Genetic relationships of female reproduction with growth, body composition, maternal weaning weight and tropical adaptation in two tropical beef genotypes
M. L. Wolcott A B C , D. J. Johnston A B and S. A. Barwick A BA Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit1, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: mwolcott@une.edu.au
Animal Production Science 54(1) 60-73 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13012
Submitted: 15 January 2013 Accepted: 23 May 2013 Published: 20 August 2013
Abstract
The genetic relationships of female reproduction with growth and body composition, tropical adaptation traits and maternal weaning weight (descriptive of genetic potential milk production) were estimated in 1027 Brahman (BRAH) and 1132 Tropical Composite (TCOMP) females. Female reproduction was evaluated at puberty, as outcomes of the first and second annual mating periods (Mating 1 and Mating 2, which commenced when females averaged 27 and 39 months of age, respectively), as well as annual averages over up to six matings. Traits evaluated included age at puberty, Mating 1 and 2 pregnancy rate, weaning rate and days to calving, and lifetime annual calving and weaning rate. Traits describing growth and body composition (liveweight, hip height, ultrasound-scanned P8 fat depth and eye muscle area, subjective body condition score and blood IGF-I concentration) were measured in the animals as heifers (at ~18 months of age), and again at the start of Mating 2. Traits describing tropical adaptation included coat-length scores in both genotypes and, in BRAH, buffalo fly lesion scores.
Previously reported analyses of these data identified heifer IGF-I and coat and buffalo-fly-lesion scores as potential genetic indicators for age at puberty in BRAH. The results of the present study found that exploiting these relationships would have no unfavourable genetic consequences for later female reproduction and, in some cases, may be indicators of female reproduction, when evaluated as outcomes of Matings 1 or 2, or as lifetime annual calving or weaning rates. For BRAH, heifer liveweight was a genetic indicator for Mating 1 weaning rate (rg = 0.70), and, while standard errors were high, there were also positive genetic correlations of heifer hip height, eye muscle area and blood IGF-I concentration with Mating 1 weaning rate (rg = 0.61, 0.58 and 0.43, respectively). For TCOMP, significant genetic relationships of heifer growth, body composition and tropical adaptation traits with female reproduction were virtually absent, suggesting that there is less opportunity to identify earlier in life measures as genetic indicators of reproduction for this genotype. Higher maternal weaning weight was significantly genetically related to lower lifetime annual weaning rate (rg = –0.50) in BRAH, and with lower Mating 2 calving and weaning rate (rg = –0.72 and –0.59, respectively) in TCOMP, which will need to be considered when making selection decisions that affect genetic milk in these genotypes. Importantly, the results presented revealed no strong genetic antagonisms of heifer growth and body composition traits with female reproduction, suggesting that selection could be undertaken to improve these simultaneously.
Additional keywords: body composition, female reproduction, genetic correlation, tropical adaptation.
References
Abeygunawardena H, Dematawewa CMB (2004) Pre-pubertal and postpartum anoestrus in tropical Zebu cattle. Animal Reproduction Science 82–83, 373–387.| Pre-pubertal and postpartum anoestrus in tropical Zebu cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15271467PubMed |
Barwick SA, Johnston DJ, Burrow HM, Holroyd RG, Fordyce G, Wolcott ML, Sim WD, Sullivan MT (2009a) Genetics of heifer performance in ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ seasons and their relationships with steer performance in two tropical beef genotypes. Animal Production Science 49, 367–382.
| Genetics of heifer performance in ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ seasons and their relationships with steer performance in two tropical beef genotypes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barwick SA, Wolcott ML, Johnston DJ, Burrow HM, Sullivan M (2009b) Genetics of steer daily feed intake and residual feed intake in tropical beef genotypes and relations among intake, body composition, growth and other post weaning measures. Animal Production Science 49, 351–366.
| Genetics of steer daily feed intake and residual feed intake in tropical beef genotypes and relations among intake, body composition, growth and other post weaning measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXotFOgtrc%3D&md5=d8bc7838d05e31202598bec42ed148d7CAS |
Berry DP, Buckley F, Dillion P, Evans RD, Rath M, Veerkamp RF (2003) Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 2193–2204.
| Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXks1Giuro%3D&md5=538333036b31239f918842c29864db5bCAS | 12836956PubMed |
Burrow HM, Johnston DJ, Barwick SA, Holroyd RG, Barendse W, Thompson JM, Griffith GR, Sullivan M (2003) Genetics relationships between carcass and beef quality and components of herd profitability in northern Australia. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 15, 359–362.
