Effects of feeding different levels of concentrate on growth and carcass characteristics in younger Japanese Black cattle

The effects of a higher concentrate feed during the raising period on the growth and carcass of Japanese Black cattle being fattened at a younger age were investigated using three pairs of artificially bred identical twins and three pairs of full‐sibs. The animals were fed the concentrate at 2.4%/day (2.4% group) and 1.2%/day (1.2% group) comparative bodyweight (BW) during the raising period. The BW and subcutaneous fat thickness were measured every month using ultrasonic equipment. The animals were slaughtered at the age of 24 months. The BW of the 2.4% group from the age of 6–10 months appeared to be higher than that of the 1.2% group (P < 0.1). The subcutaneous fat of the 2.4% group from the age of 7–11 months was thicker than that of the 1.2% group (P < 0.1). After those ages, the BW and subcutaneous fat of the two groups did not differ and there was no difference in the carcass characteristics between the two groups. Using a higher concentrate feed during the raising period for younger fattening of Japanese Black cattle influenced growth from the late half of the raising period to the early part of the fattening period.     

Genomic imprinting variances of beef carcass traits and physiochemical characteristics in Japanese Black cattle

The objective of this study was to estimate variance components related to imprinting for carcass traits and physiochemical characteristics in Japanese Black cattle. The carcass records obtained from 4,220 Japanese Black feedlot cattle included carcass weight (CW), rib eye area (REA), rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, and beef marbling score (BMS), and the physiochemical characteristics were fat, moisture, glycogen per proportion of moisture content, oleic acid, and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). To detect gametic effects, an imprinting model was fitted. High additive heritabilities were estimated for all traits (from 0.516 for glycogen to 0.853 for fat) and were reduced in Mendelian heritability. The range of the differences was from 0.002 (CW) to 0.331 (fat and moisture), and the reductions were due to their imprinting variances. The ratio of the imprinting variance to the total additive genetic variance for REA (0.374), BMS (0.291), fat (0.387), moisture (0.388), and MUFA (0.337) were large (p < 0.05). These imprinting variances were due to the maternal contribution and suggested the existence of maternally expressed genomic imprinting effects on the traits in Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, maternal gametic effects should be considered in breeding programs for Japanese Black cattle.     

Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid supplementation on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Wagyu heifers (Japanese Black cattle)

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is used as a hepatic and digestive medicine in humans and domestic animals, was added to the diet of Wagyu beef cattle to investigate its effects on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. The study involved 20 Japanese Black heifers. Animals were divided into the following 2 groups, a control group and a UDCA group (diet supplemented with UDCA), with each group containing 10 animals. The UDCA was administrated at a dose of 2.5 g/(animal/d) to each heifer 24 times over a period of 7 mo in the finishing period. The heifers were slaughtered at 29 mo of age, and carcass characteristics and meat quality were determined. Both the UDCA group and the control group showed similar (P > 0.1) final BW, fattening periods, and daily BW gain. Supplementation of UDCA significantly increased meat quality grade (P < 0.05) and marbling (P < 0.01) and but did not show a significant (P > 0.1) effect on dressing percentage, fat thickness, rib thickness, or ribeye area. The percentage of ether extract in the LM was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the UDCA group (43.2%) than in the control group (37.8%), whereas the percentage of moisture was significantly less in the former than the latter (P < 0.05).The L* (lightness) values of the muscles were greater (P < 0.05) in the UDCA group than in the control group. No significant differences (P > 0.1) were observed between groups in water-holding capacity, fatty acid composition, and vitamin E content of the LM or in intermuscular fat characteristics. Supplementation of the diet with UDCA can increase marbling without causing growth defects and can improve carcass characteristics in Wagyu cattle.     

