Selection for increased muscling is not detrimental to maternal productivity traits in Angus cows
L. M. Cafe A C , W. A. McKiernan A B and D. L. Robinson AA NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Present address: 17 Fishing Point Road, Rathmines, NSW 2283, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: linda.cafe@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Animal Production Science 58(1) 185-192 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13023
Submitted: 22 January 2013 Accepted: 2 August 2013 Published: 12 October 2015
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of selection for increased muscling on maternal productivity of a temperate beef cow herd. Cows of predominantly Angus breeding were selected using visual muscle score (1–15 scale, where 1 = lightest and 15 = heaviest muscling) into low- and high-muscled animals, and mated to Angus bulls with low or high muscularity. Initially, low-muscled cows were mated to low-muscled bulls to create the Low line, and high-muscled bulls and cows were mated to create the High line. On discovering that some High cattle carried the myostatin (821 del11) gene, a second High line was created to distinguish between cattle with no copies of the myostatin gene (High line) and those with one copy (HighHet line). Data from 12 breeding cycles, consisting of 2003 joining records, and 1713 resulting weaning records were analysed to assess maternal productivity. Cows from the three lines were similar in weight (547, 548 and 550 kg, P = 0.9), but varied in body composition – from Low to High to HighHet cows, muscling traits increased and fatness traits decreased (all P < 0.001). Compared with Low cows, High cows had a 4.4 units higher muscle score, 10% higher eye muscle area and 21% less fat, and HighHet cows had a 7.1 units higher muscle score, 17% higher eye muscle area and 45% less fat. There were no significant effects of selection for increased muscling on live birth or weaning rates, or weaning weight (all P > 0.1). Dystocia levels of Low and HighHet maidens or cows did not differ significantly, but High maidens or cows had less dystocia (P = 0.013). Low, High and HighHet cows weaned 218, 225 and 216 kg of calf/cow joined.year, indicating similar maternal productivity.
References
Arthur PF (1995) Double muscling in cattle: a review. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, 1493–1515.| Double muscling in cattle: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bellinge RHS, Liberles DA, Iaschi SPA, O’Brien PA, Tay GK (2005) Myostatin and its implications on animal breeding: a review. Animal Genetics 36, 1–6.
| Myostatin and its implications on animal breeding: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXit1GgsL4%3D&md5=0166e3f29aefa181ffc7e644d952127aCAS |
Buchanan DS, Nielsen MK, Koch RM, Cundiff LV (1982) Selection for growth and muscling score in beef cattle I. Selection applied. Journal of Animal Science 55, 516–525.
Butler D, Cullis B, Gilmour A, Gogel B (2009) ‘ASReml-R reference manual, release 3.’ (Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries: Brisbane)
Conroy SB, Drennan MJ, Kenny DA, McGee M (2009) The relationship of live animal muscular and skeletal scores, ultrasound measurements and carcass classification scores with carcass composition and value in steers. Animal 3, 1613–1624.
| The relationship of live animal muscular and skeletal scores, ultrasound measurements and carcass classification scores with carcass composition and value in steers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38vpt1altw%3D%3D&md5=8c7e06e1c5ddf94c8d2da815fa2eff84CAS | 22444995PubMed |
Crews DH, Shannon NH, Crews RE, Kemp RA (2002) Weaning, yearling, and preharvest ultrasound measures of fat and muscle area in steers, bulls, and heifers. Journal of Animal Science 80, 2817–2824.
Cundiff LV, Gregory KE, Koch RM, Dickerson GE (1986) Genetic diversity among cattle breeds and its use to increase beef production efficiency in a temperature environment. In ‘3rd world congress on genetics applied to livestock production’. (Eds GE Dickerson, RK Johnson) pp. 271–282. (University of Nebraska: Lincoln, NE)
Gill JL, Bishop SC, McCorquodale C, Williams JL, Wiener P (2009) Associations between the 11-bp deletion in the myostatin gene and carcass quality in Angus-sired cattle. Animal Genetics 40, 97–100.
| Associations between the 11-bp deletion in the myostatin gene and carcass quality in Angus-sired cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXivVGktr4%3D&md5=52739f6b733ea056282e55b80260d945CAS | 18822096PubMed |
Graser H-U, Tier B, Johnston DJ, Barwick SA (2005) Genetic evaluation for the beef industry in Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 913–921.
| Genetic evaluation for the beef industry in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grobet L, Martin LJ, Poncelet D, Pirottin D, Brouwers B, Riquet J, Schoeberlein A, Dunner S, Ménissier F, Massabanda J, Fries R, Hanset R, Georges M (1997) A deletion in the bovine myostatin gene causes the double-muscled phenotype in cattle. Nature Genetics 17, 71–74.
