Muammer TİLKİ, Mustafa SAATCI, Mehmet ÇOLAK

Genetic Parameters for Direct and Maternal Effects and Estimation of Breeding Values for Birth Weight in Brown Swiss Cattle

Variance components, genetic parameters, and breeding values for birth weight in Brown Swiss cattle reared in Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute were estimated by REML-BLUP procedures using MTDFREML computer programme. Six different animal models were fitted for the trait ranging from a simple to the most comprehensive model. The most detailed model (model 6) provided the best fit to the used dataset. Heritability was higher in the model without maternal effect. Although maternal effect had a significant place for the data, environmental effect due to dam was not important. Heritability (h2), maternal heritability (m2), and the genetic correlation between these 2 parameters (rAM) were 0.15, 0.06 and 0.92, respectively, according best model (model 6). Breeding values were also calculated for the trait, but no positive or negative change has been observed between years. More detailed accurate data are needed to establish the applied method on the livestock sector in Turkey.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Brown Swiss, birth weight, genetic parameters, breeding values, maternal effect

Genetic Parameters for Direct and Maternal Effects and Estimation of Breeding Values for Birth Weight in Brown Swiss Cattle

Keywords:

Brown Swiss, birth weight, genetic parameters, breeding values, maternal effect,

PDF

___

Burfening, P.J., Kress, D.D., Friedrich, R.L., Vaniman, D.D.: Phenotypic and genetic relationships between calving ease, gestation length, birth weight and preweaning growth. J. Anim. Sci., 1978; 47: 595-600.
Ulutaş, Z.: Production traits and market values of Welsh Black Cattle. PhD Thesis, University of Wales, Bangor, United Kingdom. 1998.
Trus, D., Wilton, J.W.: Genetic parameters for maternal traits in beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 1988; 68: 119-128.
Boldman, K.G., Kriese, L.A., Van Vleck, L.D., Van Tessel, C.P., Kachman, S.D.: A Manuel for use of MTDFREML. ARS, USDA, Washington, DC, USA, 1995.
Meyer, K.: Restricted maximum likelihood to estimate variance components for animal models with several random effects using a derivative-free algorithm. Genet. Sel. Evol., 1989; 21: 317- 340.
Ekiz, B., Özcan, M., Yılmaz, A., Ceyhan, A.: Estimates of genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects with six different models on birth and weaning weights of Turkish Merino lambs. Turk. J. Vet. Anim. Sci., 2004; 28: 383-389.
Lee, J.W., Choi, S.B., Jung ,Y.H., Keown ,J.F., Van Vleck, L.D.: Parameter estimates for direct and maternal genetic effects on yearling, eighteen-month, and slaughter weights of Korean native cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 2000; 78: 1414-1421.
Ap Dewi, I., Saatci, M., Ulutas, Z.: Genetic parameters of weights, ultrasonic muscle and fat depths, maternal effects and reproductive traits in Welsh Mountain sheep. Anim. Sci., 2002; 74: 399-408.
Tilki, M., İnal, Ş., Tekin, M.E., Çolak, M.: The estimation of phenotypic and genetic parameters for calf birth weight and gestation length of brown swiss cows reared at the Bahri Dağdaş international agricultural research institute. Turk. J. Vet. Anim. Sci., 2003; 27: 1343-1348.
Saatci, M., Ap Dewi, I., Ulutas, Z.: Variance components due to direct and maternal effects and estimation of breeding values for 12-week weight of Welsh Mountain lambs. Anim. Sci., 1999; 69: 345-352. (article in Turkish with an abstract in English).
Rodríguez-Almeida, F.A., Van Vleck, L.D., Willham, R.L., Northcutt, S.L.: Estimation of non-additive genetic variances in three synthetic lines of beef cattle using an animal model. J. Anim. Sci., 1995; 73: 1002-1011.
Cantet, R.J.C., Kress, D.D., Anderson, D.C., Doornbos, D.E., Burfenning, P.J., Blackwell, R.L.: Direct and maternal variances and covariances and maternal phenotypic effects on pre-weaning growth of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 1988; 66: 648-660.
Akbulut, Ö., Bayram, B., Yanar, M.: Yarı entansif şartlarda yetiştirilen Esmer ve Siyah Alaca buzağıların doğum ağırlığına ait fenotipik ve genetik parametre tahminleri. Lalahan Hay. Araşt. Ens. Derg., 2001; 41: 11-20.
Kaygısız, A.: Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for birth weight in Brown and Simmental calves raised at Altındere State Farm. Turk. J. Vet. Anim. Sci., 1998; 22: 527-535. (Article in Turkish with an abstract in English)
Schleppi, Y., Schmit-Hsu, F., Casanova, L.: A new evaluation of parturition. Schweizer-Fleckvieh, 1996; 3: 14-22.