Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T17:26:56.435Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Genetic evaluation of birth and weaning weight of Gudali and two-breed synthetic Wakwa beef cattle populations under selection in Cameroon: genetic and phenotypic trends

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. L. Tawah ,
J. E. O. Rege ,
D. A. Mbah  and
H. Oumate
C. L. Tawah
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal and Veterinary Research, Wakwa, PO Box 65, Ngaundere, Adamawa, Cameroon
J. E. O. Rege
Affiliation:
International Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
D. A. Mbah
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal and Veterinary Research, Wakwa, PO Box 65, Ngaundere, Adamawa, Cameroon
H. Oumate
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal and Veterinary Research, Wakwa, PO Box 65, Ngaundere, Adamawa, Cameroon
Get access

Abstract

Breeding programmes for Wakwa and Ngaundere Gudali cattle breeds were initiated in Wakwa (Cameroon) in 1952 and 1965, respectively, to improve growth performance of the indigenous breeds. Animals were selected on 240-day weaning weight (WWT). Data analysed covered the period 1971 through 1985 and consisted of 2211 calf birth weight (BWT) and 1409 WWT records on Gudali and 1196 BWT and 763 WWT records on Wakwa. Selection responses in BWT and WWT were estimated as regressions of average sire estimated transmitting abilities (ETAs) and average dam estimated breeding values (EBVs) on year of calving. ETAs and EBVs were predicted using best linear unbiased prediction procedures. Estimated annual changes in sire ETAs for WWT were 0·67 (s.e. 0·17) and 1·69 (s.e. 1·13) kg/year for Gudali and Wakwa, respectively. Corresponding trends in dam EBVs were –0·03 (s.e. 0·03) and –0·24 (s.e. 0·19) kg/year. Estimated correlated trends in BWT among Gudali and Wakwa sires were 0·09 (s.e. 0·05) and –0·14 (s.e. 0·04) kg/year, respectively. Corresponding correlated trends in BWT associated with dam selection were essentially zero, being –0·001 (s.e. 0·001) and –0·01 (s.e. 0·01) kg/year. Environmental trends were negative for all traits except Gudali WWT. Phenotypic trends were all positive, except that of Wakwa BWT. Overall, selection on WWT yielded moderate selection reponse despite substantial infrastructural constraints in the breeding programme. Trends in sire ETAs and dam EBVs for WWT jointly accounted for estimated genetic gains of 8·60 kg in Gudali and 20·4 kg in Wakwa over the study period. Overall correlated response in BWT during the study period was significant (P < 0·001) and negative for Wakwa. It was positive but not significant for Gudali.

