Response to divergent selection for insulin-like growth factor-I concentration and correlated responses in growth traits in Angus cattle

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A divergent selection experiment for serum IGF-I concentration was established in 1989 at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station located in Belle Valley, Ohio. One hundred spring-calving (50 high line and 50 low line) and 100 fall-calving (50 high line and 50 low line) cows with unknown IGF-I concentrations were randomly assigned to the 2 divergent selection lines. Results of this study included 2,507 calves from the 1989 through 2005 calf crops. (Co)variance components were estimated for direct and maternal additive genetic effects using an animal model and multiple-trait, derivative-free, REML (MTDFREML) computer programs. Estimated breeding values were also obtained and regressed on years to estimate direct and correlated responses to divergent selection for serum IGF-I concentration. Estimates of direct heritability for growth traits from a single trait model were moderate and ranged from 0.33 ± 0.06 for birth weight to 0.42 ± 0.06 for preweaning BW gain. Heritability estimates for direct effects were 0.44 ± 0.07, 0.43 ± 0.07, 0.35 ± 0.06, and 0.48 ± 0.07 for IGF-I concentration at d 28, 42, and 56 of the 140-d postweaning period, and for mean IGF-I concentration, respectively. Maternal heritability and the proportion of phenotypic variance due to permanent environment effect of dam were ≤0.25 for growth traits and IGF-I concentrations. Cattle in the high line had significantly (P < 0.001) greater direct effects of mean IGF-I concentration than those in low line (high line: 66.92 ± 4.40 ng/mL vs. low line: -40.82 ± 5.18 ng/mL) in 2005. Direct responses per year for mean IGF were 5.18 ng/mL in the high line and -3.76 ng/mL in the low line. The regression of direct effects of preweaning BW gain on year were not significantly different from zero in either the high or low line. However, genetic trends were negative and significant for birth weight and postweaning BW gain in the high line and were positive and significant in the low line. Results demonstrated that divergent selection for serum IGF-I concentration in beef cattle will change the genetic potential for IGF-I concentration and that selection for lesser IGF-I concentration will result in increased birth weights and postweaning BW gains.