 0.09 (0.08) and 0.30 (0.14) for threshold model and between 0.05 (0.04) and 0.19 (0.09) for linear model. Estimates of heritability from linear model analyses transformed to an underlying normal scale were between 0.09 and 0.35. Estimates of heritability (SE) for SC were between 0.29 (0.10) and 0.39 (0.11) and between 0.18 (0.09) and 0.25 (0.08) with threshold and linear models. Estimates of heritability transformed to an underlying normal scale were between 0.30 and 0.40. Estimates of heritability (SE) for SW were between 0.21 (0.14) and 0.47 (0.19) and between 0.12 (0.08) and 0.26 (0.12) with threshold and linear models, respectively. Estimates of heritability transformed to an underlying normal scale were between 0.21 and 0.50. Estimates of genetic and environmental trends for all lines were nearly zero for all traits. Correlations between ETA of sires for stayability to specific ages, for stayability to calving, and for stayability to weaning with threshold and linear models ranged from 0.09 to 0.82, from 0.68 to 0.90, and from 0.67 to 0.87, respectively. Selection for stayability would be possible in a breeding program and could be relatively effective as a result of the moderate estimates of heritability, which would allow selection of sires whose daughters are more likely to remain longer in the herd. Selection for weaning and yearling weights resulted in little correlated response for any of the measures of stayability.     

Genetic parameters for direct and maternal calving ability over parities in Piedmontese cattle

Estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations for calving ease over parities were obtained for the Italian Piedmontese population using animal models. Field data were calving records of 50,721 first- and 44,148 second-parity females and 142,869 records of 38,213 cows of second or later parity. Calving ability was scored in five categories and analyzed using either a univariate or a bivariate linear model, treating performance over parities as different traits. The bivariate model was used to investigate the genetic relationship between first- and second- or between first- and third-parity calving ability. All models included direct and maternal genetic effects, which were assumed to be mutually correlated. (Co)variance components were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood procedures. In the univariate analyses, the heritability for direct effects was .19 +/- .01, .10 +/- .01, and .08 +/- .004 for first, second, and second and later parities, respectively. The heritability for maternal effects was .09 +/- .01, .11 +/- .01, and .05 +/- .01, respectively. All genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects were negative, ranging from -.55 to -.43. Approximated standard errors of genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects ranged from .041 to .062. For multiparous cows, the fraction of total variance due to the permanent environment was greater than the maternal heritability. With bivariate models, direct heritability for first parity was smaller than the corresponding univariate estimate, ranging from .18 to .14. Maternal heritabilities were slightly higher than the corresponding univariate estimates. Genetic correlation between first and second parity was .998 +/- .00 for direct effects and .913 +/- .01 for maternal effects. When the bivariate model analyzed first- and third-parity calving ability, genetic correlation was .907 +/- .02 for direct effects and .979 +/- .01 for maternal effects. Residual correlations were low in all bivariate analyses, ranging from .13 for analysis of first and second parity to .07 for analysis of first and third parity. In conclusion, estimates of genetic correlations for calving ease in different parities obtained in this study were very high, but variance components and heritabilities were clearly heterogeneous over parities.     

Population parameters for birth and ewe fleece weight at different parities in Baluchi sheep

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Populationsparameter für Geburts- und Vlie?gewicht von Baluchi Schafen Das Datenmarterial stammt von zwei Herden einer Schafzuchtstation in NO Iran aus den Jahren 1966-1989. Die Tiere waren unselektiert und stammten aus zuf?llig verteilten Paarungen. Es wurden Geburtsgewicht und Vlie?gewicht bei verschiedenen Altersstufen erhoben und Varianzkomponenten mittels Restringierter Maximaler Likelihood mit einem bivariaten Tiermodell mit fixen Wirkungen von Jahr, Geschlecht, Geburtstyp und Parit?t sowie Zufallswirkungen für additiven Genotyp des Lammes (direkt) und des Mutterschafes (maternal), gemeinsamer Umwelt (ausgenommen Vlie?gewicht) und Resteinflu? gesch?tzt. Direkte und maternale genetische Korrelationen zwischen Leistungen verschiedener Parit?ten wurden berechnet. In Herde 1 scheinen Varianzen und Heritabilit?tswerte für Lammgewicht bis Parit?t 5 zuzunehmen, kaum aber in Herde 2. Die durchschnittlichen Heritabilit?tswerte, direkt, maternal und gesamt waren 0.12, 0.11 und 0.26, die genetische Korrelation zwischen direkten und maternalen Wirkungen 0.42. Bei Vlie?gewicht waren in Herde 1 keine Ver?nderungen der Varianzen und Heritabilit?tswerte mit Alter zu erkennen, aber bei Herde 2 nahmen ph?notypische und Umweltvarianz mit Alter leicht zu. Durchschnittliche direkte, maternale und Gesamtheritabilit?t waren 0.19, 0.04 und 0.22, die genetische Korrelation zwischen direkten und maternalen Wirkungen geringgradig positiv in Herde 1, aber mit Alter zunehmend negativ in Herde 2. Die genetischen Korrelationen für direkte Wirkungen auf Geburtsgewicht waren hoch zwischen Parit?ten 1 bis 5, aber niedriger bei Parit?t 6 und jene zwischen maternal bedingten Wirkungen zeigten ?hnliche Trends. In Herde 2 waren Werte mit Parit?t 6 ?hnlich wie die zwischen den übrigen Parit?ten. Die die Vlie?gewichte betreffenden direkt genetischen Korrelationen zwischen Parit?ten waren in beiden Herden ?hnlich (0.73-0.92), jene, die maternale Wirkungen betreffen, deutlich geringer, besonders soweit sie Parit?ten 5 und 6 betroffen haben und zeigten besonders bei Herde 2 starke Schwankungen (-0.54 bis 0.74). SUMMARY: Direct and maternal performance of ewes at different parities were examined in Baluchi sheep. The data set was collected during the period 1966-1989 from two flocks at a sheep breeding station in the north-east of Iran. The animals included in the data set were unselected and randomly mated. The traits analysed were birth weight of lamb and fleece weight at different parities of the ewe. Variance components were estimated using Restricted Maximum Likelihood with a bivariate animal model including fixed effects of year, sex, type of birth and parity, and random effects of additive genotype of lamb (direct genetic effect), additive genotype of ewe (maternal genetic effect) and common environment (excluded for ewe fleece weight), and random residual effect. Direct and maternal genetic correlations between different parities were estimated. There was evidence of increasing phenotypic and genetic variances and heritabilities from parity 5 for birth weight of lamb in flock 1, but only evidence of a slightly increasing age trend for the environmental and phenotypic variance in flock 2. The average heritabilities over flocks and parities were 0.12, 0.11 and 0.26 for the direct, maternal and total heritability, respectively, while the average genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects for this trait was 0.42. There were no indications of any age changes in variances or heritabilities for ewe fleece weight in flock 1, but indications of slightly increasing age trends for the environmental and phenotypic variance. The average heritabilities over flocks and parities were 0.19, 0.04 and 0.22 for the direct, maternal and total heritability, respectively, while the average genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects was slightly positive in flock 1 but increasingly negative with age of the ewe in flock 2. Direct genetic correlations between parities 1-5 were very high for birth weight of lambs (on average 0.96) in contrast to the markedly lower correlations of parities 1-5 with parity 6 (on average 0.67) in flock 1 with a similar pattern for the maternal genetic correlations. In flock 2, these correlations were also high but without the marked decrease between parities 1-5 with parity 6 that was found in flock 1. Direct genetic correlations between the various parities for ewe fleece weight were similar for the two flocks, ranging from 0.73 to 0.92 and without any obvious differences between the various combinations of parities. However, the maternal were markedly lower than the direct genetic correlations, especially for the combinations of parity 5 and 6 with the earlier parities, and most pronounced in flock 2 fluctuating from -0.54 to 0.79. To obtain reliable estimates of breeding values for birth weight of lamb, it is recommended that the prediction should include not only earlier but also later parities (ages) of the ewe.     