Keywords

beef cattlebirth weightCameroongenetic trendweaning weight
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 58 , Issue 1 , February 1994 , pp. 25 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aaron, D. K., Frahm, R. R. and Buchanan, D. S. 1986a. Direct and correlated responses to selection for increased weaning or yearling weight in Angus cattle. I. Measurement of selection applied, journal of Animal Science 62: 54–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aaron, D. K., Frahm, R. R. and Buchanan, D. S. 1986b. Direct and correlated responses to selection for increased weaning or yearling weight in Angus cattle. II. Evaluation of response. Journal of Animal Science 62: 66–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baker, R. L. and Morris, C. A. 1984. A review of correlated responses to weight selection in beef cattle under different management and climatic conditions. Proceedings of the second world congress on sheep and beef cattle breeding, Pretoria, South Africa, pp. 236–251.Google Scholar
Baker, R. L., Morris, C. A., Johnson, D. L., Hunter, J. C. and Hickey, S. M. 1991. Results of selection for yearling or 18-month weight in Angus and Hereford cattle. Livestock Production Science 29: 277–296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barlow, R. 1978. Biological ramifications of selection for preweaning growth in cattle. A review. Animal Breeding Abstracts 46: 469–486.Google Scholar
Blair, H. T. and Pollak, E. J. 1984. Estimation of genetic trend in a selected population with and without use of a control population, journal of Animal Science 58: 878–886.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brinks, J. S., Clark, R. T. and Keiffer, N. M. 1965. Evaluation of response to selection and inbreeding in a close line of Hereford cattle. US Department of Agriculture, technical bulletin no. 1323.Google Scholar
Brinks, J. S., Clark, R. T. and Rice, F. J. 1961. Estimation of genetic trends in beef cattle, journal of Animal Science 20: 903 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Cartwright, T. C. and Fitzhugh, H. A. 1968. Genetic trends in an experimental Hereford herd, journal of Animal Science 27: 283 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Dumas, R., Lhoste, P., Chabeuf, N. and Blancou, J. 1971. [Note on the heriditary susceptibility of cattle to streptothricosis] Revue d'Elcvage et de Médécine vétérinaire des Pays tropkaux 24: 349–353.Google Scholar
Elzo, M. A., Pollak, E. J. and Quaas, R. L. 1987. Genetic trends due to bull selection and differential usage in the Simmental population, journal of Animal Science 64: 983–991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frahm, R. R., Nichols, C. G. and Buchanan, D. S. 1985. Selection for increased weaning weight and yearling weight in Hereford cattle. II. Direct and correlated responses. journal of Animal Science 60: 1385–1395.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frisch, J. E. 1981. Changes occurring in cattle as a consequence of selection for growth rate in a stressful environment, journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 96: 23–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodwin, K., Dickerson, G. E. and Lamoureux, W. F. 1960. An experimental design for separating genetic and environmental changes in animal populations under selection. In Biomctrical genetics (ed. Kempthome, O.), pp. 117–138. Pergamon Press, New York.Google Scholar
Gowe, R. S., Robertson, A. and Latter, B. D. H. 1959. Environment and poultry breeding problems. 5. The design of poultry control strains. Poultry Science 38: 462–471.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, W. R. 1990. User's guide for LSMLMW and MIXMDL, PC-2 version. Iowa State University, Ames, Ia.Google Scholar
Henderson, C. R. 1973. Sire evaluation and genetic trends. Proceedings of the animal breeding and genetics symposium in honor of Dr. Jay L. Lush, July 1972, pp. 10–40. American Society of Animal Science and American Dairy Science Association, Champaign, Ill.Google Scholar
Hill, W. G. 1972. Estimation of genetic change. II. Experimental evaluation of control populations. Animal Breeding Abstracts 40: 193–213.Google Scholar
Lhoste, P. 1968. [Seasonal behaviour of Zebu cattle in Adamawa, Cameroon, II. Preweaning growth of indigenous and half-breed Braham calves] Revue d'Elevage et de Médécine vétérinaire des Pays tropicaux 21: 499–517.Google Scholar
Lhoste, P. 1969. [Cattle breeds of Adamawa (Cameroon).] Colloque sur I'Elevage, Fort-Lamy, Tchad, 8–13 Décembre, 519–533.Google Scholar
Lhoste, P. and Pierson, J. 1973. [A study of mortalities and cases of emergencies at the Animal Production Station in Wakwa (Cameroon).” Revue d'Elevage et de Médécine vétérinaire des Pays tropicaux 26: 431–442.Google Scholar
Mandon, A. 1957. [Zebu Brahman in Cameroon. Preliminary results of its introduction into Adamawa.] Revue d'Elevage et de Médécine vétérinaire des Pays tropicaux 10: 129–145.Google Scholar
Mbah, D. A. 1982. Mortality due to rickettsia, trypanosomiasis, piroplasmosis and streptothricosis among six genetic groups of cattle at Wakwa. Revue science et technique, séries sciences zootechniques 2: 81–88.Google Scholar
Mbah, D. A., Mbanya, J. and Messine, O. 1987. Performance of Holsteins, Jerseys and the Zebu crosses in Cameroon. Preliminary results. Revue science et technique, series sciences zootechniques 3: 115–126.Google Scholar
Mbah, D. A., Saliki, J. T., Ottou, J. B. and Pingpoh, D. 1988. Research and development report (Cameroon). Workshop on collaborative cattle milk and meat research in West and Central Africa, October 24–27, Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Mrode, R. A. 1988. Selection experiments in beef cattle. Part 2. A review of responses and correlated responses. Animal Breeding Abstracts 56: 155–166.Google Scholar
Nadarajah, K., Notter, D. R., Marlowe, T. J. and Eller, A. L. 1987. Evaluation of phenotypic and genetic trends in weaning weight in Angus and Hereford populations in Virginia. Journal of Animal Science 64: 1349–1361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newman, J. A., Rahnefeld, G. W. and Fredeen, H. T. 1973. Selection intensity and response to selection for yearling weight in beef cattle. Canadian journal of Animal Science 53: 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pamo, E. T. and Yonkeu, S. 1987. [A study of trends in some climatic parameters of the pastoral environment in Wakwa, Adamawa-Cameroon.] Revue science et technique, series sciences zootechniques 2: 19–33.Google Scholar
Piot, J. and Rippstein, G. 1975. [Major species of some pastoral formations in Adamawa, Cameroon: ecology and dynamics of different exploitation rates.] Revue d'Elevage et de Médécine vétérinaire des Pays tropicaux 28: 427–434.Google Scholar
Rege, J. E. O. 1989. MLBULP: best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) animal evaluation computer programme for the nested model with one or two random effects and maximum likelihood variance component estimation option. Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
Smith, C. 1962. Estimation of genetic change in farm livestock using field records. Animal Production 4: 239–251.Google Scholar
Szkotnicki, W. J., Tong, A. K. W., Sharaby, M. A., Krotch, K. M., Johnson, L. P. and Schaeffer, L. R. 1978. Sire and cow evaluation in Brown Swiss, Canadienne and Milking Shorthorn, journal of Dairy Science 61: 497–505.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tawah, C. L. and Mbah, D. A. 1989. Cattle breed evaluation and improvement in Cameroon. A review of the situation. Institute of Animal Research, Wakwa, Cameroon.Google Scholar
Tawah, C. L., Mbah, D. A., Rege, J. E. O. and Cumate, H. 1993. Genetic evaluation of birth and weaning weight of Gudali and two-breed synthetic Wakwa beef cattle populations under selection in Cameroon: genetic and phenotypic parameters. Animal Production 57: 73–79.Google Scholar
Tawonezvi, H. P. R., Brownlee, J. W. I. and Ward, H. K. 1986. Studies on growth of Nkone cattle. 2. Estimation of genetic improvement in body mass. Zimbabwe Journal of Agricultural Research 24: 31–35.Google Scholar
Thompson, R. and Juga, J. 1989. Cumulative selection differentials and realized heritabilities. Animal Production 49: 203–208.Google Scholar
Van Vleck, L. D., St.Louis, D. and Miller, J. L. 1977. Expected phenotypic response in weaning weight of beef calves from selection for direct and maternal genetic effects. journal of Animal Science 44: 360–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar