Estimates Of Combining Abilities Heterotic Effects And Phenotypic Correlations Among In Bred Lines Of Beef Cattle And Their Line Crosses

Author : Frank Kent Hoornbeek
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (185 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Download or read book Selection Applied, Response of Traits and Combining Abilities of Inbred Lines of Beef Cattle written by Frank Kent Hoornbeek and published by . This book was released on 1965 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The investigations reported are based on two studies; the first is concerned with the selection practiced for performance in one inbred Angus and three inbred Hereford lines of cattle, the realized responses, levels of inbreeding and associated performance, and heritabilities of the performance traits. Selection differentials for all performance traits were positive when the averages for both parents were considered. Selection differentials computed from the sire side of the matings were all positive and were higher than those on the dam side as a consequence of greater selection intensity through the sires. Automatic selection against inbreeding occurred on the sire side in conjunction with selection for increased performance. Due to the low selection intensity for females, selection was for increased inbreeding on the dam side of the matings. Inbreeding increased in all lines over a 12 year period. Performance increased early in the inbreeding program, then levelled off and subsequently declined. Score improved in all lines. Generally favorable response in the Angus line resulted from a lower initial performance, a broader genetic base and more animals from which to select. Data from repeat matings showed that more variability in performance existed during the preweaning than in the postweaning period. Zero and low levels of inbreeding were associated with high preweaning performance and low postweaning performance. At higher stages of inbreeding, the reverse was true. Heritability estimates differentiated between the highly heritable traits, postweaning rate and economy of gain, and the lowly and moderately heritable traits respectively, preweaning gain and score. In the second study the performance data on calves resulting from a complete diallel cross between the three Hereford lines involved in the first study were analyzed. In addition, blood samples were analyzed at 450 and 750 pounds for amino acid nitrogen, urea nitrogen and creatinine. Differences in general combining ability between lines were found for postweaning rate and economy of gain. The Lionheart line was the best general combiner, followed by the David and Prince lines. Specific combining ability differences in rate of gain favored crosses between the more rapidly gaining Lionheart and David lines. The Prince and David cross was the lowest performing cross among the specific crosses. The analyses of differences in economy of gain were similar to those for postweaning rate of gain, but there was also a significant difference in favor of linecross over inbred calves. This was probably due to the economy of gain contributed by the Prince line to the linecross calves. A highly significant association existed between postweaning rate and economy of gain, with rate of gain accounting for 77 percent of the variation in economy of gain. Higher scores were given to Lionheart x Prince calves than calves resulting from crosses involving the lower scoring David line. Linecross calves were scored higher than inbred calves, with the Prince and David inbred calves contributing to the low scores of all inbreds. Line of dam differences in score at 800 pounds were due to the less rapidly gaining David calves during the preweaning period scoring lower at 800 pounds. When all inbred and linecross calves were considered, blood creatinine was higher at 450 pounds in calves from David dams which were inferior milkers, and lower in the calves at 750 pounds sired by the David bulls, due to lower gaining inbred David calves. A significant difference in blood amino acid nitrogen at 750 pounds was due to the low content in calves sired by the Prince bulls, which is possibly a function of economy of gain contributed by this line. Urea nitrogen at 750 pounds and feed required per 100 pounds of gain were negatively correlated. At 450 pounds, blood creatinine and amino acid nitrogen were highly associated.