| A deletion in the bovine myostatin gene causes the double-muscled phenotype in cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXlvVGhtr8%3D&md5=6d705c0cb228fcf2efd56435cbca98b5CAS | 9288100PubMed |
Hickson RE, Morris ST, Kenyon PR, Lopez-Villalobos N (2006) Dystocia in beef heifers: a review of genetic and nutritional influences. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 54, 256–264.
| Dystocia in beef heifers: a review of genetic and nutritional influences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28jhtlyhuw%3D%3D&md5=095c93e30edf071fe3be7bf59c8a93faCAS | 17151722PubMed |
Johnston DJ, Bunter KL (1996) Days to calving in Angus cattle: genetic and environmental effects, and covariances with other traits. Livestock Production Science 45, 13–22.
| Days to calving in Angus cattle: genetic and environmental effects, and covariances with other traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKiernan WA (1995) Growth, carcass value and body measurements from high and low muscled bulls. MSc Thesis, University of New South Wales, Sydney.
McKiernan WA (2001) The potential to, and method of, providing market feedback on price variation in live cattle traits reported by the National Livestock Reporting Service. A report to the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS), August 2001. Meat and Livestock Australia, Sydney.
McKiernan WA (2002) Importance of various cattle traits in the national livestock reporting system. Animal Production in Australia 24, 39
McKiernan WA (2007) ‘Muscle scoring beef cattle. NSW DPI Primefact No 328.’ (NSW Department of Primary Industries: Orange)
McKiernan WA, Richardson E, Wilkins JF (2004) Effect of selection for increased muscling on early female reproductive potential. Animal Production in Australia 25, 283
McKiernan WA, Wilkins JF, Meaker G (2009) Research on muscle selection line cattle at Glen Innes. In ‘Proceedings of the Industry and Investment NSW Beef and Sheep Conference, Orange, NSW, November 2009’. (Ed TS Andrews) pp. 35–39. (Industry and Investment NSW, Orange)
Morris CA, Baker RL, Hickey SM, Johnson DL, Cullen NG, Wilson JA (1993) Evidence of genotype by environment interaction for reproductive and maternal traits in beef cattle. Animal Science 56, 69–83.
National Research Council (1996) ‘Nutrient requirements of beef cattle.’ 7th edn. (National Academy Press: Washington, DC)
O’Rourke BA, Dennis JA, Healy PJ, McKiernan WA, Greenwood PL, Cafe LM, Perry D, Walker KH, Marsh I, Parnell PF, Arthur PF (2009) Quantitative analysis of performance, carcass and meat quality traits in cattle from two Australian beef herds in which a null myostatin allele is segregating. Animal Production Science 49, 297–305.
| Quantitative analysis of performance, carcass and meat quality traits in cattle from two Australian beef herds in which a null myostatin allele is segregating.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parnell PF (1994) The consequences of selection for growth rate in beef cattle. Animal Production in Australia 20, 17–26.
Perry D, McKiernan WA, Yeates AP (1993) Muscle score – its usefulness in describing the potential yield of saleable meat from live steers and their carcasses. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 33, 275–281.
| Muscle score – its usefulness in describing the potential yield of saleable meat from live steers and their carcasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson DL (1987) Estimation and use of variance components. The Statistician 36, 3–14.
| Estimation and use of variance components.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Slack-Smith A, Griffith G, Thompson J (2009) The cost of non-compliance to beef market specifications. Australasian Agribusiness Reviews 11, 178–190.
Upton W, Burrow HM, Dundon A, Robinson DL, Farrell EB (2001) CRC breeding program design, measurements and database: methods that underpin CRC research results. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 943–952.
| CRC breeding program design, measurements and database: methods that underpin CRC research results.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walmsley BJ, McKiernan WA (2011) Observed trends in estimated breeding values in response to selection using visual muscle score in beef cattle. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 19, 123–126.
Walmsley BJ, Lee SJ, Parnell PF, Pitchford WS (2015) A review of factors influencing key biological components of maternal productivity in temperate beef cattle. Animal Production Science
| A review of factors influencing key biological components of maternal productivity in temperate beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiener P, Woolliams JA, Frank-Lawale A, Ryan M, Richardson RI, Nute GR, Wood JD, Homer D, Williams JL (2009) The effects of a mutation in the myostatin gene on meat and carcass quality. Meat Science 83, 127–134.
| The effects of a mutation in the myostatin gene on meat and carcass quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXmvFGhtL0%3D&md5=0fb5c1d23c9803e143775d9dc11d00fcCAS | 20416780PubMed |
