Estimates of Genetic Parameters for Seasonal Weight Changes of Beef Cows

Title
Estimates of Genetic Parameters for Seasonal Weight Changes of Beef Cows
Publication Date
2015
Author(s)
Meyer, Karin
Colditz, Ian
Editor
Editor(s): Kim Bunter, Tim Byrne, Hans Daetwyler, Susanne Hermesch, Kathryn Kemper, James Kijas, David Nation, Wayne Pitchford, Suzanne Rowe, Matt Shaffer, Alison van Eenennaam
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Place of publication
Armidale, Australia
UNE publication id
une:19218
Abstract
Genetic parameters were estimated for seasonal body weight changes of cows and weaning weight of their calves in two beef herds run at pasture in a Mediterranean climate. Heritability estimates for weight changes were low. Cows predisposed to lose more weight were also likely to gain more weight, and larger cows had greater genetic potential for weight changes. Low to moderate genetic and permanent environmental correlations indicated that cows with greater seasonal weight changes weaned heavier calves, due in part to the genetic association between weaning weight and cows' mature body weight. Results indicate that in this environment, scope to select for heavy weaning weight without penalty to cow body weight during periods of seasonal feed scarcity is limited.
Link
link
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.21, p. 193-196
ISSN
1328-3227
ISBN
9780646945545
Start page
193
End page
196

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