Genetic Parameters For Carcass Traits Research Articles

PSX-9 Comparison of single- and multiple-trait genomic predictions of cattle carcass quality traits in multibreed and purebred populations

Abstract Estimation of genetic parameters for carcass traits and their use in the evaluation of carcass quality is of considerable importance in the genetic improvement of beef cattle. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive ability of single- and multi-trait genomic prediction models for the following carcass quality traits: hot carcass weight (HCW); fat thickness (FAT); rib eye area (REA); marbling score (MARB); and peak force (PEAKF) from multibreed and purebred populations. The purebred population included 1,068 purebred Angus animals from Iowa State University whereas the multibreed population consisted of 887 animals sired by 1 of 8 purebreds (209 Angus-, 10 Brahman-, 182 Charolais-, 76 Hereford-, 44 Limousin-, 136 Maine-Anjou-, 96 Shorthorn-, and 134 South Devon- sired offspring) from the Carcass Merit Project funded by the US beef cattle industry to evaluate the genetic prediction of tenderness. After quality control of SNP markers generated with Illumina v1 50K BeadChips, 33,718 SNP markers from were used to obtain heritability and genetic correlation estimates between traits separately in either the multibreed or purebred populations. Genotyped individuals were randomly clustered into 10 groups for cross-fold validation to quantify the correlations between and predicted performance (without the individual’s data) and the realized phenotype of the individual from single- or multi-trait genomic prediction in the multibreed and purebred populations. Heritability estimates of traits from multi-trait analyses ranged from 0.42 to 0.61 in multibreed population and from 0.24 to 0.44 in the purebred population, whereas the single trait values were 0.30 to 0.53 in multibreed, and 0.23 to 0.42 in the purebred population. Estimates were greater in the multibreed population compared with the purebred population (Table 1). Compared with the single-trait analyses, multi-trait analyses resulted in higher heritability estimates for FAT, REA and PEAKF traits in the purebred population and for HCW, REA, MARB and PEAKF traits in multibreed population. Genetic correlations from multi-trait analyses indicated the genetic association between traits. In testing data sets, correlations between observed and predicted phenotypes from single-trait analyses were 4- to 7-fold greater in purebred than in the multibreed population (Table 2). These results may be due to the greater genomic relationship expected in purebred than in the multibreed population. However, the multi-trait analyses resulted in a considerable increase in correlations between observed and predicted values in multibreed population due to genetic correlations between traits.

Genetic parameters for carcass traits of progeny of beef bulls mated to dairy cows.

Beef × dairy crossbred cattle (n = 615) were used to evaluate the effect of preharvest indicator traits and genotypes on the accuracy of estimated breeding values (EBVs) of seedstock candidates for selection. Genotypes for 100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms were provided by the American Simmental Association of purebred and crossbred seedstock animals (n = 2,632). Five hundred and ninety-five of the 615 beef × dairy cattle had carcass camera and ultrasound data. Phenotypes were not used for any of the seedstock animals even though some may have had performance and ultrasound data. We estimated the genomic relationship matrix among 3,247 animals including both phenotyped and unphenotyped animals. We computed genetic parameters among 37 traits using 666 bivariate restricted maximum likelihood analyses. The accuracy of EBV depends on heritability. For the sake of brevity, we report accuracy for marbling as a proxy for other traits with similar heritability. We focus on accuracy for marbling because marbling is the primary determinant of carcass value. We computed EBV for all 3,247 animals for marbling based on camera data postharvest using best linear unbiased prediction. We report evidence of overlap in causative genes among postharvest carcass traits; marbling, ribeye area, yield grade, fat thickness, and hot carcass weight (HCW) based on genetic correlations. Genetic correlations range from -0.73 to 0.89. Several live animal traits (frame size, body weight and ultrasound fat thickness and ribeye area) were genetically correlated with postharvest traits; including HCW, ribeye area, yield grade, fat thickness, and marbling. Genetic correlations between pre- and postharvest traits ranged from -0.53 to 0.95. Accuracy for marbling ranged from 0.64 to 0.80 for animals with marbling recorded, and from 0.09 to 0.60 for animals without marbling recorded. The accuracy of animals without phenotypes was related to the genomic relationship between animals with phenotype and those without. Live animal traits were useful for predicting economically important carcass traits based on genetic correlations. The accuracy of EBV for seedstock animals that were not phenotyped was low, but this is consistent with theory, and accuracy is expected to increase with the addition of genotypes and carcass data from beef × dairy animals.

Analysis of environmental effects and estimation of genetic parameters for carcass traits in Hanwoo steers produced through embryo transfer

This study estimated the environmental effects and genetic parameters for carcass traits of 2,309 Hanwoo steers produced through Embryo Transfer (ET) to confirm the performance improvement achieved. The data used for analysis collected information on offspring produced by ET from 2012 to 2020. SAS 9.4 GLM package was used to analyze the environmental effects affecting carcass traits, and genetic parameters were estimated using the REMLF90 program for heritability, genetic correlation, and phenotypic correlation. The collected Carcass Weight (CWT), Eye Muscle Area (EMA), Back-Fat Thickness (BFT), and Marbling Score (MS) were 505.2±58.19kg, 105.57±13.41cm2, 12.76±4.27mm, and 7.25±1.61 points, respectively. It was found that the environmental effect of growth area and slaughter month had a significant effect (p<0.01) on carcass traits. Heritability was 0.51, 0.64, 0.36, and 0.59 in CWT, EMA, BFT, and MS, respectively, and high heritability was observed in all traits except BFT. Due to the characteristics of ET, it is considered that the effect of genetic improvement was more pronounced because there were many offspring with the same parents or the same father or mother. Therefore, it is judged that more efficient improvement effect and performance can be confirmed if an optimal environmental model is set based on the results of this study and used as basic data for breeding. If these results continue to accumulate, it is thought that it will be able to contribute to the increase in farm household income through the improvement effect.

Genomic heritability and correlation between carcass traits in Japanese Black cattle evaluated under different ceilings of relatedness among individuals.

The investigation of carcass traits to produce meat with high efficiency has been in focus on Japanese Black cattle since 1972. To implement a successful breeding program in carcass production, a comprehensive understanding of genetic characteristics and relationships between the traits is of paramount importance. In this study, genomic heritability and genomic correlation between carcass traits, including carcass weight (CW), rib eye area (REA), rib thickness (RT), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), yield rate (YI), and beef marbling score (BMS) were estimated using the genomic data of 9,850 Japanese Black cattle (4,142 heifers and 5,708 steers). In addition, we investigated the effect of genetic relatedness degree on the estimation of genetic parameters of carcass traits in sub-populations created based on different GRM-cutoff values. Genome-based restricted maximum likelihood (GREML) analysis was applied to estimate genetic parameters. Using all animal data, the heritability values for carcass traits were estimated as moderate to relatively high magnitude, ranging from 0.338 to 0.509 with standard errors, ranging from 0.014 to 0.015. The genetic correlations were obtained low and negative between SFT and REA [-0.198 (0.034)] and between SFT and BMS [-0.096 (0.033)] traits, and high and negative between SFT and YI [-0.634 (0.022)]. REA trait was genetically highly correlated with YI and BMS [0.811 (0.012) and 0.625 (0.022), respectively]. In sub-populations created based on the genetic-relatedness ceiling, the heritability estimates ranged from 0.212 (0.131) to 0.647 (0.066). At the genetic-relatedness ceiling of 0.15, the correlation values between most traits with low genomic correlation were overestimated while the correlations between the traits with relatively moderate to high correlations, ranging from 0.380 to 0.811, were underestimated. The values were steady at the ceilings of 0.30-0.95 (sample size of 5,443-9,850) for most of the highly correlated traits. The results demonstrated that there is considerable genetic variation and also favorable genomic correlations between carcass traits. Therefore, the genetic improvement for the traits can be simultaneously attained through genomic selection. In addition, we observed that depending on the degree of relationship between individuals and sample size, the genomic heritability and correlation estimates for carcass traits may be different.

Estimation of Genetic Parameters by Single-Trait and Multi-Trait Models for Carcass Traits in Hanwoo Cattle.

Simple SummaryGenetic parameters play an important role in designing a breeding program. Many software and methods are used to estimate genetic parameters in livestock population. Multi-trait models are efficiently used these days for productive traits, reproductive traits, milk traits, etc. These models are more useful in the case of low heritability trait and with missing phenotypes. In this study, Hanwoo cattle, an indigenous breed from South Korea, is studied for four carcass traits (back fat thickness, carcass weight, eye muscle area, and marbling score). Single-trait and multi-trait models are constructed using BLUPF90 software to estimate variance components. In addition, the effect of genetic correlations among traits is scrutinized in multi-trait models for these traits.Hanwoo breed is preferred in South Korea because of the high standards in marbling and the palatability of its meat. Numerous studies have been conducted and are ongoing to increase the meat production and quality in this beef population. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare genetic parameters for carcass traits using BLUPF90 software. Four models were constructed, single trait pedigree model (STPM), single-trait genomic model (STGM), multi-trait pedigree model (MTPM), and multi-trait genomic model (MTGM), using the pedigree, phenotype, and genomic information of 7991 Hanwoo cattle. Four carcass traits were evaluated: Back fat thickness (BFT), carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle area (EMA), and marbling score (MS). Heritability estimates of 0.40 and 0.41 for BFT, 0.33 and 0.34 for CWT, 0.36 and 0.37 for EMA, and 0.35 and 0.38 for MS were obtained for the single-trait pedigree model and the multi-trait pedigree model, respectively, in Hanwoo. Further, the genomic model showed more improved results compared to the pedigree model, with heritability of 0.39 (CWT), 0.39 (EMA), and 0.46 (MS), except for 0.39 (BFT), which may be due to random events. Utilization of genomic information in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has allowed more capturing of the variance from the traits improving the variance components.

Effect of errors in pedigree on the accuracy of estimated breeding value for carcass traits in Korean Hanwoo cattle.

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the effect of pedigree errors (PEs) on the accuracy of estimated breeding value (EBV) and genetic gain for carcass traits in Korean Hanwoo cattle.MethodsThe raw data set was based on the pedigree records of Korean Hanwoo cattle. The animals’ information was obtained using Hanwoo registration records from Korean animal improvement association database. The record comprised of 46,704 animals, where the number of the sires used was 1,298 and the dams were 38,366 animals. The traits considered were carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle area (EMA), back fat thickness (BFT), and marbling score (MS). Errors were introduced in the pedigree dataset through randomly assigning sires to all progenies. The error rates substituted were 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%, respectively. A simulation was performed to produce a population of 1,650 animals from the pedigree data. A restricted maximum likelihood based animal model was applied to estimate the EBV, accuracy of the EBV, expected genetic gain, variance components, and heritability (h2) estimates for carcass traits. Correlation of the simulated data under PEs was also estimated using Pearson’s method.ResultsThe results showed that the carcass traits per slaughter year were not consistent. The average CWT, EMA, BFT, and MS were 342.60 kg, 78.76 cm2, 8.63 mm, and 3.31, respectively. When errors were introduced in the pedigree, the accuracy of EBV, genetic gain and h2 of carcass traits was reduced in this study. In addition, the correlation of the simulation was slightly affected under PEs.ConclusionThis study reveals the effect of PEs on the accuracy of EBV and genetic parameters for carcass traits, which provides valuable information for further study in Korean Hanwoo cattle.

Analysis of Genetic Parameters of Carcass Traits and Daily Gain of Native Breed Pigs Raised in Poland

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine genetic parameters of live performance traits in pigs of three native breeds maintained in Poland. As part of the conservation programmes, the Puławska (Puł), Złotnicka White (ZW) and Złotnicka Spotted (ZS) breeds are monitored for productivity based on performance test results of these breeds. The study included 6042 gilts and 2406 boars of the Puławska breed, 866 Złotnicka White gilts, and 903 Złotnicka Spotted gilts. The genetic parameters were estimated separately for each breed, and also separately for sexes in the case of the Puławska breed. The components (co)variance and genetic parameters were estimated using the REML method for the animal model taking into account different combination of fixed and random effects. Convergence of the iterative process was achieved by the selection of AIREML algorithm. The coefficients of genetic and phenotypic correlations between measurements of slaughter traits and daily gain were low for all breed groups. In turn, the relationships between backfat thickness measurements and carcass meat percentage were estimated as high. Only the correlations of slaughter traits with loin eye height were not uniform for the analysed breed groups. The coefficients of heritability (h2) were high and intermediate for all breeds and sexes. The highest heritability coefficients were obtained for daily gain (0.58 in ZW to 0.80 in Puł gilts), followed by backfat thickness (0.37 in Puł gilts to 0.64 in ZW) and carcass meat percentage (0.40 in ZS to 0.56 in ZW). The lowest coefficients were obtained for loin eye height (0.24 in Puł boars to 0.40 in ZW). The estimated genetic parameters could be used to verify selection indices of the breeds included in the genetic resources conservation programmes.

