Abstract
Simple SummaryKnowledge of genetic parameters is essential to obtain breeding values in order to increase the response to selection and incorporate novel traits in designing a breeding program. There is a growing demand for the genetic improvement of carcass traits in the Korean beef industry. The use of yearling ultrasound measurements as indicator traits can be an efficient way to evaluate carcass traits. To date, the assessment of genetic parameters for ultrasound measurements in Hanwoo cattle is still limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the heritability, and the genetic and phenotypic correlations of yearling ultrasonic and carcass traits in Hanwoo cattle. The results revealed moderate to high heritability estimates for the traits of interest, which indicate a probable increase in the response to selection for these traits. Moreover, high and favorable genetic correlations were observed between carcass traits and their corresponding ultrasound measurements. Our findings suggest that the inclusion of yearling ultrasound data on potential replacements would be suitable as a selection tool for genetic improvement of carcass traits in Hanwoo breeding programs.Genetic parameters have a significant role in designing a breeding program and are required to evaluate economically important traits. The objective of this study was to estimate heritability and genetic correlation between yearling ultrasound measurements, such as backfat thickness (UBFT), eye muscle area (UEMA), intramuscular fat content (UIMF), and carcass traits, such as backfat thickness (BFT), carcass weight (CW), eye muscle area (EMA), marbling score (MS) at approximately 24 months of age, as well as yearling weight (YW) in Hanwoo bulls (15,796) and steers (5682). The (co) variance components were estimated using a multi-trait animal model. Moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained and were 0.42, 0.50, 0.56, and 0.59 for CW, EMA, BFT, and MS, respectively. Heritability estimates for yearling measurements of YW, UEMA, UBFT, and UIMF were 0.31, 0.32, 0.30, and 0.19, respectively. Favorable and strong genetic correlations were observed between UIMF and MS (0.78), UBFT and BFT (0.63), and UEMA and EMA (0.65). Moreover, the estimated genetic correlation between YW and CW was high (0.84) and relatively moderate between YW and EMA (0.43). These results suggest that genetic improvement can be achieved for carcass traits when using yearling ultrasound measurements as selection criteria in ongoing Hanwoo breeding programs.
Highlights
Carcass and meat quality traits are a comprehensive term used to describe consumer perceptions of meat and are important for determining the economic profits of the beef production system
This study was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters of yearling ultrasound measurements and their correlations with carcass traits in Hanwoo beef cattle
The moderate to high heritability of ultrasound and carcass traits, as well as the positive and rather high genetic correlation between carcass and ultrasound measurements obtained in the present study indicates that the advantages of utilizing ultrasound information would be important to improve the genetic evaluation and selection of cattle for carcass traits
Summary
Carcass and meat quality traits are a comprehensive term used to describe consumer perceptions of meat and are important for determining the economic profits of the beef production system. An efficient way to evaluate carcass traits is the use of ultrasound measurements as an indicator trait in live animals. Since 1990, with the development of ultrasound technology, it has become possible to collect carcass measurements without the need to slaughter animals for recording their phenotypes [1]. Brethour [2] stated that ultrasound technology provides an opportunity to rapidly estimate genetic parameters for carcass characteristics in live animals. Ultrasound carcass traits have the potential to increase the rate of genetic progress and reduce the required time and cost of progeny testing. Ultrasound has been shown to be an important and precise tool in the genetic evaluation and selection for intramuscular fat, subcutaneous fat thickness, muscularity, and boneless meat yield [3,4]. Based on previous studies, yearling ultrasound carcass data have been shown to have high positive genetic correlations with the corresponding carcass traits [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]
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