补饲精料对乌珠穆沁羊生产性能、屠宰性能和肉品质的影响

试验旨在研究草颗粒和草颗粒补饲精料对乌珠穆沁羊生产性能、屠宰性能和肉品质的影响。选取20只6月龄体重为(28.83±0.19) kg乌珠穆沁羊,采用随机区组设计,随机分为2组,每组10只。设计2种日粮饲喂乌珠穆沁羊,分别为草颗粒(对照组)和草颗粒补饲精料(试验组)。结果表明:补饲精料未能显著影响羊的日增重(P>0.05),日增重分别为56.33和60.00 g。对照组和试验组的3项屠宰性能指标(宰前活重、胴体重、屠宰率)、6项化学成分指标(粗蛋白、粗脂肪、有机物、干物质、钙、磷)、6项肉品质指标(pH1、pH24、大理石纹、亮度、熟肉率、剪切力)、16项脂肪酸指标和15项氨基酸指标差异均不显著(P>0.05)。试验组羊4项屠宰性能指标(净肉重、净肉率、眼肌面积、GR值)、4项肉品质指标(红度、黄度、胆固醇、失水率)、6项脂肪酸指标(十三碳酸、肉豆蔻酸、珍珠酸、γ-亚麻酸、α-亚麻酸、花生酸)和3项氨基酸指标(异亮氨酸、酪氨酸、精氨酸)均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。对照组7项主要脂肪酸(丁酸、月桂酸、肉豆蔻烯酸、十五碳酸、十五碳烯酸、棕榈酸、棕榈油酸、硬脂酸、油酸、n-6/n-3)、苏氨酸和谷氨酸显著高于试验组(P<0.05)。饲喂草颗粒补饲精料对乌珠穆沁羊生长性能影响不大;天然草地草颗粒饲喂能满足家畜营养需求,在促进乌珠穆沁羊生产性能、屠宰性能和肉品质方面具有重大潜力。     

The effects of grazing and supplemental protein concentrations during the grazing period on subsequent finishing performance and carcass quality in Japanese Black cattle steers

The effects of grazing and supplemental protein concentrations, provided during the grazing period, on subsequent finishing performance and carcass quality were investigated. This experiment was carried out using 15 Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu) steers. The steers were fed as follows: (i) grazing supplemented with moderate protein concentrate (GMP) (18% crude protein (CP); dry matter (DM) basis) before finishing, followed by feeding in a barn until slaughter; (ii) grazing supplemented with low protein concentrate (GLP) (14% CP; DM basis) before finishing, followed by feeding in the barn until slaughter; and (iii) no grazing before finishing (NG). From the end of the grazing season to the end of the growing period, the GMP and GLP steers were managed in the same way as the NG steers. All of the animals were fed the same diet in the finishing period (9 months to 28 months). None of the three treatments affected the average daily gains. For all treatments, chilled carcass weights were more than 450 kg and did not differ significantly among the groups. The longissimus muscle areas in the grazed steers were numerically larger than in those receiving the NG treatment. Fat thickness was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the NG steers than in the grazed steers. The intramuscular fat and marbling scores were not affected in the grazed steers. In conclusion, the carcass quality of grazed steers was similar to that of the NG steers at a similar final age, and the quantity of meat in the NG steers would be less than that of the GMP and GLP steers. Therefore, spring‐born Wagyu steers should be grazed using the GLP supplement before fattening.     

Effects of clay on fat necrosis and carcass characteristics in Japanese Black steers

Twenty 10‐month‐old Japanese Black steers were used to evaluate the effects of clay on fat necrosis and carcass characteristics. Ten steers (Clay group) were fed the clay (50 g/day) during 10–30 months of age. The other 10 steers (Control group) were not fed it. There was no significant difference in body weight or average daily gain between the two groups (P > 0.05). The occurrence of fat necrotic mass in the Clay group (30%) was lower (P < 0.05) than that in the Control group (90%) at slaughter. The size of necrotic masses in the Clay group was smaller (P < 0.05) than that in the Control group. There was no significant difference in the marbling score, beef color, Longissimus muscle area or subcutaneous fat thickness between the two groups. These results suggest that the clay prevented the occurrence of fat necrosis and did not affect the carcass characteristics in Japanese Black steers.     

Comparison and relation among different estimates of residual feed intake for Japanese Black (Wagyu) bulls

Residual feed intake (RFI) was estimated by ordinary regression (RFI_ord), linear regression (RFI_reg), and genetic regression (RFI_gen) for Japanese Black bulls, and compared among them by the magnitude of correlations, heritabilities, and empirical mean squared errors. The estimations were made for a total test periods of 140 days (77 bulls) and 112 days (663 bulls) sub‐divided each into two equal stages: first half and second half of the test periods. The means of RFI_reg, RFI_ord, and RFI_gen for the total test periods were 1.09, ?0.05, and ?2.21 kg/day, respectively. The genetic variation exists for these estimates at different stages of the test period. High genetic and phenotypic correlations (>0.95) were found between RFI_ord and RFI_gen, confirming that these are regarded practically as the same traits. The phenotypic variance (0.714) and heritability (0.24) of RFI_ord were close to those of RFI_gen (0.726 and 0.25, respectively). According to the empirical mean squared errors from the result of the total test periods, RFI_gen yielded better estimates of RFI. The high to moderate heritabilities for RFI_ord were estimated for the three stages of the test periods, indicating that RFI_ord might be an alternative estimate for genetic improvement of feed utilization.     