Some genetic parameters of carcass traits ten months aged in Local and Cyprian male goats.*

This study was conducted in Ruminants Researches Station / /Directorate of Agricultural Researches /Ministry of Agriculture, for the period from 20/1/2014 until 1/10/2014. Study targeted some genetic parameters of the live weight at slaughter and some characteristics of carcass in 10 months aged Male goats. The heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations of above characteristics were studied for 45 Cyprian and 25 Local male ascribing goats which slaughtered and measured the different carcass traits in marketing age (10 monmths). Heritability estimates amounted to the live weight at slaughter and empty body weight 0.46 and 0.75 respectively in Local goats, and for the dressing percentage was estimates on the basis of the live weight 0.90 and on the basis of empty weight was 0.15 in local goats. Estimations of heritability of the depth of the chest and leg circumference , according to the arrangement 0.01 and 0.08 in local goats and 0.37 of carcass circumference in Cyprian goats. The estimation of heritability of the weight of cuts were for loin (0.99) , shoulder (0.77) , flank (0.67) , ribs (0.62) and chest (0.51),while The estimates for the same traits in Cyprian goat, most of them have been negative except appreciation 0.54 (for shoulder)and appreciation 0.87 (for chest) and appreciation 0.32 (for neck) . estimates of heritability for fat thickness noted in this study was 0.98 in Cyprus (was negative in local), and were for kidney and pelvic fat & omental fat 0.05 &0.08 respectively in Cyprian goats, and 0.18 for omental fat in Local goats. The study include the heritability of fat weight in leg (0.56) in Local goats, lean weight in leg (0.95) , bone weight in leg (0.84) in Cyprian goats, and for ribs lean (0.23) in Local goats and 0.24 for ribs fat in Cyprian goats. The estimations of heritability for studied muscles weights were variant between muscles and between the two breeds. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between some important economic carcass traits varied from high (positive & negative) to low (positive & negative) ,and a high significant in most of these correlations in Local and Cyprian goats.
 Key words: genetic parameters, carcass traits, goats males. 
 
 *The research was winkling from Ph.D Thesis of first researcher .

180 Genetic parameters for carcass traits and stayability in Red Angus cattle

180 Genetic parameters for carcass traits and stayability in Red Angus cattle

Genetic parameters for carcass traits and body size in sheep for meat production.

The aim was to estimate the covariance components and genetic parameters of carcass traits and body size of meat sheep by employing animal models for single and multi-trait analyses. Data were collected from herds of adult Santa Ines sheep. The ribeye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, and rump fat thickness, evaluated in vivo by ultrasound images of the carcass; and morphometric traits: fat depth, rump height, chest circumference, chest depth, body length, and rump length were measured. The covariance components and genetic parameters for these traits were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood methodology, considering the random additive direct-genetic effects of the animal and errors associated with each observation, and the fixed effects of the contemporary group, the type of birth, and the age of the animal classes. Heritability estimates for carcass traits and animal size were higher in the three-trait analyses than in the single-trait analyses. The magnitudes of the values obtained indicate that genetic progress can be achieved by selection based on the traits studied.

Genetic correlation of traits measured by ultrasound at yearling and 18 months of age in Nellore beef cattle

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for carcass traits measured by ultrasound at yearling (Y) and 18 months of age (post-yearling, PY) in order to identify the most appropriate age for the measurement of these traits used for the selection of Nellore beef cattle. In addition, genetic correlations were estimated between these carcass traits and between carcass and other economically important traits such as scrotal circumference, weight, hip height at 18 months of age, age at first calving, and first calving interval (FCI). The carcass traits were longissimus muscle area (LMA), backfat thickness (BF), and rump fat thickness (RF) recorded at two different ages (Y and PY). Gibbs sampling was applied to estimate the genetic parameters using multiple trait animal model. The estimates of posterior heritabilities and standard deviations (SD) for the carcass traits were 0.46, SD=0.06 (LMA_Y), 0.42, SD=0.07 (BF_Y), 0.60, SD=0.09 (RF_Y), 0.33, SD=0.06 (LMA_PY), 0.59, SD=0.08 (BF_PY), and 0.55, SD=0.09 (RF_PY). The genetic parameters obtained in this study suggest the existence of genetic variability in all carcass traits at both ages. Hip height was negatively correlated with BF_PY and RF_PY, indicating that selection of taller animals may lead to animals that will deposit less subcutaneous fat. Selection for growth and carcass traits will not affect FCI, except for an increase in BF_PY which will increase FCI in the long term, possibly due to a correlated response, once the genetic correlation is moderate (0.40, SD= 0.17), and the posterior heritability for FCI was relatively low (0.11, SD= 0.03). The traits LMA, BF and RF measured at Y and at PY are practically the same traits since the genetic correlation are 0.83 (SD= 0.06), 0.94 (SD= 0.02) and 0.72 (SD= 0.07), respectively. In conclusion, ultrasound carcass traits should respond rapidly to selection and can be recorded only in one age, at Y or at PY. Furthermore, there is no need to include the two subcutaneous fat thickness measures (BF and RF) in selection criteria since they are highly genetic correlated. Genetic progress for these carcass traits can be achieved without affecting the breeding value of animals for other economic traits, since the most of genetic correlation estimates are favorable and of low magnitude.

Análise bayesiana para características de carcaça avaliadas por ultrassonografia de bovinos da raça Nelore Mocho, criados em bioma Cerrado

Objetivou-se estimar as herdabilidades para as características de carcaça de área de olho de lombo (AOL), espessura de gordura subcutânea (EG) e espessura de gordura subcutânea na garupa (EGP8), medidas por ultrassonografia, em bovinos da raça Nelore Mocho, criados em bioma Cerrado. As informações utilizadas foram provenientes de criatórios da raça Nelore Mocho, participantes do Programa Nelore Brasil, da Associação Nacional de Criadores e Pesquisadores (ANCP), localizados nos estados que representam as maiores áreas contínuas do bioma Cerrado. As estimativas de herdabilidade foram obtidas mediante análises bi-características, sob modelo animal, utilizando a estatística bayesiana por meio do aplicativo MTGSAM. As estimativas de herdabilidade foram de média magnitude para a AOL (0,25), EG (0,19) e EGP8 (0,25). Os resultados obtidos sugerem que as características de carcaça, avaliadas por ultrassonografia, apresentam grande variabilidade genética e podem ser incluídas em programas de melhoramento genético de bovinos da raça Nelore Mocho.

Comparison of different models to estimate genetic parameters for carcass traits in a commercial broiler line

The effect of genetic and non-genetic factors for carcass, breast meat and leg weights, and yields of a commercial broiler line were investigated using the restricted maximum likelihood method, considering four different animal models, including or excluding maternal genetic effect with covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects, and maternal permanent environmental effect. The likelihood ratio test was used to determine the most adequate model for each trait. For carcass, breast, and leg weight, and for carcass and breast yield, maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects as well as the covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects were significant. The estimates of direct and maternal heritability were 0.17 and 0.04 for carcass weight, 0.26 and 0.06 for breast weight, 0.22 and 0.02 for leg weight, 0.32 and 0.02 for carcass yield, and 0.52 and 0.04 for breast yield, respectively. For leg yield, maternal permanent environmental effect was important, in addition to direct genetic effects. For that trait, direct heritability and maternal permanent environmental variance as a proportion of the phenotypic variance were 0.43 and 0.02, respectively. The results indicate that ignoring maternal effects in the models, even though they were of small magnitude (0.02 to 0.06), tended to overestimate direct genetic variance and heritability for all traits.

한우 도체형질의 환경효과 및 유전모수의 추정

2007년 한․미 FTA 협상 체결로 미국산 쇠고기 수입이 재개된 현재 육질과 가격면에서 우수한 수입육이 늘어나고 있는 상황에서 한우의 경쟁력강화를 위해 많은 노력이 이루어지고 있다. 한우개량농가는 송아지 생산량의 빠른 증가와 송아지 폐사율의 감소로 사육기술이 향상되어지고 있으며, 1993년 이후부터 한우 경쟁력강화를 위해 육질개량에 중점을 두고 거세를 통한 장기 비육으로 1등급이상의 출현율이 점차 증가하는 추세를 보이고 있다. 소비자의 식육패턴도 양적인 측면에서 질적인 측면으로 변화하고 있다. 고급육의 생산은 품종(Course 등, 1989), 성별, 연령(Hunsley 등, 1971) 등에 의하여 결정될 수가 있다. 한우 도체형질에 관한 연구는 국내에서도 최근 박과 박(2002)과 노 등(2004)이 연구 보고하였으나 이는 후대검정우와 후대축들의 도체형질에 관한 연구였으며, 일반 한우 사육농가의 도체형질에 관한 연구는 이루어 지지 않고 있다. 환경효과의 경우 대부분의 연구가 출생년도－계절, 출생지역의 효과를 추정하였으며, 도축년도, 도축계절, 도축지역에 관한 연구는 이루어 지지 않고 있다. 본 연구에서는 일반 한우사육농가에서 출하하여 도축한 축산물등급판정소의 등급판정결과를 이용하여 도축년도, 도축계절, 성, 도축지역이 도체형질에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 추정하고, 도체형질에 대해 REML(Restricted Maximum Likelihood) 방법으로 유전력 및 유전모수를 추정하여 일반 한우사육농가에서 출하한 개체의 도체형질에 관해 알아봄으로써 후대검정우나 후대축이 아닌 우리나라 전체 도축우에 대한 기초자료를 제공하고자 한다. This study aims to estimate the genetic parameters for carcass traits on Hanwoo of breeding farmhouses using Animal Products Grading Service’s data of 428,812 cattle from 101 slaughterhouses nationwide from 2000 to 2005. Using carcass traits of carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, meat color and fat color that greatly influence Hanwoo's grade, the effects of carcass year, carcass season, sex and carcass region were estimated. Based upon carcass traits of carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score and meat color that greatly influence Hanwoo’s grade, the heritabilities and genetic parameters were estimated of 17,578 Hanwoo slaughtered in 2005 with existing herdbook, where EM-REML algorithm was used in estimating genetic parameters. The mean and standard deviation of each carcass trait are 321.42±53.62kg, 76.25±10.43cm2, 9.96± 4.14mm, 3.75±2.00, 4.83±0.48 and 2.99±0.40, for carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, meat color and fat color, respectively. As a result of analysis on the effects of carcass year, the carcass weight, backfat thickness and meat color came out highest as 359.40±0.181, 9.82±0.017 and 4.90±0.002, respectively in 2004. As a result of analysis on the effects of carcass season, the carcass weight and eye muscle area came out highest as 345.88±0.144 and 79.57±0.033 respectively in spring, and the backfat thickness was highest as 8.78±0.013 in winter, and the meat color and fat color slightly came out higher as 4.88±0.002 and 2.96±0.001 in fall, while the marbling score was highest as 3.29±0.006 in summer. The results of the analysis on the effects of sex indicated that the backfat thickness and fat color were highest as 10.53±0.010 and 3.07±0.001 in cow, the carcass weight came out highest in Hanwoo steer as 368.03±0.068kg, the eye muscle area were highest as 82.96±0.042 in bull, and the marbling score was highest as 4.19±0.007 in steer, and the meat color was highest as 4.89±0.001 in cow. Regarding the results of analysis on the effects of carcass region, the carcass weight, eye muscle area,

Genetic parameters for carcass traits and in vivo measured muscle and fat depth in Danish Texel and Shropshire

Genetic parameters for carcass traits and ultrasonic scanning measurements were estimated for Danish Texel and Shropshire, the most common sheep breeds in Denmark. Data used in this study were collected from 1990 to 2005 by the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service. A multivariate animal model was used for estimation of (co)variance components for muscle depth (MD), fat depth (FD), carcass conformation score (FORM) and carcass fatness (FAT). Heritabilities for MD were 0.29 and 0.28 for Texel and Shropshire, respectively. Diverging heritabilities were found for FD – 0.39 for Texel and 0.12 for Shropshire. Carcass conformation was highly heritable, 0.45 for Texel and 0.36 for Shropshire. The heritability for FAT was 0.11 for Texel and 0.19 for Shropshire. Genetic correlations between MD and FORM, and FD and FAT were positive and favourable. It was concluded that ultrasound measures on live animals are good predictors for final carcass classification, and can be useful in a breeding programme where carcass traits are included.

Selection for lean weight based on ultrasound and CT in a meat line of sheep

Genetic parameters for carcass traits in lambs at weaning (average age of 128 days) measured by ultrasound (n = 1821) and computer tomography (CT) (n = 234), and response to selection for ultrasound eye muscle depth (UMD) and carcass LEAN weight, were estimated. The research flock comprised a meat line (ML) and a control line (CL) of Norwegian White Sheep. The ML was crossed with Texel from 1998, and selected for UMD from 1993 to 2001, and for LEAN weight from 2001 to 2004. For CT scanning, a mean of 23 images was taken per animal. Genetic parameters were estimated with univariate and bivariate mixed-animal models using AIREML, including all animals with records and their relatives. The statistical models included fixed effects, live weight or age of lamb at weaning (covariate), and a random genetic effect.

Genetic parameters for carcass traits of field progeny and their relationships with feed efficiency traits of their sire population for Japanese Black cattle

Genetic parameters for carcass traits of 1774 field progeny (1281 steers and 493 heifers), and their genetic relationships with feed efficiency traits of their sire population (740 bulls) were estimated with REML. Feed efficiency traits included feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). RFI was calculated by the residual of phenotypic (RFI phe) and genetic (RFI gen) regression from the multivariate analysis of feed intake on metabolic weight and daily gain. Progeny traits were carcass weight (CWT), rib eye area (REA), rib thickness (RBT), subcutaneous fat, yield estimate (YEM), marbling score (MSR), meat quality grade, meat color, fat color, meat firmness and meat texture. The estimated heritability for CWT (0.70) was high and heritabilities for all the other traits were moderate (ranged from 0.32 to 0.47), except for meat and fat color and meat texture which were low (ranged from 0.02 to 0.25). The high genetic correlation (0.62) between YEM and MSR suggests that simultaneous improvement of high carcass yield and beef marbling is possible. Estimated genetic correlations of RFI (RFI phe and RFI gen) of sires with CWT (− 0.60 and − 0.53) and MSR (− 0.62 and − 0.50) of their progeny were favorably negative indicating that the selection against RFI of sires may have contributed to produce heavier carcass and increase in beef marbling. The correlated responses in CWT, REA and RBT of progeny were higher to selection against RFI than those to selection against FCR of sires. This study provides evidence that selection against RFI is preferred over selection against FCR in sire population for getting better correlated responses in carcass traits of their progeny.

한우의 도체형질 유전모수 추정을 위한 REML과 Bayesian via Gibbs Sampling 방법의 비교 연구

본 연구는 한우의 도체형질들에 대한 유전적 변이를 분석방법에 따라 어떠한 차이가 있는지를 알아보고자 한우 후대검정자료를 이용하여 분석하였다. 분석에 이용된 도체성적 관련 자료는 가축개량사업소와 한우개량단지에서 1996 년부터 2001 년까지 태어난 후대검정우 1526두로부터 조사었다. 한우에 있어서 주요 개량형질인 육량과 육질에 영향하는 도체중, 도체율,배최장근단면적, 등지방두께, 근내지방도를 대상으로 유전력과 유전상관을 추정하였다. 유전모수 추정에 있어서 REML 분석법과 Bayesian추론방법으로써 Gibbs Sampling 분석법을 사용하였는데 각각의 모수들에 대한 Gibbs Sampler는 100,000회 실시하였고 초기 1,000회는 모수의 사후분포에 대한 부정확성으로 간주하여 모수의 사후분포특성 규명에서 제외하였다. 각각의 형질들에 대한 유전변이는 이러한 두 가지 분석방법을 상호 비교 함으로써 최적의 통계분석 방법을 모색하였다. 도체형질에 대한 유전력 추정은 REML 방법을 통한 추정에서는 근내지방도가 0.51로 고도의 유전력을 보였고, 도체율이 0.25로 중도의 유전력이 추정되었다. Gibbs Sampling 방법을통한 추정에서도 근내지방도가 0.54로 고도의 유전력을 도체율에서 0.25로 중도의 유전력을 보였다. REML 분석방법과 Gibbs Sampling 분석방법에서의 유전력은 다소 큰 차이는 보이지 않았으나, 대체로 Gibbs Sampling 방법으로 분석한 유전력 추정치가 높게 추정되었다. 그리고, 유전상관분석에서는 REML 방법을 통한 분석에서 도체중과 배최장근단면적에서 0.651 로 높은 정의 유전상관을 나타내었고, 배최장근단면적과 등지방두께에서 -0.139로 부의 유천상관을 나타내었다. Gibbs Sampling 방법에서는 도체중과 도체율, 배최장근단면적에서 각각 0.814, 0.695으로 높은 정의 상관을 나타내었고, 배최장근단면적과 등지방두께에서 -0.126으로 부의상관을 나타내었다. Gibbs Sampling방법을 통한 분석에서 특정 형질간 유전상관이 높게 나타났으며, 다소 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. REML 분석방법과 Bayesian Inference를 바탕으로 한 Gibbs Sampling 분석에서 모수 추정은 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 따라서 방대한 현장정보를 활용하여 보다 정확한 모수 추정을 수행하기 위해서는 분석모형에 대한 계수행렬의 역행렬 계산을 통한 REML 방법의 한계성을 극복할 수 있는 방법으로써 Gibbs Sampling 분석 방법이 가능할 것으로 사료된다. The aims of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for carcass traits on Hanwoo(Korean Native Cattle) and to compare two different statistical algorithms for estimating genetic parameters. Data obtained from 1526 steers at Hanwoo Improvement Center and Hanwoo Improvement Complex Area from 1996 to 2001 were used for the analyses. The carcass traits considered in these studies were carcass weight, dressing percent, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, and marbling score. Estimated genetic parameters using EM-REML algorithm were compared to those by Bayesian inference via Gibbs Sampling to find out statistical properties. The estimated heritabilities of carcass traits by REML method were 0.28, 0.25, 0.35, 0.39 and 0.51, respectively and those by Gibbs Sampling method were 0.29, 0.25, 0.40, 0.42 and 0.54, respectively. This estimates were not significantly different, even though the estimated heritabilities by Gibbs Sampling method were higher than ones by REML method. Since the estimated statistics by REML method and Gibbs Sampling method were not significantly different in this study, it is inferred that both mothods could be efficiently applied for the analysis of carcass traits of cattle. However, further studies are demanded to define an optimal statistical method for handling large scale performance data.

Estimates of the complete genetic covariance matrix for traits in multi-trait genetic evaluation of Australian Hereford cattle

Estimates of covariance components among all 22 traits considered in the current multi-trait genetic evaluation of Australian Hereford cattle were obtained. Traits included 5 weight traits, 8 traits measured through live ultrasound scanning, 3 traits related to reproductive performance, and 6 carcass traits. Estimates were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood, carrying out a series of bivariate analyses. Data for each analysis were selected attempting to maximise the number of animals or animal–parent pairs that had both traits recorded. Estimates were pooled using a weighted 'iterative summing of expanded part matrices' procedure, which ensured positive semi-definite covariance matrices. Models of analyses for individual traits closely resembled those used in genetic evaluation. Results generally agreed with literature results, although estimates of genetic parameters for carcass traits that had few records available tended to fluctuate. Except for 'days to calving', heritability estimates were moderate to high for all traits. Genetic parameters for early growth were different to those for other breeds, with maternal effects for weaning weight being considerably more important and the heritability somewhat lower.

Genetic parameters for carcass traits and their live animal indicators in Simmental cattle.

The objective of this study was to estimate parameters required for genetic evaluation of Simmental carcass merit using carcass and live animal data. Carcass weight, fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score were available from 5,750 steers and 1,504 heifers sired by Simmental bulls. Additionally, yearling ultrasound measurements of fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and estimated percentage of intramuscular fat were available on Simmental bulls (n = 3,409) and heifers (n = 1,503). An extended pedigree was used to construct the relationship matrix (n = 23,968) linking bulls and heifers with ultrasound data to steers and heifers with carcass data. All data were obtained from the American Simmental Association. No animal had both ultrasound and carcass data. Using an animal model and treating corresponding ultrasound and carcass traits separately, genetic parameters were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood. Heritability estimates for carcass traits were 0.48 +/- 0.06, 0.35 +/- 0.05, 0.46 +/- 0.05, and 0.54 +/- 0.05 for carcass weight, fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score, respectively. Heritability estimates for bull (heifer) ultrasound traits were 0.53 +/- 0.07 (0.69 +/- 0.09), 0.37 +/- 0.06 (0.51 +/- 0.09), and 0.47 +/- 0.06 (0.52 +/- 0.09) for fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and intramuscular fat percentage, respectively. Heritability of weight at scan was 0.47 +/- 0.05. Using a bivariate weight model including scan weight of bulls and heifers with carcass weight of slaughter animals, a genetic correlation of 0.77 +/- 0.10 was obtained. Models for fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score were each trivariate, including ultrasound measurements on yearling bulls and heifers, and corresponding carcass traits of slaughter animals. Genetic correlations of carcass fat thickness with bull and heifer ultrasound fat were 0.79 +/- 0.13 and 0.83 +/- 0.12, respectively. Genetic correlations of carcass longissimus muscle area with bull and heifer ultrasound longissimus muscle area were 0.80 +/- 0.11 and 0.54 +/- 0.12, respectively. Genetic correlations of carcass marbling score with bull and heifer ultrasound intramuscular fat percentage were 0.74 +/- 0.11 and 0.69 +/- 0.13, respectively. These results provide the parameter estimates necessary for genetic evaluation of Simmental carcass merit using both data from steer and heifer carcasses, and their ultrasound indicators on yearling bulls and heifers.