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Selection for rate and efficiency of lean gain in Hereford cattle 1. Selection pressure applied and direct responses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. A. Mrode ,
C. Smith  and
R. Thompson
R. A. Mrode
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
C. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
R. Thompson
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
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Abstract

Selection of bulls for rate and efficiency of lean gain was studied in a herd of Hereford cattle. There were two selection lines, one selected for lean growth rate (LGR) from birth to 400 days and the other for lean food conversion ratio (LFCR) from 200 to 400 days of age, for a period of 8 years. A control line bred by frozen semen from foundation bulls was also maintained. Generation interval was about 2·4 years and average male selection differentials, per generation were 1·2 and — 1·1 phenotypic standard deviation units for LGR and LFCR respectively.

Genetic parameters and responses to selection were estimated from the deviation of the selected lines from a control line and by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) techniques on the same material. Realized heritabilities were 0·40 (s.e. 0·12) for LGR and 0·40 (s.e. 0·13) for LFCR using the control line. Corresponding estimates from REML were 0·42 (s.e. 0·10) and 0·37 (s.e. 0·14). The estimate of the genetic correlation between LGR and LFCR was about — 0·69 (s.e. 0·12) using REML.

The estimates of direct annual genetic change using deviations from the control were 3·6 (s.e. 1·3) g/day for LGR and — 0·14 (s.e. 0·07) kg food per kg lean gain for LFCR. Corrsponding estimates from REML were similar but more precisely estimated. The correlated responses for LFCR in the LGR line was higher than the direct response for LFCR.

Keywords

beef cattlebody lean massselection
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , August 1990 , pp. 23 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

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