Genetic relationship of feed efficiency traits of bulls with growth and carcass traits of their progeny for Japanese Black (Wagyu) cattle

Genetic parameters for feed efficiency traits of 740 Wagyu bulls and growth and carcass traits of 591 of their progeny, and the genetic relationship between the traits of bulls and their progeny were estimated with the residual maximum likelihood procedure. The estimations were made for the test periods of 140 days (77 bulls), 112 days (663 bulls) and 364 days (591 steer progeny). Feed efficiency traits of bulls included feed conversion ratio (FCR), phenotypic residual feed intake (RFI_phe) and genetic residual feed intake (RFI_gen). Progeny traits were bodyweight at the start of the test (BWS), bodyweight at finish (BWF), average daily gain (ADG), rib eye area (REA), marbling score (MSR), dressing percentage (DRS) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT). The estimated heritability for MSR (0.52) was high and for BWS (0.35), BWF (0.40) and ADG (0.30) were moderate, whereas REA, DRS and SFT were low. Positive genetic correlations among BWS, BWF, ADG and SFT and negative genetic correlations between MSR and DRS and between REA and SFT were found. The genetic correlations between residual feed intake (RFI_phe and RFI_gen) of bulls and bodyweights (BWS and BWF) of their progeny ranged from ?0.27 to ?0.61. Residual feed intake was positively correlated with REA and DRS and negatively correlated with MSR and SFT. No responses in ADG and weakly correlated responses in REA and DRS of progeny were found to select against feed efficiency traits of bulls. The present experiment provides evidence that selection against lower RFI (higher feed efficiency) would be better than selection against lower FCR for getting better correlated responses in bodyweights.     

甘草提取物对肉兔生长性能、胴体性状和肉质的影响

文章旨在评估甘草提取物对肉兔生长性能、胴体性状和肉质的影响.试验将平均初始体重为(764.45±17.54)g的240只肉兔随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复20只,即对照组和3个处理组分别饲喂基础日粮、基础日粮+3、6和9 g/kg甘草提取物.试验进行到12周后开展相关数据记录与样品测定.结果:3 g/kg甘草提取...     

Influence of feeding a grass hay diet during the early stage of the fattening period on growth performance,carcass characteristics,and meat production in Japanese Black steers

The present study investigated the influence of feeding a large amount of grass hay to steers from the early to middle fattening period on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat characteristics. Steers were randomly divided into grass hay‐fed (GHF, n = 6) and concentrate‐fed (CF, n = 6) groups. The dressed weight of the GHF steers was lower than that of the CF steers, but the final body weight was not significantly different between the groups. The GHF steers had decreased subcutaneous fat and rib thickness compared with the CF steers. Lipid content, monounsaturated fatty acids, and drip loss in the muscles were lower in the GHF steers than in the CF steers. Furthermore, n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher in the GHF steers compared with the CF steers. The GHF steers had lower body weight during the middle fattening stage, which may have occurred as a result of muscle growth suppression caused by increased Myostatin expression; an increase in daily gain during the finishing period may have occurred as a result of muscle growth activation caused by decreased Myostatin expression. Feeding steers a grass hay‐based diet during the early fattening period possibly maintains the quantitative productivity of beef similarly to feeding a concentrate‐based diet.     

Genetic relationships between temperament of calves at auction and carcass traits in Japanese Black cattle

Correlations of calves’ temperament with carcass traits were estimated to clarify the genetic relationships between them in Japanese Black cattle. The temperament records for 3128 calves during auction at a calf market were scored on a scale of 1 (calm) to 5 (nervous) as temperament score (TS ), and the TS were divided into two groups (TSG ): TS 1 and 2 comprised TSG 1, and 3 to 5 constituted TSG 2. Carcass data were obtained from 33 552 fattened cattle. A threshold animal model was used for analyzing the underlying liability for TSG , whereas a linear one was used for TS and carcass traits. The heritability estimates for TS and TSG were 0.12 and 0.11, respectively. On the other hand, moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for carcass traits (0.40 to 0.68). The temperament scores were negatively correlated with carcass weight, rib thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness (?0.13 to ?0.59). In contrast, weak to moderate positive correlations were found between the temperament scores and rib eye area or yield estimate (0.16 to 0.45). The temperament scores and beef marbling score had no correlation. These results showed that it is possible to improve temperament and carcass traits simultaneously.     