Genetic parameters and relationships of heifer pregnancy and age at first calving with weight gain, yearling and mature weight in Nelore cattle

The objectives of the current study were to investigate the additive genetic associations between heifer pregnancy at 16 months of age (HP16) and age at first calving (AFC) with weight gain from birth to weaning (WG), yearling weight (YW) and mature weight (MW), in order to verify the possibility of using the traits measured directly in females as selection criteria for the genetic improvement of sexual precocity in Nelore cattle. (Co)variance components were estimated by Bayesian inference using a linear animal model for AFC, WG, YW and MW and a nonlinear (threshold) animal model for HP16. The posterior means of direct heritability estimates were: 0.45 ± 0.02; 0.10 ± 0.01; 0.23 ± 0.02; 0.36 ± 0.01 and 0.39 ± 0.04, for HP16, AFC, WG, YW and MW, respectively. Maternal heritability estimate for WG was 0.07 ± 0.01. Genetic correlations estimated between HP16 and WG, YW and MW were 0.19 ± 0.04; 0.25 ± 0.06 and 0.14 ± 0.05, respectively. The genetic correlations of AFC with WG, YW and MW were low to moderate and negative, with values of − 0.18 ± 0.06; − 0.22 ± 0.05 and − 0.12 ± 0.05, respectively. The high heritability estimated for HP16 suggests that this trait seem to be a better selection criterion for females sexual precocity than AFC. Long-term selection for animals that are heavier at young ages tends to improve the heifers sexual precocity evaluated by HP16 or AFC. Predicted breeding values for HP16 can be used to select bulls and it can lead to an improvement in sexual precocity. The inclusion of HP16 in a selection index will result in small or no response for females mature weight.     

Genetic parameters for calving ease and survival at birth in Angus field data.

Calving performance records from the American Angus Herd Improvement Registry files were used to estimate variance components for calving ease and survival to 24 h. Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects were estimated by using a sire-maternal grandsire model. Data included two independent samples of 19 and 34 herds with complete calving information. Maternal variance for calving ease was much larger than the variance for the direct effect of the sire. Maternal heritability for calving ease was .27 and .20 in the two samples of herds, respectively. Heritabilities for direct effects were .21 and .07. The genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects were -.93 and -.80. There was little genetic variation in survival at birth. Parameter estimates were within the allowable parameter space in the sample of 19 herds. Heritability for the direct effect of the sire on survival was .04. Maternal heritability was .09, and the direct-maternal correlation was -.85.     

Genetic (co)variances for calving difficulty score in composite and parental populations of beef cattle: I. Calving difficulty score, birth weight, weaning weight, and postweaning gain

Heritability of 2-yr-old heifer calving difficulty score was estimated in nine purebred and three composite populations with a total of 5,986 calving difficulty scores from 520 sires and 388 maternal grandsires. Estimates were 0.43 for direct (calf) genetic effects and 0.23 for maternal (heifer) genetic effects. The correlation between direct and maternal effects was -0.26. Direct effects were strongly positively correlated with birth weight and moderately correlated with 200-d weight and postweaning gain. Smaller negative correlations of maternal calving difficulty with direct effects of birth weight, weaning weight, and postweaning gain were estimated. Calving difficulty was scored from 1 to 7. Predicted heritabilities using seven optimal scores were similar to those using four scores. The predicted heritability using only two categories was reduced 23%. Phenotypic and direct genetic variance increased with increasing average population calving difficulty score. The estimated direct and maternal heritabilities for 2-yr-old calving difficulty score were larger than many literature estimates. These estimates suggested substantial variance for direct and maternal genetic effects. The direct effects of 2-yr-old calving difficulty score seemed to be much more closely tied to birth weight than were maternal effects.     

Genetic relationships among calving ease, calving interval, birth weight, and weaning weight in the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed

The aim of this paper was to estimate direct and maternal genetic parameters for calving ease (CE), birth weight (BrW), weaning weight (WW), and calving interval (CI) to assess the possibility of including this information in beef cattle improvement programs. Field data, including a total of 59,813 animals (1,390 sires and 1,147 maternal grand sires) from the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed, were analyzed with a multivariate linear model. Estimates of heritability for direct genetic effects (CED, CID, BrWD, and WWD) were 0.191 +/- 0.019, 0.121 +/- 0.013, 0.390 +/- 0.030, and 0.453 +/- 0.035, respectively, whereas those for maternal genetic effects (CEM, BrWM, and WWM) were 0.140 +/- 0.015, 0.208 +/- 0.020, and 0.138 +/- 0.022, respectively. Genetic correlations between direct or maternal genetic effects across traits were, in general, positive and moderate to low. However, genetic correlation for the pair CED-BrWD was positive and high (0.604 +/- 0.064). Genetic correlations between the direct and maternal genetic effects within a trait were negative and moderate (-0.219 +/- 0.097 for CE, -0.337 +/- 0.080 for BrW, and -0.440 +/- 0.102 for WW). Genetic correlations for CED-BrWM and CED-WWM were -0.121 +/- 0.090 and -0.097 +/- 0.113, respectively. The genetic correlation for CEM-CID was unfavorable (0.485 +/- 0.078), and those for CEM-BrWD (-0.094 +/- 0.079) and CEM-WWD (-0.125 +/- 0.082) were low and negative. The genetic correlation between CID and WWM was favorable (-0.148 +/- 0.106). Overall, the data presented here support the hypothesis that maternal effects for CE and BrW are not the same and that the genetic relationships between CI and maternal effects for WW in beef cattle follow a similar pattern to that reported between CI and milk yield in dairy cattle. Moreover, the need to include direct and maternal breeding values in beef cattle selection programs is suggested.     

Genetic parameters and genetic trends for age at first calving and calving interval in an Angus-Blanco Orejinegro-Zebu multibreed cattle population in Colombia

Genetic parameters and genetic trends for age at first calving (AFC), interval between first and second calving (CI1), and interval between second and third calving (CI2) were estimated in a Colombian beef cattle population composed of Angus, Blanco Orejinegro, and Zebu straightbred and crossbred animals. Data were analyzed using a multiple trait mixed model procedures. Estimates of variance components and genetic parameters were obtained by Restricted Maximum Likelihood. The 3-trait model included the fixed effects of contemporary group (year-season of calving-sex of calf; sex of calf for CI1 and CI2 only), age at calving (CI1 and CI2 only), breed genetic effects (as a function of breed fractions of cows), and individual heterosis (as a function of cow heterozygosity). Random effects for AFC, CI1, and CI2 were cow and residual. Program AIREMLF90 was used to perform computations. Estimates of heritabilities for additive genetic effects were 0.15 ± 0.13 for AFC, 0.11 ± 0.06 for CI1, and 0.18 ± 0.11 for CI2. Low heritabilities suggested that nutrition and reproductive management should be improved to allow fuller expressions of these traits. The correlations between additive genetic effects for AFC and CI1 (0.33 ± 0.41) and for AFC and CI2 (0.40 ± 0.36) were moderate and favorable, suggesting that selection of heifers for AFC would also improve calving interval. Trends were negative for predicted cow yearly means for AFC, CI1, and CI2 from 1989 to 2004. The steepest negative trend was for cow AFC means likely due to the introduction of Angus and Blanco Orejinegro cattle into this population.     

Genetic parameters for six measures of length of productive life and three measures of lifetime production by 6 yr after first calving for Hereford cows

