Estimation of variance components, genetics trends and parameters for birth weight of Holstein cattle in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abstract

Birth weight (BW) is the first trait that could be measured after birth. BW influences the growth, production, reproduction, and calving ease of the mother and also affects the future performance of the calf. The 355582 BW records of Holstein cows were used in this research which was recorded by Animal Breeding Center of Iran between 1988 and 2010. The likelihood ratio test showed that the differences between first 5 models and sixth model were significant (P<0.001). The power of test for all comparison was more than 0.999 indicating the best model is sixth model. The estimated direct heritability, maternal heritability and total heritability of best model were 0.269, 0.08 and 0.22, respectively. Also genetics correlation between direct and maternal effects was estimated at -0.38. The genetics trend was increased positively up to 2003 (0.016 ± 0.003 kg), after that, it negatively decreased. The result of genetic trend of BW showed that BW did not included in the breeding programs of dairy herds up to now, and it could be used as a selection index for genetics improvement in the Holstein dairy cattle population.

Keywords

References

Agyemang, K. (1992). Adjustment of birth weight for weighing age and relationship of standardized birth weight with early mortality in N'Dama calves under traditional husbandry systems in the Gambia. Animal Science. 55(03):301-308.
Andersen, H. and Plum, M. (1965). Gestation length and birth weight in cattle and buffaloes. a review1,2. Journal of Dairy Science. 48(9):1224-1235.
Atil, H., Khattab, A.S. and Badawy, L. (2005). Genetic parameter of birth and weaning weights for calves by using an animal model. Arch Tierzucht, 48:261-269.
Bennett, G.L. and Gregory, K.E. (2001). Genetic (co)variances for calving difficulty score in composite and parental populations of beef cattle: I. calving difficulty score, birth weight, weaning weight, and postweaning gain. Journal of Animal Science. 79(1): 45-51.
Boligon, A.A., Mercadante, M.E.Z. Forni, S., Lobo, R.B. and Albuquerque, L.G. ( 2010). Covariance functions for body weight from birth to maturity in Nellore cows. Journal of Animal Science. 88(3):849-859.
Brumby, P.J. and Trail, J.C.M. (1986). Animal breeding and productivity studies in Africa. ILCA Bulletin. 23:23-27.
Champely, S. (2006). Basic functions for power analysis Reference manual. In: http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/pwr/index.html.
Chew, B.P., Maier, L.C., Hillers, J.K. and Hodgson, A.S. (1981). Relationship between calf birth weight and dam's subsequent 200- and 305-day yields of milk, fat, and total solids in Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science. 64(12):2401-2408.
Dawson, W.M., Phillips, R.W. and Black, W.H. (1947). Birth weight as a criterion of selection in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science. 6(3):247-257.
Ghoraishy, S.S., Rokouei, M., Sargolzaei, M. and Moghimi Esfandabadi, A. 2013. Effect of calf birth weight on some of the economically important in Iran s Holstein dairy cow population. Iranian Journal of Animal Science. 44(1):35-43.
Gilmour, A.R., Cullis., B.R., Welham, S.J. and Thompson, R. (2009). ASReml Reference manual. In: ftp.res.bbsrc.ac.uk in pub/aar.
Johanson, J.M., and Berger, P.J. (2003). Birth weight as a predictor of calving ease and perinatal mortality in Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 86(11):3745-3755.
Johanson, J.M., Berger, P. J., Tsuruta, S. and Misztal, I. (2011). A bayesian threshold-linear model evaluation of perinatal mortality, dystocia, birth weight, and gestation length in a Holstein herd. Journal of Dairy Science. 94(1):450-460.
Lamb, R.C. and Barker, B.O. 1975. Genetic relationship between birth weight and adult weight in Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science. 58(5):724-728.
Linden, T.C., Bicalho, R.C. and Nydam, D.V. (2009). Calf birth weight and its association with calf and cow survivability, disease incidence, reproductive performance, and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science. 92(6):2580-2588.
Lykins, L.E.J., Bertrand, J.K., Baker, J.F. and Kiser, T.E. (2000). Maternal birth weight breeding value as an additional factor to predict calf birth weight in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science. 78(1):21-26.
McDermott, J.J., Allen, O.B., Martin, S.W. and Alves, D.M. (1992). Patterns of stillbirth and dystocia in Ontario cow-calf herds. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research. 56(1):47.
Meijering, A. (1984). Dystocia and stillbirth in cattle - A review of causes, relations and implications. Livestock Production Science. 11(2):143-177.
Nelson, L.A. and Beavers, G.D. (1982). Beef x beef and dairy x beef females mated to Angus and Charolais sires. I. pregnancy rate, dystocia and birth weight. Journal of Animal Science. 54(6):1138-1149.
Morris, C. A., Bennett, G.L., Baker, R.L. and Carter, A.H. (1986). Birth weight, dystocia and calf mortality in some New Zealand beef breeding herds. Journal of Animal Science. 62(2):327-343.
Mujibi, F.D.N. and Crews, J.D.H. (2009). Genetic parameters for calving ease, gestation length, and birth weight in Charolais cattle. Journal of Animal Science. 87(9):2759- 2766.
Pabst, W., Kilkenny, J.B. and Langholz, H.J. (1977). Genetic and environmental factors influencing calf performance in pedigree beef cattle in Britain. 2. The relationship between birth, 200-day and 400-day weights and the heritability of weight for age. Animal Science. 24(01):41-48.
Rokouei, M., Vaez Torshizi, R., Moradi Shahrbabak, M., Sargolzaei, M. and Sørensen, A.C. (2010). Monitoring inbreeding trends and inbreeding depression for economically important traits of Holstein cattle in Iran. Journal of Dairy Science. 93(7):3294-3302.
Sieber, M., Freeman, A.E. and Kelley, D.H. (1989). Effects of body measurements and weight on calf size and calving difficulty of Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science. 72(9):2402-2410.
Singh, A. R., Schalles, R.R. Smith, W.H. and Kessler, F.B. (1970). Cow weight and preweaning performance of calves. Journal of Animal Science. 31(1):27-30.
Stamer, E., Hafez, W., Junge, W. and Kalm, E. (2004). Genetic parameters of birth weight and weaning weight of  Holstein female calves. Züchtungskunde. 76:188-195.
Swali, A. and Wathes, D.C. (2006). Influence of the dam and sire on size at birth and subsequent growth, milk production and fertility in dairy heifers. Theriogenology. 66(5):1173-1184.
Tilki, M., Saatçi, M. and Çolak, M. (2008). Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects and estimation of breeding values for birth weight in Brown Swiss cattle. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science. 32:287-292.
Trus, D. and Wilton, J.W. (1988). Genetic parameters for maternal traits in beef cattle. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 68:119-128.
Willham, R. L. (1980). Problems in estimating maternal effects. Livestock Science. 7:405-418.
Animal Sciences Journal
Volume 29, Issue 112
December 2016
Pages 3-10

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics