Evaluation of Bonsmara and Belmont Red cattle breeds in South Africa. 2. Genetic parameters for growth and fertility
N. J. Corbet A E , R. K. Shepherd B , H. M. Burrow C , K. C. Prayaga A , J. van der Westhuizen D and D. J. Bosman DA CSIRO Livestock Industries, Box 5545, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.
B Central Queensland University, North Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.
C CRC for Cattle and Beef Quality, University of New England, NSW 2351, Australia.
D ARC Animal Improvement Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene 1672, South Africa.
E Corresponding author. Email: nick.corbet@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(2) 213-223 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05224
Submitted: 24 August 2005 Accepted: 15 December 2005 Published: 3 March 2006
Abstract
Genetic parameters were estimated for growth and fertility indicator traits in a South African beef cattle population. Measurements on 5601 pedigreed progeny of 96 Bonsmara sires, 18 Belmont Red sires and 20 Bonsmara × Belmont Red cross sires were recorded over 19 years in 4 diverse climatic regions of South Africa. Growth traits were measured on growing stock from birth to 18 months at pasture. Cow weights were measured at calving and weaning. Age at first calving, and repeated measurements of calving day and calving interval were recorded on 1993 breeding females as indicators of reproductive performance. The traits were analysed using univariate and bivariate animal models with maternal effects fitted.
Direct heritability of growth traits (0.11–0.42) and female fertility traits (0.02–0.13) suggested that genetic progress could be made by selection for some traits. Genetic correlations between growth and fertility traits were variable (–0.47–0.85) and indicated that multi-trait selection would be the best method of dealing with multidirectional forces on productivity traits. Genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects on liveweight traits were mostly negative indicating that genetic improvement of traits with strong maternal influence, such as weaning weight, would be complicated and supported the use of post-weaning weights with less maternal influence as selection criteria to improve the direct additive component of growth. The genetic parameter estimates provide useful reference values for estimation of breeding values in a proposed combined-breed genetic evaluation program.
Additional keywords: genetic correlation, heritability, maternal effects.
Acknowledgments
This study reports on data collected for the South African National Beef Cattle Performance Testing Scheme. The generation of Belmont Red progeny data relied on the initiative of Australian CSIRO and South African Agricultural Department staff to form a collaborative research project in 1981 and introduce semen from Australia to South Africa. Dr George Seifert (ex CSIRO, Australia) and Dr Jan Hofmeyr (ex South African Department of Agriculture) were key personnel involved with the genesis of the collaborative project. We thank the owners of the herds involved with the project and all those responsible for collection, maintenance and retrieval of the data (especially Leslie Bergh, Bernice Mostert, Rain Gerhard, Phillip Strydom and Annette Exley at the Irene Animal Improvement Institute). The study was partly funded by the CSIRO and the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cattle and Beef Quality.
Albuquerque LG, Meyer K
(2001) Estimates of direct and maternal genetic effects for weights from birth to 600 days of age in Nelore cattle. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 118, 83–92.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Archer JA,
Arthur PF,
Parnell PF, van de Ven RJ
(1998) Effect of divergent selection for yearling growth rate on female reproductive performance in Angus cattle. Livestock Production Science 57, 33–40.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bennett GL, Gregory KE
(2001) Genetic (co)variances for calving difficulty score in composite and parental populations of beef cattle. II. Reproductive, skeletal and carcass traits. Journal of Animal Science 79, 52–59.
| PubMed |
Bradfield MJ,
Mostert BE,
Exley CAJ,
Jordaan F, Bergh L
(2000) Estimates of genetic parameters for traits measured in phase A, C and D of the South African performance testing scheme. South African Journal of Animal Science 30, 8–10.
Buddenberg BJ,
Brown CJ, Brown AH
(1990) Heritability estimates of calving date in Hereford cattle maintained on range under natural mating. Journal of Animal Science 68, 70–74.
| PubMed |
Burrow HM
(2001) Variances and covariances between productive and adaptive traits and temperament in a composite breed of tropical beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 70, 213–233.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burrow HM, Prayaga KC
(2004) Correlated responses in productive and adaptive traits and temperament following selection for growth and heat resistance in tropical beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 86, 143–161.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burrow HM, Rudder TH
(1991) Increased profit through selection of Zebu crossbred cattle for growth in the tropics. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 9, 186–189.