非常规饲料原料日粮对肉牛生长性能、胴体性状、肉品质及经济效益的影响

文章旨在评估不同非常规饲料原料替代浓缩料对肉牛生长性能、胴体性状及肉品质的影响。试验选择初始体重为（291.69±5.7）kg的肉牛80头,随机分为4组,每组20头,每头牛为1个重复。对照组肉牛在8周试验期每天自由采食水稻秸秆粗饲料并补充基础浓缩料,处理组肉牛自由采食水稻秸秆粗饲料并分别补充用8%米糠、亚麻籽和葵花粕替代基础浓缩料混合物。结果：与米糠组相比,对照组和亚麻籽组肉牛的平均日增重分别显著提高10.74%和12.40%（P＜0.05）,同时米糠组肉牛的料重比较对照组和亚麻籽组分别显著提高11.69%和15.52%（P＜0.05）。亚麻籽组肉牛的背膘厚度较对照组和米糠组分别显著提高7.84%和8.65%（P＜0.05）。对照组肉牛眼肌C14：0脂肪酸含量显著低于处理组（P＜0.05）,而米糠组肉牛眼肌饱和脂肪酸含量较对照组显著提高16.55%（P＜0.05）,单不饱和脂肪酸含量显著降低11.95%（P＜0.05）。亚麻籽和葵花粕组眼肌中蛋氨酸含量较对照组和米糠组分别显著提高168%、179.17%和154%、164.58%（P＜0.05）。结论：在本研究条件下,用8%亚麻籽替代浓缩料饲喂肉牛可以提高肌肉蛋氨酸含量,对肉牛生长表现及肌肉脂肪酸组成无负面影响。 [关键词]非常规原料|肉牛|生长性能|胴体性状|肉品质     

Relationship of the bovine growth hormone gene to carcass traits in Japanese black cattle.

The bovine growth hormone gene (bGH) possesses three haplotypes, A, B and C, that differ by amino acid mutations at positions 127 and 172 in the fifth exon: (leucine 127, threonine 172), (valine 127, threonine 172) and (valine 127, methionine 172) respectively. The correlation between meat quality or carcass weight and these haplotypes was investigated in Japanese black cattle. Altogether, 940 bGH haplotypes were compared with respect to six carcass traits: carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, beef marbling score and beef colour. The frequency of the B haplotype was higher (0.421) than that of A (0.269) and C (0.311). High carcass weight and low beef marbling were associated with haplotype A (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively), whereas beef marbling was increased by haplotype C (p < 0.05). Estimated regression coefficient of the A haplotype substitution effect for carcass weight and beef marbling score were 5.55 (13.1% of the phenotypic SD) and -0.31 (17.0%) respectively. That of the C haplotype for beef marbling score was 0.20 (11.0%). The other traits showed no relationship to the haplotypes examined. The results of this investigation suggest that information pertaining to bGH polymorphisms in Japanese black cattle could be used to improve the selection of meat traits.     

Effect of fermented total mixed rations on the growth performance,carcass and meat quality characteristics of Hanwoo steers

This study was conducted to assess the effects of fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) on the growth performance, carcass and meat quality traits of Hanwoo steers. The present study evidenced that the FTMR had a strong effect on dry matter intake, body weight, daily gain, slaughter weight and carcass characteristics compared with control animals. The results showed that the dry matter intake (7.17 ± 0.13 kg), average body weight (615.20 ± 112.82 kg), and daily gain (0.56 ± 0.16 kg) were greater in animals receiving FTMR than in control animals (P < 0.05). The meat quality characteristics indicated that cooking loss and the pH values did not vary between control and FTMR treated animals; however, animals in the treated groups (FTMR) had higher meat quality grades, carcass weight (396.13 ± 18.35), fat thickness (13.25 ± 1.75), marbling score (5.63 ± 0.56), meat color (40.06 ± 1.23), crude fat (18.39 ± 1.32) and sensory characteristics (flavor 5.03 ± 0.17; tenderness 4.42 ± 0.33; juiciness 5.10 ± 0.16). Nevertheless, the shear force values decreased significantly in FTMR‐treated animals compared with control group steers. Overall, FTMR may not only improve the growth performance, biochemical metabolites, and fatty and acetic acid profiles of steers, but may also enhance the carcass and meat quality characteristics of Hanwoo steers. Regarding economics, our research findings suggest that FTMR‐based feeds may enhance Hanwoo steer meat quality at a low cost.     

