Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for superovulatory response traits in order to explore the possibility of genetic improvement in Japanese Black cows. We analyzed 19 155 records of the total number of embryos and oocytes (TNE) and the number of good embryos (NGE) collected from 1532 donor cows between 2008 and 2018. A two-trait repeatability animal model analysis was performed for both. Because records of TNE and NGE did not follow a normal distribution, the records were analyzed following no, logarithmic, or Anscombe transformation. Without transformation, the heritability estimates were 0.26 for TNE and 0.17 for NGE. With logarithmic transformation, they were 0.22 for TNE and 0.18 for NGE. With Anscombe transformation, they were 0.26 for TNE and 0.18 for NGE. All analyses gave similar genetic correlations between TNE and NGE, ranging from 0.60 to 0.71. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between breeding values of cows with more than 10 records was ≥0.95 with both transformations. Thus, the genetic improvement of TNE and NGE of donor cows could be possible in Japanese Black cattle.
Highlights
Japanese Black cattle are a Wagyu breed famous for their excellent meat quality (Gotoh et al, 2014)
The genetic improvement of total number of embryos and oocytes (TNE) and number of good embryos (NGE) of donor cows could be possible in Japanese Black cattle
The value of Japanese Black calves is much higher than the other beef breeds, and it is profitable for dairy farmers to transfer embryos from Japanese Black cows to dairy cattle recipients
Summary
Japanese Black cattle are a Wagyu breed famous for their excellent meat quality (Gotoh et al, 2014). Embryo transfer plays an important role in efficient Wagyu production (Agriculture and Livestock Industry Promotion Organization, 2019). Reproductive techniques such as multiple ovulation, embryo transfer, and ovum pickup are widely used in dairy cattle production (Jaton et al, 2016); around the world, 470 000 bovine embryos were produced in vivo in 2018 (International Embryo Transfer Society [IETS], 2018). The heritabilities of in vivo embryo production traits have been estimated for Holstein (Jaton et al, 2016; Parker Gaddis et al, 2017), Belgian Blue (Michaux et al, 2002), and Nellore (Zebu) cattle breeds (Peixoto et al, 2004), but not so far in Japanese Black cattle. This study estimated genetic parameters of superovulatory response traits in Japanese Black cows to 2 | Journal of Animal Science, 2021, Vol 99, No 10
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