Burrow HM,
Seifert GW, Hetzel DJS
(1991) Consequences of selection for weaning weight in Zebu, Bos taurus and Zebu × Bos taurus cattle in the tropics. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 295–307.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Corbet NJ,
Shepherd RK,
Burrow HM,
van der Westhuizen J,
Strydom PE, Bosman DJ
(2006) Evaluation of Bonsmara and Belmont Red cattle breeds in South Africa. 1. Productive performance. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 199–212.
Daley DR,
McCuskey A, Bailey CM
(1987) Composition and yield of milk from beef-type Bos taurus and Bos indicus × Bos taurus dams. Journal of Animal Science 64, 373–384.
| PubMed |
Davis GP
(1993) Genetic parameters for tropical beef cattle in northern Australia: a review. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 179–198.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davis GP,
Corbet NJ,
Mackinnon MJ,
Hetzel DJS,
Entwistle KW, Dixon R
(1993) Response in female fertility and calf growth to selection for pregnancy rate in tropical beef cattle. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 1509–1521.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Demeke S,
Neser FWC, Schoeman SJ
(2003) Variance components and genetic parameters for early growth traits in a mixed population of purebred Bos indicus and crossbred cattle. Livestock Production Science 84, 11–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DeNise SK, Torabi M
(1989) Genetic parameter estimates for postweaning traits of beef cattle in a stressful environment. Journal of Animal Science 67, 2619–2626.
| PubMed |
Goddard ME,
Entwistle KW, Dixon R
(1980) Variables affecting pregnancy rate in Bos indicus cross cows. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 13, 65–67.
Gregory KE,
Cundiff LV, Koch RM
(1995) Genetic and phenotypic (co)variances for production traits of female populations of purebred and composite beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 73, 2235–2242.
| PubMed |
Groeneveld E,
Mostert BE, Rust T
(1998) The covariance structure of growth traits in the Afrikaner beef population. Livestock Production Science 55, 99–107.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gutiérrez JP,
Alvarez I,
Fernández I,
Royo LJ,
Díez J, Goyache F
(2002) Genetic relationships between calving date, calving interval, age at first calving and type traits in beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 78, 215–222.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haile-Mariam M, Kassa-Mersha H
(1994) Genetic and environmental effects on age at first calving and calving interval of naturally bred Boran (Zebu) cows in Ethiopia. Animal Production 58, 329–334.
Haile-Mariam M, Kassa-Mersha H
(1995) Estimates of direct and maternal (co)variance components of growth traits in Boran cattle. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 112, 43–52.
Herd RM
(1990) The direct and maternal components of the selection response in the Angus Trangie growth rate selection lines. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 8, 401–404.
Hetzel DJS,
Quass RL,
Seifert GW,
Bean KG,
Burrow HM, Aspden WJ
(1990) Genetic parameters for growth of tropical beef cattle. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 8, 517–520.
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.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koots KR,
Gibson JP,
Smith C, Wilton JW
(1994a) Analyses of published genetic parameter estimates for beef production traits. 1. Heritability. Animal Breeding Abstracts 62, 309–338.
Koots KR,
Gibson JP, Wilton JW
(1994b) Analyses of published genetic parameter estimates for beef production traits. 2. Phenotypic and genetic correlations. Animal Breeding Abstracts 62, 825–853.
Lee C, Pollak EJ
(1997) Relationship between sire × year interactions and direct-maternal genetic correlation for weaning weight of Simmental cattle. Journal of Animal Science 75, 68–75.
| PubMed |
Lôbo RNB
(1998) Genetic parameters for reproductive traits of Zebu cows in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Livestock Production Science 55, 245–248.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mackinnon MJ,
Hetzel DJS,
Corbet NJ,
Bryan RP, Dixon R
(1990) Correlated responses to selection for cow fertility in a tropical beef herd. Animal Production 50, 417–424.
Meyer K
(1992) Variance components due to direct and maternal effects for growth traits of Australian beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 31, 179–204.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meyer K
(1994) Estimates of direct and maternal correlations among growth traits in Australian beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 38, 91–105.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meyer K
(1997) Estimates of genetic parameters for weaning weight of beef cattle accounting for direct-maternal environmental covariances. Livestock Production Science 52, 187–199.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meyer K,
Hammond K,
Parnell PF,
Mackinnon MJ, Sivarajasingam S
(1990) Estimates of heritability and repeatability for reproductive traits in Australian beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 25, 15–30.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meyer K,
Hammond K,
Mackinnon MJ, Parnell PF
(1991) Estimates of covariances between reproduction and growth in Australian beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 69, 3533–3543.
| PubMed |
Meyer K,
Johnston DJ, Graser H-U
(2004) Estimates of the complete genetic covariance matrix for traits in multi-trait genetic evaluation of Australian Hereford cattle. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55, 195–210.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maiwashe AN,
Bradfield MJ,
Theron HE, Van Wyk JB
(2002) Genetic parameter estimates for body measurements and growth traits in South African Bonsmara cattle. Livestock Production Science 75, 293–300.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meacham NS, Notter DR
(1987) Heritability estimates for calving data in Simmental cattle. Journal of Animal Science 64, 701–705.
Mialon MM,
Renaud G,
Krauss D, Menissier F
(2001) Genetic relationship between cyclic ovarian activity in heifers and cows and beef traits in males. Genetics, Selection, Evolution. 33, 273–281.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mohiuddin G
(1993) Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters of some performance traits in beef cattle. Animal Breeding Abstracts 61, 495–522.
Morris CA, Cullen NG
(1994) A note on genetic correlations between pubertal traits of males or females and lifetime pregnancy rate in beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 39, 291–297.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morris CA,
Wilson JA,
Bennett GL,
Cullen NG,
Hickey SM, Hunter JC
(2000) Genetic parameters for growth, puberty, and beef cow reproductive traits in a puberty selection experiment. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 41, 83–91.
Pereira JCC,
Najera Ayala JM, Oliveira HND
(1991) Genetic and non-genetic effects on age at first calving and calving intervals in two herds of Nellore cattle. Arquivo Brasileiro De Medicina Veterinaria E Zootecnia 43, 93–102.
Phocas F,
Vinet A, Renaud G
(2002) Genetic variability of reproductive traits in Charolais cows. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 7, 513–516.
Plasse D,
Verde O,
Fossi H,
Romero R,
Hoogesteijn R,
Bastidas P, Bastardo J
(2002) (Co)variance components, genetic parameters and annual trends for calf weights in a pedigree Brahman herd under selection for three decades. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 119, 141–153.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson DL
(1996) Models which might explain negative correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects. Livestock Production Science 45, 111–122.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robison OW
(1981) The influence of maternal effects on the efficiency of selection: a review. Livestock Production Science 8, 121–137.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rust T, Groeneveld E
(2001) Variance component estimation on female fertility traits in beef cattle. South African Journal of Animal Science 31, 131–141.
Rust T, Groeneveld E
(2002) Variance component estimation of female fertility traits in two indigenous and two European beef cattle breeds of South Africa. South African Journal of Animal Science 32, 23–29.
Schneeberger M,
Tier B, Hammond K
(1991) Introducing the third generation of Breedplan and Group Breedplan. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 9, 194–199.
Schoeman SJ,
Jordaan GF, Erasmus GJ
(2000) Heritabilities of pre-weaning traits in a multibreed beef cattle herd fitting models with or without sire genotype × dam genotype interaction. South African Journal of Animal Science 30, 118–119.
Silveira JC,
McManus C,
Silva LOC,
Mascioli AS, Silveira AC
(2002) Genetic parameters for production and reproduction traits in Nellore cattle from a herd in Mato Grosso do Sul State. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 7, 1–4.
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.
| PubMed |
Splan RK,
Cundiff LV, Van Vleck LD
(1988) Genetic parameters for sex-specific traits in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2272–2278.
Theron HE,
Scholtz MM, Roux CZ
(1994) Genetic relationship between growth traits in Bonsmara heifer and bull calves on different nutritional regimes. South African Journal of Animal Science 24, 67–70.
Turner HG
(1972) Selection of beef cattle for tropical Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal 48, 162–166.
| PubMed |
van der Westhuizen RR,
Schoeman SJ,
Jordaan GF, van Wyk JB
(2000) Heritabilities of reproductive traits in a beef cattle herd using multitrait analysis. South African Journal of Animal Science 30, 140–141.
van der Westhuizen RR,
Schoeman SJ,
Jordaan GF, van Wyk JB
(2001) Genetic parameters for reproductive traits in a beef cattle herd estimated using multitrait analysis. South African Journal of Animal Science 31, 41–48.
Willham RL
(1980) Problems in estimating maternal effects. Livestock Production Science 7, 405–418.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wolfe MW,
Stumpf TT,
Wolfe PL,
Day ML,
Koch RM, Kinder JE
(1990) Effect of selection for growth traits on age and weight at puberty in bovine females. Journal of Animal Science 68, 1593–1602.