Effect of dietary supplemental nicotinic acid on growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality in three genotypes of chicken

The effects of dietary supplemental nicotinic acid (NA) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality were investigated in three genotypes of chicken. Fast‐growing AA (Arbor Acres) broilers were compared with two genotypes of a slow‐growing local breed, Beijing‐You, that had undergone selection for and against intramuscular fat content respectively (BJY+IMF and BJY?IMF). The treatments were arranged 3 × 4 factorial completely randomized design. Day‐old females (n = 624) were allocated to four treatments with six replicates per treatment and fed diets (basal contained ～25 mg NA/kg) supplemented with 0, 30, 60 and 120 mg NA/kg. A sample of 72 birds from each genotype was slaughtered at market time (8 weeks of age for AA and 16 weeks of age for BJY). The breast muscles of AA broilers were darker, had less redness and yellowness, lower drip loss and higher shear force as compared to the BJY genotypes (p < 0.01). The highest drip loss and the lowest shear force among the three genotypes were apparent in BJY+IMF (p < 0.01). Increasing supplementation from 0 to 60 mg NA/kg tended to increase average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, width of intermuscular fat band, thickness of subcutaneous fat (including skin) and percentage of abdominal fat but, for most variables, values decreased slightly with 120 mg NA/kg. Increasing supplementation to 60 mg NA/kg decreased (quadratic, p < 0.001) drip loss, but it increased at 120 mg NA/kg. The present results indicate that (i) the AA broilers fed corn–soybean meal based‐diets require approximately 60 mg NA/kg to maximize ADG and meat product yield and decrease the drip loss of breast muscle; (ii) the addition of 30 mg NA/kg meets the requirement of BJY genotypes; and (iii) there seems to be no beneficial effect of NA supplementation on chicken meat quality except for limiting the drip loss.     

Effects of different dietary energy and protein levels and sex on growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus x Chinese Xiangxi yellow cattle

Background：The experiment evaluated the effect of nutrition levels and sex on the growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus × Chinese Xiangxi yellow cattle.Methods：During the background period of 184 d,23 steers and 24 heifers were fed the same ration,then put into a2×2×2 factorial arrangement under two levels of- dietary energy（TON：70/80%DM）,protein（CP：11.9/14.3%DM）and sex（S：male/female） during the finishing phase of 146 d.The treatments were-（1） high energy/low protein（HELP）,（2） high energy/high protein（HEHP）,（3） low energy/low protein（LELP） and（4） low energy/high protein（LEHP）.Each treatment used 6 steers and 6 heifers,except for HELP- 5 steers and 6 heifers.Results：Growth rate and final carcass weight were unaffected by dietary energy and protein levels or by sex.Compared with the LE diet group,the HE group had significantly lower dry matter intake（DMI,6.76 vs.7.48 kg DM/d）,greater chest girth increments（46.1 vs.36.8 cm）,higher carcass fat（19.9 vs.16.3%） and intramuscular fat content（29.9 vs.22.8%DM）.The HE group also had improved yields of top and medium top grade commercial meat cuts（39.9 vs.36.5%）.The dressing percentage was higher for the HP group than the LP group（53.4 vs.54.9%）.Steers had a greater length increment（9.0 vs.8.3 cm）,but lower carcass fat content（16.8 vs.19.4%） than heifers.The meat quality traits（shear force value,drip loss,cooking loss and water holding capacity） were not affected by treatments or sex,averaging 3.14 kg,2.5,31.5 and 52.9%,respectively.The nutritive profiles（both fatty and amino acid composition） were not influenced by the energy or protein levels or by sex.Conclusions：The dietary energy and protein levels and sex significantly influenced the carcass characteristics and chemical composition of meat but not thegrowth performance,meat quality traits and nutritive profiles.     

