Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/19026
Title: | Genetic Selection for Litter Size in Cattle | Contributor(s): | Piper, L R (author); Bindon, B M (author); Swan, Andrew (author) ; Brewer, H G (author) | Publication Date: | 2015 | Open Access: | Yes | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/19026 | Open Access Link: | http://www.aaabg.org/aaabghome/AAABG21papers/Piper21101.pdf | Abstract: | Efficiency of production in beef cattle is limited by their relatively low reproduction rate. In this paper, we present the results of a fourteen year breeding program aimed at increasing prolificacy in a mixed beef x dairy herd, grazing at Armidale in the New England region of NSW. The herd was established by purchasing cows with a repeated history of twinning and bulls from dams with unusually high prolificacy. For the 51foundation cows with at least one subsequent calving record, the average prolificacy was 1.11 +/- 0.05 (123 total records. For all cows born in the herd, the mean ovulation rate was 1.12 and the mean prolificacy was 1.03. The twinning rate was lower than expected based on reports from other experimental herds aimed at increasing prolificacy that have been established in the USA, New Zealand and France. The observed genetic trends for ovulation rate and prolificacy were essentially zero but were moderately positive for fertility, cow rearing ability and reproduction rate. The desired outcome of generating a positive genetic trend in reproduction rate was achieved, albeit to a limited degree, but not as a result of genetic response in ovulation rate or prolificacy, the traits under direct selection pressure. | Publication Type: | Conference Publication | Conference Details: | AAABG 2015: 21st Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Lorne, Australia, 28th - 30th September, 2015 | Source of Publication: | Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.21, p. 101-105 | Publisher: | Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG) | Place of Publication: | Armidale, Australia | ISSN: | 1328-3227 | Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 070201 Animal Breeding | Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 300305 Animal reproduction and breeding | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 830301 Beef Cattle | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 100401 Beef cattle | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | E1 Refereed Scholarly Conference Publication | Publisher/associated links: | http://www.aaabg.org/aaabghome/proceedings21.php |
---|---|
Appears in Collections: | Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) Conference Publication |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format |
---|
Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.