Cartwright TC (1980) Prognosis of Zebu cattle: research and application. Journal of Animal Science 50, 1221–1226.
Ciccioli NH, Wettermann RP, Spicer LJ, Lents CA, White FJ, Keisler DH (2003) Influence of body condition at calving and postpartum nutrition on endocrine function and reproductive performance of primiparous beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 81, 3107–3120.
Corbet NJ, Burns BM, Johnston DJ, Wolcott ML, Corbet DH, Venus BK, Li Y, McGowan MR, Holroyd RG (2013) Male traits and herd reproductive capacity in tropical beef cattle 2. Genetic parameters of bull traits. Animal Production Science 53, 101–113.
Davis GP (1993) Genetic parameters for tropical beef cattle in northern Australia: a review. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 179–198.
De Haas Y, Janss LL, Kadarmideen HN (2007) Genetic correlations between body condition scores and fertility in dairy cattle using bivariate random regression models. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 124, 277–285.
| Genetic correlations between body condition scores and fertility in dairy cattle using bivariate random regression models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2srlt12guw%3D%3D&md5=5969bab5ffaeda2dcd49b99e3171c2c7CAS | 17868080PubMed |
Forni S, Albuquerque LG (2005) Estimates of genetic correlations between days to calving and reproductive and weight traits in Nelore cattle. Journal of Animal Science 83, 1511–1515.
Frisch JE, Munro RK, O’Neill CJ (1987) Some factors related to calf crops of Brahman, Brahman crossbred and Hereford × Shorthorn cows in a stressful tropical environment. Animal Reproduction Science 15, 1–26.
| Some factors related to calf crops of Brahman, Brahman crossbred and Hereford × Shorthorn cows in a stressful tropical environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXpt1WlsQ%3D%3D&md5=11ff768f6b4740525544c653bedd57a7CAS |
Gilmour AR, Gogel BJ, Cullis BR, Thompson R (2009) ‘ASREML users guide release 3.’ (VSN International: Hemel Hempstead, UK)
González-Recio O, Alenda R, Chang YM, Weigel KA, Gianola D (2006) Selection for female fertility using censored fertility traits and investigation of the relationship with milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 4438–4444.
| Selection for female fertility using censored fertility traits and investigation of the relationship with milk production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17033033PubMed |
Gregory KE, Lunstra DD, Cundiff LD, Koch RM (1991) Breed effects and heterosis in advanced generations of composite populations for puberty and scrotal traits of beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 69, 2795–2807.
Hansen PJ (2004) Physiological and cellular adaptations of Zebu cattle to thermal stress. Animal Production Science 82–83, 349–360.
Hetzel DJS, Mackinnon MJ, Dixon R, Entwistle KW (1989) Fertility in a tropical beef herd divergently selected for pregnancy rate. Animal Production 49, 73–81.
| Fertility in a tropical beef herd divergently selected for pregnancy rate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodel F, Moll J, Kuenzi N (1995) Analysis of fertility in Swiss Simmental cattle – Genetic and environmental effects on female fertility. Livestock Production Science 41, 95–103.
| Analysis of fertility in Swiss Simmental cattle – Genetic and environmental effects on female fertility.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnston DJ, Barwick SA, Holroyd RG, Fordyce G, Wolcott ML, Burrow HM (2009) Genetics of heifer puberty in two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia and associations with heifer and steer production traits. Animal Production Science 49, 399–412.
| Genetics of heifer puberty in two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia and associations with heifer and steer production traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnston DJ, Barwick SA, Fordyce G, Holroyd RG, Williams PJ, Corbet NJ, Grant T (2014) Genetics of early and lifetime annual reproductive performance in cows of two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia. Animal Production Science 54, 1–15.
| Genetics of early and lifetime annual reproductive performance in cows of two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kadarmideen HN, Thompson R, Simm G (2000) Linear and threshold model genetic parameter estimates for disease, fertility and production traits in UK dairy cattle. Animal Science 71, 411–419.
MacKinnon MJ, Hetzel DJS, Taylor JF (1989) Genetic and environmental effects on the fertility of beef cattle in a tropical environment. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 40, 1085–1097.
Mercadante MEZ, Packer IU, Razook AG, Cyrillo JNSG, Figueiredo LA (2003) Direct and correlated responses to selection for yearling weight on reproductive performance of Nelore cattle. Journal of Animal Science 81, 376–384.
Meyer K, Hammond K, Parnell PF, Mackinnon MJ, Sivarajasingam S (1990) Estimates of heritabilities and repeatabilities for reproductive traits in Australian beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 25, 15–30.
| Estimates of heritabilities and repeatabilities for reproductive traits in Australian beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muir BL, Fatehi J, Schaeffer LR (2004) Genetic relationships between persistency and reproductive performance in first-lactation canadian holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 3029–3037.
| Genetic relationships between persistency and reproductive performance in first-lactation canadian holsteins.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXntlGjtr0%3D&md5=f88b2801538ce6d27f33c15388986d9bCAS | 15375065PubMed |
Prayaga KC, Corbet NJ, Johnston DJ, Wolcott ML, Fordyce G, Burrow HM (2009) Genetics of adaptive traits in heifers and their relationship to growth, pubertal and carcass traits in two tropical beef cattle genotypes. Animal Production Science 49, 413–425.
| Genetics of adaptive traits in heifers and their relationship to growth, pubertal and carcass traits in two tropical beef cattle genotypes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schatz TJ (2011) Understanding and improving heifer fertility in northern Australia. MSc Thesis, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT.
Schatz TJ, Hearnden MN (2008) Heifer fertility on commercial cattle properties in the Northern Territory. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 940–944.
| Heifer fertility on commercial cattle properties in the Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith BA, Brinks JS, Richardson GV (1989) Estimation of genetic parameters among reproductive and growth traits in yearling heifers. Journal of Animal Science 67, 2886–2891.
Turner HG (1964) Coat characteristics of cattle in relation to adaptation. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 5, 151–157.
Turner HG, Schleger AV (1960) The significance of coat type in cattle. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 11, 645–663.
| The significance of coat type in cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vankan DM, Burns BM (1997) DNA fingerprinting: how it works and applications for the beef industry. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 433–437.
Vargas CA (2000) Estimation of phenotypic and genetic relationships among hip height and productive and reproductive performance in Brahman cattle. PhD Thesis, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Vargas CA, Elzo MA, Chase CC, Chenoweth PJ, Olson TA (1998) Estimation of genetic parameters for scrotal circumference, age at puberty in heifers and hip height in Brahman cattle. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2536–2541.
Veerkamp RF, Koenen EPC, De Jong G (2001) Genetic correlations among body condition score, yield, and fertility in first-parity cows estimated by random regression models. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 2327–2335.
| Genetic correlations among body condition score, yield, and fertility in first-parity cows estimated by random regression models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnvV2ksbo%3D&md5=604f8a77a046e0fddf7c71a2a237bbd4CAS | 11699466PubMed |
Wolcott ML, Johnston DJ, Barwick SA, Corbet NJ, Williams PJ (2014) The genetics of cow growth and body composition at first calving in two tropical beef genotypes. Animal Production Science 54, 37–49.
| The genetics of cow growth and body composition at first calving in two tropical beef genotypes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yilmaz A, Davis ME, Simmen RCM (2004) Estimation of (co)variance components for reproductive traits in Angus beef cattle divergently selected for blood serum IGF-I concentration. Journal of Animal Science 82, 2285–2292.
