Abstract
The aim of the current research was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters of weaning weight in Hungarian Simmental cattle. Weaning weight records were obtained from the Association of Hungarian Simmental Breeders. The dataset comprised of 44,278 animals born from 1975 to 2020. The data was analyzed using the restricted maximum likelihood methodology of the Wombat software. We fitted a total of six models to the weaning weight data of Hungarian Simmental cattle. Models ranged from a simple model with animals as the only random effect to a model that had maternal environmental effects as additional random effects as well as direct maternal genetic covariance. Fixed effects in the model comprised of herd, birth year, calving order and sex. Likelihood ratio test was used to determine the best fit model for the data. Results indicated that allowing for direct-maternal genetic covariance increases the direct and maternal effect dramatically. The best fit model had direct and maternal genetic effects as the only random effect with non-zero direct-maternal genetic correlation. Direct heritability, maternal heritability and direct maternal correlation of the best fit model was 0.57, 0.16 and -0.78 respectively. The result indicates that problem of (co-)sampling variation occurs when attempting to partition additive genetic variance into direct and maternal components.
Highlights
Weaning weight is an economically important trait in cattle breeding
There are few reports about genetic parameters accounting for the maternal effect, this research aims to estimate the direct and maternal genetic effect on weaning weight of Hungarian Simmental cattle
The mean weight of the Hungarian Simmental beef calves obtained in this study (213.08 kg) was similar what was reported by Kebede & Komlosi (2015) in a similar Hungarian Simmental population who reported a weaning weight of 211 kg
Summary
Weaning weight is an economically important trait in cattle breeding. The selection for higher weight at young ages can increase the mature weight due to genetic correlations from medium to high magnitudes between weights in different ages (Silva et al, 2000; Boligon et al, 2009; Meyer, 1992). Not accounting for maternal effects in genetic evaluation model results in an upward bias estimate of genetic parameters for weaning weight (Khombe et al, 1995; Robinson, 1996a) which can hamper efficiency of selection. Both direct and maternal effects should be taken into consideration to realize the optimum genetic improvement in selection programs (Robison, 1981). There are few reports about genetic parameters accounting for the maternal effect, this research aims to estimate the direct and maternal genetic effect on weaning weight of Hungarian Simmental cattle
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