Impact of Scanning Lean Cattle on the Genetic Correlation Between Scan and Carcase Intramuscular Fat in Angus and Hereford Cattle

Author(s)
Walkom, Samuel
Jeyaruban, M Gilbert
Johnston, David
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
BREEDPLAN, the Australian beef cattle genetic evaluation system, uses ultrasound scan intramuscular fat as a correlated trait for predicting carcase intramuscular fat. More recently, it has been observed that seedstock herds are being scanned at younger ages and lower levels of fatness and this research was undertaken to examine the effect on heritability and the genetic correlation estimates when scan records are removed using fat depth thresholds. Using BREEDPLAN data to estimate these genetic relationships, this study yielded genetic correlation estimates of 0.37 and 0.36 in Angus and 0.69 and 0.54 in Hereford for bull and heifer scan intramuscular fat, respectively. The results showed a useful improvement in the genetic correlation between bull intramuscular fat and carcase intramuscular fat in Angus cattle to 0.48. However, for Angus heifers and Hereford bulls and heifers there was no significant improvement, suggesting that strategies to reduce lean scanning will not improve the genetic correlation estimates in those cases.
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.21, p. 253-256
ISBN
978-0-646-94554-5
ISSN
1328-3227
Link
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Title
Impact of Scanning Lean Cattle on the Genetic Correlation Between Scan and Carcase Intramuscular Fat in Angus and Hereford Cattle
Type of document
Conference Publication
Entity Type
Publication

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