Genetic parameters from two different field testing schemes for beef traits of German Gelbvieh finishing bulls

Abstract

Progeny testing in the field is the basis for the genetic evaluation of south German dual purpose cattle breeds on beef traits. There are two different approaches. For German Simmental cattle the use of slaughterhouse data became a very effective tool to predict EBVs for AI sires. Progeny of German Gelbvieh sires on the other hand are tested in a conducted farm-level test to control testing design and to enable measurement of auxiliary traits. Using Gelbvieh data a multiple trait approach was applied to compare both methods in terms of genetic parameters. A total of 9766 slaughterhouse records of finishing bulls and 2744 records from the conducted field test connected by 207 common sires was analysed regarding 11 growth and carcass traits. For the traits ‘daily net gain’ and ‘market value of the carcass’, measured both in the slaughterhouse and the conducted field test, the heritabilities were h2=0.12 and 0.10 and h2=0.34 and 0.19, respectively. The genetic correlation between these corresponding traits were ra=0.90 and 1.00. In the conducted field test the meat percentage of the carcass is derived out of three auxiliary traits in a regression formula. It has a heritability of h2=0.63 and moderate to high genetic correlation to net gain and market value. Additionally six carcass and auxiliary traits were analysed, with heritabilities between 0.29 and 0.61.