Maternal body composition in seedstock herds. 4. Genetic parameters for body composition of Angus and Hereford cows

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Donoghue ◽  
S. J. Lee ◽  
P. F. Parnell ◽  
W. S. Pitchford
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Life Traits ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Over Time

The genetics of body composition traits measured before calving and at weaning in the first and second parities were evaluated in 5975 Angus and 1785 Hereford cows. Traits measured were liveweight, body condition score and hip height and ultrasound scanned measurements of subcutaneous P8 and 12/13th rib fat depth, loin eye muscle area and intramuscular fat percentage. Corresponding yearling measures on these animals were obtained for analyses of relationships between yearling information with later-in-life traits. There was moderate genetic variation in all body composition traits measured at pre-calving and weaning in Angus (h2 = 0.14–0.59) and Hereford (h2 = 0.14–0.64) cows. Genetic correlations between measurements of the same trait at pre-calving and weaning were consistently positive and high in both parities for both breeds, indicating animals were ranking similarly for the same trait measured over time. Genetic correlations between measurements of different traits were generally consistent over time (pre-calving and weaning) in both breeds, indicating genetic relationships between traits were not changing significantly over time. Genetic correlations with corresponding yearling measures of body composition were consistently positive and high for the first parity, and lower for the second parity. The results of this study indicate that genetic improvement in body composition traits in cows is possible, and that body composition information recorded at yearling age is a reasonably good predictor of later in life performance for these traits.

Maternal body composition in seedstock herds. 3. Multivariate analysis using factor analytic models and cluster analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
J. De Faveri ◽  
A. P. Verbyla ◽  
S. J. Lee ◽  
W. S. Pitchford
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Young Animal ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Genetic Covariance ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Factor Analytic ◽  
Analytic Models ◽  
Over Time

Considerable information exists on genetic relationships of body composition and carcass quality of young and finished beef cattle. However, there is a dearth of information on genetic relationships of cow body composition over time and, also, relationships with young-animal body-composition measures. The aim of the present study is to understand genetic relationships among various cow body-composition traits of Angus cows over time, from yearling to weaning of a second calf at ~3.5 years. To determine genetic correlations among various composition traits over time, a multi-trait–multi-time analysis is required. For the Maternal Productivity Project, this necessitates modelling of five traits (namely weight and ultrasound measure for loin eye muscle area (EMA), rib fat, P8 rump fat and intramuscular fat) by five time combinations (recordings at yearling then pre-calving and weaning in first and second parity). The approach was based on including all 25 trait-by-time combinations in an analysis using factor analytic models to approximate the genetic covariance matrix. Various models for the residual covariance structure were investigated. The analyses yielded correlations that could be compared with those of past studies reported in the literature and, also, to a set of bivariate analyses. Clustering of the genetic multi-trait–multi-time correlation structure resulted in a separation of traits (weight and EMA, and the fat traits) and also of time effects into early (heifer = before first lactation) and late (cow = post-first lactation) measurements.

The genetics of cow growth and body composition at first calving in two tropical beef genotypes

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Wolcott ◽  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
S. A. Barwick ◽  
N. J. Corbet ◽  
P. J. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Condition Score

The genetics of cow growth and body composition traits, measured before first calving (pre-calving: in females before calving following their first 3-month annual mating period, at an average age of 34 months) and at the start of the subsequent mating period (Mating 2: on average 109 days later), were evaluated in 1016 Brahman (BRAH) and 1094 Tropical Composite (TCOMP) cows. Measurements analysed were liveweight, ultrasound-scanned measurements of P8 and 12/13th rib fat depth and eye muscle area, body condition score and hip height. Traits describing the change in these from pre-calving to Mating 2 were also included in the analysis. The maternal genetic component of weaning weight was estimated from weaning-weight records on these cows, their steer half-sibs and their progeny generated from up to six matings (n = 12 528). Within pregnant cows at pre-calving, BRAH were significantly lighter, leaner at the P8 site and taller than their TCOMP contemporaries, and these differences were also significant at Mating 2. There was a genetic basis for variation in growth and body composition traits measured at pre-calving and Mating 2 in BRAH (h2 = 0.27–0.67) and TCOMP (h2 = 0.25–0.87). Traits describing the change from pre- calving to Mating 2 were also moderately heritable for both genotypes (h2 = 0.17–0.54), except for change in hip height (h2 = 0.00 and 0.10 for BRAH and TCOMP, respectively). Genetic correlations between measurements of the same trait at pre-calving and Mating 2 were consistently positive and strong (rg = 0.75–0.98) and similar for both genotypes. In lactating cows, genetic correlations of growth and body composition traits with their change from pre-calving to Mating 2 showed that when animals had low levels of P8 and rib fat at Mating 2, change in eye muscle area was an important descriptor of genetic body condition score (rg = 0.63). This was supported by moderate genetic relationships, which suggested that lactating cows that were genetically predisposed to lose less eye muscle area were those that ended the period with higher P8 fat (rg = 0.66), rib fat (rg = 0.72) and body condition score (rg = 0.61). Change in liveweight, body condition score and, in particular, eye muscle area was significantly related to the maternal genetic component of weaning weight (rg = from –0.40 to –0.85) in both genotypes, suggesting that cows with higher genetic milk-production potential were those with the propensity for greater loss of these traits over the period from pre-calving to Mating 2. These results showed that for tropically adapted cows, the change in eye muscle area from pre-calving to Mating 2 was a more important descriptor of body condition at Mating 2 than was change in fat depth, and that higher genetic milk-production potential, measured as maternal weaning weight, was genetically related to higher mobilisation of muscle, and therefore body condition, over this period.

Genetic relationships of female reproduction with growth, body composition, maternal weaning weight and tropical adaptation in two tropical beef genotypes

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Wolcott ◽  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
S. A. Barwick
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Age At Puberty ◽  
Tropical Adaptation

The genetic relationships of female reproduction with growth and body composition, tropical adaptation traits and maternal weaning weight (descriptive of genetic potential milk production) were estimated in 1027 Brahman (BRAH) and 1132 Tropical Composite (TCOMP) females. Female reproduction was evaluated at puberty, as outcomes of the first and second annual mating periods (Mating 1 and Mating 2, which commenced when females averaged 27 and 39 months of age, respectively), as well as annual averages over up to six matings. Traits evaluated included age at puberty, Mating 1 and 2 pregnancy rate, weaning rate and days to calving, and lifetime annual calving and weaning rate. Traits describing growth and body composition (liveweight, hip height, ultrasound-scanned P8 fat depth and eye muscle area, subjective body condition score and blood IGF-I concentration) were measured in the animals as heifers (at ~18 months of age), and again at the start of Mating 2. Traits describing tropical adaptation included coat-length scores in both genotypes and, in BRAH, buffalo fly lesion scores. Previously reported analyses of these data identified heifer IGF-I and coat and buffalo-fly-lesion scores as potential genetic indicators for age at puberty in BRAH. The results of the present study found that exploiting these relationships would have no unfavourable genetic consequences for later female reproduction and, in some cases, may be indicators of female reproduction, when evaluated as outcomes of Matings 1 or 2, or as lifetime annual calving or weaning rates. For BRAH, heifer liveweight was a genetic indicator for Mating 1 weaning rate (rg = 0.70), and, while standard errors were high, there were also positive genetic correlations of heifer hip height, eye muscle area and blood IGF-I concentration with Mating 1 weaning rate (rg = 0.61, 0.58 and 0.43, respectively). For TCOMP, significant genetic relationships of heifer growth, body composition and tropical adaptation traits with female reproduction were virtually absent, suggesting that there is less opportunity to identify earlier in life measures as genetic indicators of reproduction for this genotype. Higher maternal weaning weight was significantly genetically related to lower lifetime annual weaning rate (rg = –0.50) in BRAH, and with lower Mating 2 calving and weaning rate (rg = –0.72 and –0.59, respectively) in TCOMP, which will need to be considered when making selection decisions that affect genetic milk in these genotypes. Importantly, the results presented revealed no strong genetic antagonisms of heifer growth and body composition traits with female reproduction, suggesting that selection could be undertaken to improve these simultaneously.

Estimation in vivo of the chemical composition of the bodies of mature cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Deuterium Oxide ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Ultrasonic Measurements ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTA number of possible indices of body composition (live weight, skeletal size, total body water as estimated by deuterium oxide dilution, blood and red cell volumes as estimated by Evans Blue dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring) was examined using 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating, mature cows of Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, British Friesian, Galloway and Luing genotypes, ranging in body condition score from 0·75 to 4·5. Direct measurements of body composition in terms of water, fat, protein and ash were made following slaughter.Live weight, deuterium oxide dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eyemuscle area, and body condition score were all considered to be potentially useful predictors of body composition. Combinations of techniques offered better predictions than did any single index. Using a combination of measurements it was possible to predict body fat and protein with a residual s.d. of 13·1 kg and 3·15 kg respectively. Breed differences in the partition of fat among the main adipose tissue depots necessitated the development of specific prediction equations for body fat based on condition score and subcutaneous fat depth for different breeds. Equations remain to be developed for predicting body composition in cows in different physiological states.

scholarly journals Fine mapping of porcine chromosome 6 QTL and LEPR effects on body composition in multiple generations of an Iberian by Landrace intercross

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. ÓVILO ◽  
A. FERNÁNDEZ ◽  
J. L. NOGUERA ◽  
C. BARRAGÁN ◽  
R. LETÓN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Chromosome 6 ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Coding Regions ◽  
Narrow Region

The leptin receptor gene (LEPR) is a candidate for traits related to growth and body composition, and is located on SSC6 in a region where fatness and meat composition quantitative trait loci (QTL) have previously been detected in several F2 experimental designs. The aims of this work were: (i) to fine map these QTL on a larger sample of animals and generations (F3 and backcross) of an Iberian×Landrace intercross and (ii) to examine the effects of LEPR alleles on body composition traits. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by sequencing LEPR coding regions in Iberian and Landrace pig samples. Three missense polymorphisms were genotyped by pyrosequencing in 33 F0, 70 F1, 418 F2, 86 F3 and 128 individuals coming from the backcross of four F2 males with 24 Landrace females. Thirteen microsatellites and one SNP were also genotyped. Traits analysed were: backfat thickness at different locations (BFT), intramuscular fat percentage (IMFP), eye muscle area (EMA), loin depth (LOD), weight of shoulder (SHW), weight of ribs (RIBW) and weight of belly bacon (BBW). Different statistical models were applied in order to evaluate the number and effects of QTL on chromosome 6 and the possible causality of the LEPR gene variants with respect to the QTL. The results support the presence of two QTL on SSC6. One, at position 60–100 cM, affects BFT and RIBW. The other and more significant maps in a narrow region (130–132 cM) and affects BFT, IMFP, EMA, LOD, SHW, RIBW and BBW. Results also support the association between LEPR alleles and BFT traits. The possible functional implications of the analysed polymorphisms are considered.

Genetics of leg weakness in performance-tested boars

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Webb ◽  
W. S. Russell ◽  
D. I. Sales
Keyword(s):  
Performance Index ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Large White ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Leg Weakness ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACTGenetic relationships among leg and performance traits were estimated for 23 975 Large White and Landrace boars fed twice daily to appetite from 27 to 91 kg live weight at Meat and Livestock Commission testing stations between 1966 and 1972. For each boar, an overall leg score was derived as the sum of scores for 19 individual leg traits categorized as ‘absent’ (0), ‘slight’ (1) or ‘severe’ (2) at 91 kg. Heritabilities of leg score were 017 ± 0·03 in Large White and 0·19 ± 0·04 in Landrace. Genetic correlations with a visual ‘leg action’ score on a scale from 1 to 5 averaged 0·93 ± 0·02 over breeds. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between leg scores on the same boars at 27 and 91 kg averaged 0·50 ± 0·17 and 0·15 ± 0·01 respectively.Both breeds showed significant adverse genetic correlations ranging from 0·20 ± 0·10 to 0·40 ± 0·08 between leg score and boar ultrasonic backfat. From slaughtered littermates, leg scores showed favourable genetic correlations with eye-muscle area (0·30 ± 0·10) and killing-out proportion (0·35 ± 011) in Large White and unfavourable correlations with carcass length (0·31 ± 0·10), lean content (0·30 ± 0·14) and backfat (0·33 ± 0·11) in Landrace. There were no associations with growth rate, feed efficiency or the performance index on which boars are selected. The study indicates that leg condition and fatness are adversely genetically related, but that selection on the present national performance index would not be expected to cause a rapid decline in leg condition. Culling on leg score would be expected to reduce the frequency of leg weakness.

Changes in ultrasound measures of muscle and its genetic variation during lactation in dairy cows

2004 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Sloniewski ◽  
I. L. Mao ◽  
J. Jensen ◽  
P. Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Muscle Growth ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Normal Feeding

AbstractChanges in ultrasound measures of muscle area (UtM) during lactation in different breeds and parities and with different feeding levels were examined. Random regressions were fitted to repeated measures of UtM in order to study changes in variance components of UtM during lactation. Correlations between measures taken in different stages of lactation and in different parities were also calculated. The shape of UtM curves during lactation appeared to be fairly consistent for all breeds and parities. The lowest point of all curves coincided with the expected nadir of body reserves during lactation. With lower-than-normal feeding level, the drop of UtM after calving was deeper and the overall level was lower. A major proportion of the variance in UtM was found to be determined by additive genetic variation. In all three breeds studied, repeatability and heritability estimates were high and fairly consistent during lactation and between parities. The very high genetic correlations between measures taken in different periods of lactation suggested that muscle growth and recovery are controlled by the same gene complex throughout lactation.Our results suggest that UtM, if used jointly with other body measures such as body condition score, could be a useful indicator of tissue mobilization and deposition in the lactating cow, especially during the early stage of lactation.

Genetic relationships between live animal scan traits and carcass traits of Australian Angus bulls and heifers

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1075
Author(s):  
Vinzent Börner ◽  
David J. Johnston ◽  
Hans-Ulrich Graser
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Eye Muscle

Genetic parameters of four ultrasound live-scan traits and five carcass traits of Australian Angus cattle were examined with regard to sex and age of the scanned individuals. Live-scans were subdivided according to whether the observation was obtained from a bull or a heifer. In addition, two age subset (‘young’ and ‘old’) within sex were formed by k-means clustering around two centres within sex according to the age at scanning. REML estimates for heritabilities, genetic, residual and phenotypic correlations for each trait and trait combination were derived from a series of uni-, bi- and tri-variate analysis. Statistically significant age effects could be found for heritablities of scan intra-muscular fat content in heifers and scan fat depth at P8 site and scan rib fat depth in bulls, and for genetic correlations between the scan traits fat depth at P8 site, rib fat depth and eye muscle area. However, differences in heritablities between age sets within sex did not exceed 0.05, and genetic correlations between scan traits of ‘young’ and ‘old’ animals were at least 0.9. Differences between genetic correlations of abattoir carcass traits and ‘young’ and ‘old’ live-scan traits, respectively, were not significant due to high standard errors but up to 0.44. The larger of these differences were found for combinations of scan-traits and non-target carcass traits and not for combination of scan-traits and their actual carcass target traits. Thus, although some results suggest an age effect on the genetic parameters of scan traits, the extent of this effect is of limited impact on breeding value accuracy and genetic gain of scan traits. Furthermore, a possible age effect on correlations to economically important carcass traits need to be underpinned by more carcass traits observations in order to get unambiguous results allowing to draw consequences of scanning younger individuals for accuracy of breeding values and genetic gain in carcass traits.

scholarly journals Liveweight prediction from hip height, condition score, fetal age and breed in tropical female cattle

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffry Fordyce ◽  
Angela Anderson ◽  
Kieren McCosker ◽  
Paul J. Williams ◽  
Richard G. Holroyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Validation Population ◽  
Accuracy Of Measurements ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Female Cattle

Hip height, body condition, subcutaneous fat, eye muscle area, percentage Bos taurus, fetal age and diet digestibility data were collected at 17 372 assessments on 2181 Brahman and tropical composite (average 28% Brahman) female cattle aged between 0.5 and 7.5 years of age at five sites across Queensland. The study validated the subtraction of previously published estimates of gravid uterine weight to correct liveweight to the non-pregnant status. Hip height and liveweight were linearly related (Brahman: P < 0.001, R2 = 58%; tropical composite P < 0.001, R2 = 67%). Liveweight varied by 12–14% per body condition score (5-point scale) as cows differed from moderate condition (P < 0.01). Parallel effects were also found due to subcutaneous rump fat depth and eye muscle area, which were highly correlated with each other and body condition score (r = 0.7–0.8). Liveweight differed from average by 1.65–1.66% per mm of rump fat depth and 0.71–0.76% per cm2 of eye muscle area (P < 0.01). Estimated dry matter digestibility of pasture consumed had no consistent effect in predicting liveweight and was therefore excluded from final models. A method developed to estimate full liveweight of post-weaning age female beef cattle from the other measures taken predicted liveweight to within 10 and 23% of that recorded for 65 and 95% of cases, respectively. For a 95% chance of predicted group average liveweight (body condition score used) being within 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1% of actual group average liveweight required 23, 36, 62, 137 and 521 females, respectively, if precision and accuracy of measurements matches that used in the research. Non-pregnant Bos taurus female cattle were calculated to be 10–40% heavier than Brahmans at the same hip height and body condition, indicating a substantial conformational difference. The liveweight prediction method was applied to a validation population of 83 unrelated groups of cattle weighed in extensive commercial situations on 119 days over 18 months (20 917 assessments). Liveweight prediction in the validation population exceeded average recorded liveweight for weigh groups by an average of 19 kg (~6%) demonstrating the difficulty of achieving accurate and precise animal measurements under extensive commercial grazing conditions.

Body composition of lean outdoor intact cats vs lean indoor neutered cats using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 459-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha G Cline ◽  
Angela L Witzel ◽  
Tamberlyn D Moyers ◽  
Claudia A Kirk
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Fat Percentage ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Condition Score

Objectives The objectives for this study were to compare the body composition of adult indoor neutered domestic cats with outdoor intact cats with an ideal body condition score using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and to report the body composition findings of free-roaming cats, as this has not been previously reported. Most domestic house cats differ from free-roaming cats as they are confined indoors and neutered. Indoor neutered cats have reduced activity and hormonal alterations that may result in lower muscle mass and higher body fat percentages vs outdoor intact cats, despite similar body condition scores. Methods Twenty-one outdoor intact cats (10 male, 11 female) were selected from a trap–neuter–return program and 16 indoor neutered domestic cats (10 male, six female) were client-owned. Inclusion criteria included an estimated age between 1 and 6 years, complete blood count, biochemistry panel, urinalysis, total thyroxine, feline leukemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus screening and a body condition score of 4–5/9. Results Indoor neutered cats had a higher body fat percentage (22.1% [range 17.3–28.2%]) than outdoor intact cats (17.3% [range 10.0–33.6%]; P = 0.002). Indoor neutered male cats had a higher body fat percentage ( P <0.001) than outdoor intact cats. No difference in body fat percentage was observed in female cats ( P = 0.159). Indoor neutered domestic cats had a higher bone mineral density than outdoor intact cats ( P = 0.023). Conclusions and relevance The results of this study suggest indoor confinement and neutering increase body fat percentage and bone mineral density in cats with an ideal body condition score.

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