Genetic parameters for length of productive life given the opportunity (LPL/O), measured as days between first calving and disposal conditioned on one of six opportunity groups, L1 through L6 (e.g., L2 is length of productive life in days given the opportunity to live 2 yr after first calving), and lifetime production (LP), measured as the number of calves born (NB), number of calves weaned (NW), and cumulative weaning weight (CW) by 6 yr after first calving, were estimated using records of 1,886 Hereford cows from a selection experiment with three selected lines and a control line. Weaning weights were adjusted to 200 d of age and for sex and age of dam. Estimates of heritability and genetic and environmental correlations were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood with bivariate animal models, with year of birth of cow as a fixed effect and direct genetic and residual as random effects. Genetic trends were estimated by regressing means of estimated breeding values by year of birth and line on birth year. Estimates of heritability (SE) for LPL/O ranged from 0.05 (0.01) to 0.15 (0.03). Estimates of genetic correlations (SE) among LPL/O ranged from 0.74 (0.14) to 1.00 (0.00), and estimates of environmental correlations ranged from 0.67 (0.05) to 0.98 (0.01). Estimates of heritability (SE) for NB, NW, and CW were 0.17 (0.05), 0.21 (0.06), and 0.18 (0.01). Estimates of genetic correlations (SE) among NB, NW, and CW ranged from 0.96 (0.02) to 0.99 (0.01). Estimates of environmental correlations (SE) ranged from 0.93 (0.01) to 0.99 (0.01). Estimates of genetic correlations for L6 with NB, NW, and CW were near 1.00 (0.09). Estimates of environmental correlations (SE) ranged from 0.57 (0.03) to 0.60 (0.03). Estimates of genetic change per year (SE) for L6 were low for all lines and ranged from -3.53 (2.09) to 4.63 (2.11) d/yr. Genetic trends for NB and NW were negligible for all lines. Genetic trends for CW were low and ranged from -2.81 (1.67) to 3.29 (1.76) kg/yr. Differences in genetic trends between selected lines and control were not significant (P > 0.05). Estimates of environmental trends (SE) over all lines were -104.00 (25.48) d/yr, -0.26 (0.02) calves/yr, -0.25 (0.02) calves/yr, and -55.10 (15.63) kg/yr, for L6, NB, NW, and CW, respectively. Selection for LPLIO or LP could be successful in a breeding program, but may be relatively slow due to the low magnitude of heritability and extended generation interval.     

Genetic associations between age at first calving and heifer body weight and scrotal circumference in Nelore cattle

Age at first calving (AFC) measures the entry of heifers into the beef cattle production system. This trait can be used as a selection criterion for earlier reproductive performance. Using data from Nelore cattle participating in the 'Program for Genetic Improvement of the Nelore Breed' (PMGRN-Nelore Brazil), bi-trait analyses were performed using the restricted maximum likelihood method, based on an AFC animal model and the following traits: female body weight adjusted to 365 (BW365) and 450 (BW450) days of age, and male scrotal circumference adjusted to 365 (SC365), 450 (SC450), 550 (SC550) and 730 (SC730) days of age. The heritability estimates for AFC ranged from 0.02 ± 0.02 to 0.04 ± 0.02. The estimates of additive direct heritabilities (with standard error) for BW365, BW450, SC365, SC450, SC550 and SC730 were 0.36 ± 0.07, 0.38 ± 0.07, 0.48 ± 0.07, 0.65 ± 0.07, 0.64 ± 0.07 and 0.42 ± 0.07, respectively, and the genetic correlations with AFC were −0.38, −0.33, 0.10, −0.13, −0.13 and 0.06, respectively. In the herds studied, selection for SC365, SC450, SC550 or SC730 should not cause genetic changes in AFC. Selection based on BW365 or BW450 would favor smaller AFC breeding values. However, the low magnitude of direct heritability estimates for AFC in these farms indicates that changes in phenotypical expression depend mostly on non-genetic factors.     

Evaluation models and genetic parameters for calving difficulty in beef cattle

Calving difficulty was analyzed under threshold and linear models considering either a fixed or random herd-year effect. The aim of the study was to compare models for predicting breeding values according to the size of herd-year groups. When simulating data sets with small herds, in order to obtain an unbiased evaluation under a nonrandom and negative association of sire and herd effects, the best model for a practical evaluation was the fixed linear model. Field data included 246,576 records of the largest Charolais herds in France. Models were compared using the correlations of estimated breeding values between the different models. Although the best model from a theoretical point of view was a threshold model with a fixed herd-year effect, a linear model with a fixed herd-year effect was the best choice from a practical point of view for predicting direct effects for calving difficulty in beef cattle and was a sufficient choice for predicting the associated maternal effects for data set with large herds. Correlations between direct estimated breeding values under the reference model and the fixed linear model and the random threshold model were 0.94 and 0.91, respectively. Correlations between the corresponding maternal estimated breeding values were 0.94 and 0.98. Heritabilities of direct effects were 0.27 and 0.14 under fixed threshold and fixed linear models, respectively. The corresponding heritabilities of maternal effects were 0.18 and 0.13, and the genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects were -0.36 and -0.34, respectively.     

Genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford beef cattle breeds in Kenya

This study estimated genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford cattle in Kenya. Traits considered were birth weight (BW, kg), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) and weaning weight (WW, kg); calving interval (CI, days) and age at first calving (AFC, days). Direct heritability estimates for growth traits were 0.36 and 0.21; 0.25 and 0.10; 0.23 and 0.13 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Maternal heritability estimates were 0.11 and 0.01; 0.18 and 0.00; 0.17 and 0.17 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Direct-maternal genetic correlations ranged between −0.46 and 1.00; −0.51 and −1.00; −0.47 and −0.39 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Genetic correlations ranged from −0.99 to unity and −1.00 to unity for growth and fertility traits respectively. Prospects for improvement of growth and fertility traits exist.     

Genetic parameters for litter traits at different parities in purebred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs

Comparison of the multi‐trait animal model and the traditional repeatability model was carried out using data obtained from 6,424 Landrace and 20,835 Yorkshire sows farrowed from January 2000 to April 2018 in order to estimate genetic parameters for litter traits at different parities. Specifically, records of the total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), total number of mortality (MORT), number of stillborn (NSB) and number of mummified pigs (MUM) were used. Although results showed the heterogeneity of heritability for litter traits at different parities, the mean heritability estimates from the multi‐trait model were found to be higher than those of the repeatability model for all traits in both pig breeds. In terms of genetic correlation between parities, a slight difference in genetic control in the first parity was noted for TNB and NBA in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. The correlation between the first parity and later parities ranged from 0.48 to 0.74 for TNB and NBA in both breeds. Moreover, genetic correlation between parities for MORT and NSB was observed to be high for parities higher than 2 in Yorkshire pigs. For MUM, genetic correlation between the first and other parities was generally low in both breeds, indicating that culling pigs on the basis of MUM at the first parity could probably be unreasonable. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the multi‐trait approach for litter size traits is useful for the accurate estimation of genetic parameters.     

Genetic parameters for birth weight,growth, and litter size in Nordic sheep breeds

Abstract

In this study, genetic parameters were estimated for the Danish populations of Danish Marsk, Finnish Landrace, Gotland Pelt and Spel for birth weight (BW), average daily gain until two months (DG2) and litter size (LS). A multivariate animal model was used for estimation of genetic parameters, including fixed effects, both direct and maternal additive genetic effects, common litter effects and permanent environmental effects. Mean birth weight and DG2 ranged from, respectively, 3.39 kg and 262 g to 4.61kg and 286 g. Litter size ranged from 1.60 to 2.07. Direct heritability for BW ranged from 0.12 to 0.24, and maternal heritability for BW was about 0.23 for all breeds. Direct heritability of DG2 ranged from 0.19 to 0.33. The heritability for LS was between 0.08 and 0.13. The significant genetic correlations between the direct and maternal effect on both BW and DG2 were negative. The genetic correlations between the growth traits and LS were not uniform.     

Genetic parameters and trends for calving interval in the first three lactations of Iranian Holsteins

Calving records from the Animal Breeding Center of Iran collected from January 1987 to December 2007 and comprising 292,875 calving events of Holsteins from 1,413 dairy herds were analyzed using univariate and bivariate linear animal models to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for calving intervals in the first three lactations of Holstein cows. Genetic trends were obtained by regressing yearly mean estimates of breeding values on calving year. Average calving intervals were from 406 to 414 days and decreased over the parities. Heritability estimates for calving intervals varied from 0.03 to 0.04 across the parities. Also, estimates of genetic correlations between calving intervals in different parities were high and ranged from 0.67 to 0.89. The average annual phenotypic trends obtained from fitting linear regression of annual mean calving intervals at parity 1 and 2 were significant (P < 0.01), but the phenotypic trend of calving interval at parity 3 was not significant over the years. On the other hand, there was an increasing genetic trend for calving interval at parity 1, and there were decreasing genetic trends for calving intervals at parity 2 and 3 over the years (P < 0.01). The low estimates of heritability obtained in this study imply that much of the improvement in calving interval traits could be attained by improvement of production environment rather than genetic selection.