Effects of growth rate during the early fattening period on growth, carcass characteristics and circulating hormones in the different growth hormone genotypes of Japanese black steers

One of the bovine growth hormone (GH) genetic variants is a substitution of leucine (Leu) to valine (Val) at amino acid position 127 of the protein. The GH genotypes of 14 Japanese black steers used in the present study were Leu/Leu (A, n = 7) and Val/Val (B, n = 7). The steers in each genotype group were divided into two groups based on intended growth rate (high, 1.0 kg/day; low, 0.6 kg/day) during 10–17 months of age. The overall mean concentration of plasma GH was higher (P < 0.05) in the A group than in the B group. The serum concentration of insulin‐like growth factor‐I was higher (P < 0.05) in the B group than in the A group. The carcass weight of the A group was greater (P < 0.01) than that of the B group. However, there was no significant difference in carcass weights between the 1.0 kg/day and 0.6 kg/day groups (P > 0.05). The rib thickness of the 1.0 kg/day group was greater (P < 0.05) than that of the 0.6 kg/day group. The crude fat content of longissimus muscle was greater (P < 0.05) for the 0.6 kg/day group compared with the 1.0 kg/day group.     

喹赛多对山羊生长性能及胴体品质的影响

60只3月龄左右杂交山羊,随机分为6组,空白对照组饲料不添加任何药物,药物对照组饲料添加50 mg/kg喹乙醇,4个试验组饲料中分别添加25、50、150和250 mg/kg喹赛多,试验期90 d.结果表明喹赛多25、50和150mg/kg能改善山羊平均日增重(ADG)4.4%、14.5%和7.2%,提高饲料转化率(FCR)5.9%、12.0%和7.4%.喹赛多250 mg/kg提高FCR 8.6%,但降低ADG 2.1%.喹赛多50 mg/kg组ADG和FCR均高于喹乙醇组.喹赛多50 mg/kg降低山羊腹泻频率39.0%,但随剂量增加,其抗腹泻作用下降.喹赛多25、50、150和250 mg/kg能提高山羊屠宰率2.5%、9.0%、5.0%和1.0%,增加眼肌面积4.8%、34.1%、16.1%和14.0%.喹赛多50 mg/kg组山羊净肉率提高14.0%,高于其他各组.喹赛多各剂量均能显著增高肌肉pH值,平均降低滴水损失值13.7%.可见,喹赛多适宜剂量,尤其50 mg/kg,有较好的促进山羊生长和改善胴体品质的作用.     

Effects of parent‐of‐origin models with different pedigree information on beef carcass traits and fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle

Genomic imprinting should be considered in animal breeding systems to avoid lead in bias in genetic parameter estimation. The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of pedigree information on imprinting variances for carcass traits and fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle. Carcass records [carcass weight, rib eye area, rib thickness (RT), subcutaneous fat thickness and beef marbling score (BMS)] and fatty acid composition were obtained for 11,855 Japanese Black feedlot cattle. To estimate and compare the imprinting variances for the traits, two imprinting models with different pedigree information [the sire–dam gametic relationship matrix (Model 1) and the sire–maternal grandsire (MGS) numerator relationship matrix (Model 2)] were fitted. The ratio of the imprinting variance to the total additive genetic variance for RT (6.33%) and BMS (19.00%) was significant in Model 1, but only that for BMS (21.09%) was significant in Model 2. This study revealed that fitting the sire–MGS model could be useful in estimating imprinting variance under certain conditions, such as when restricted pedigree information is available. Furthermore, the present result suggested that the maternal gametic effects on BMS should be included in breeding programmes for Japanese Black cattle to avoid selection bias caused by imprinting effects.     

Allelic frequencies and association with carcass traits of six genes in local subpopulations of Japanese Black cattle

Marker‐assisted selection (MAS) is expected to accelerate the genetic improvement of Japanese Black cattle. However, verification of the effects of the genes for MAS in different subpopulations is required prior to the application of MAS. In this study, we investigated the allelic frequencies and genotypic effects for carcass traits of six genes, which can be used in MAS, in eight local subpopulations. These genes are SCD, FASN and SREBP1, which are associated with the fatty acid composition of meat, and NCAPG, MC1R and F11, which are associated with carcass weight, coat color and blood coagulation abnormality, respectively. The frequencies of desirable alleles of SCD and FASN were relatively high and that of NCAPG was relatively low, and NCAPG was significantly associated with several carcass traits, including carcass weight. The proportions of genotypic variance explained by NCAPG to phenotypic variance were 4.83 for carcass weight. We thus confirmed that NCAPG is a useful marker for selection of carcass traits in these subpopulations. In addition, we found that the desirable alleles of six genes showed no negative effects on carcass traits. Therefore, selection using these genes to improve target traits should not have negative impacts on carcass traits.