A genetic analysis of performance and progeny test data for young bulls of Norwegian red cattle and various Friesian crosses

Abstract

Own performance (OPT) and progeny testing results (PRT) of sons of highly selected Friesian sires from the United States (AHF), Canada (CHF) and England (BF) were compared with the results of Norwegian Red Cattle (NRF) and Swedish Black and White (SLB) sires in a breeding experiment in Norway. Half bred AHF and SLB had the highest estimated breeding values for both meat and milk production traits. (However, it should be noted, that there was only one SLB sire with PRT results.) Differences between top bulls across breeds were not large, with the exception that BF did not compete well in milk production. Heritabilities of growth and body characteristics were all about 0.4, except for length of croup and depth of chest which were estimated at 0.2. Genetic correlations between milk production and OPT characteristics were slightly positive. A combination of OPT and PRT results was shown to give additional information for the prediction of a breeding value for slaughter weight.