HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dinkel, C. A. Articles by Busch, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Dinkel, C. A. Articles by Busch, D. A.

Genetic Parameters among Production, Carcass Composition and Carcass Quality Traits of Beef Cattle¹

South Dakota State University, Brookings 57006

Abstract

Production, carcass composition and carcass quality data measured on 679 grade Hereford steers raised on 18 private ranches in South Dakota were used to obtain estimates of heritability for the traits and to obtain estimates of genetic correlations among traits. The results indicate that final weight (adjusted yearling weight in breeding stock) should be the single most important trait in a selection program aimed at improving the production and carcass traits studied. The heritability estimate of 85% for final weight indicates that considerable progress can be made for this economically important trait through mass selection. In addition, desired improvement in weaning weight, daily gain and carcass muscling could be expected because of the high positive genetic correlations between final weight and these traits. Selection for final weight would result in little change in marbling and only a slight decrease in dressing percent, carcass grade, lean color and lean firmness. Visual appraisals such as conformation score and muscling score did not appear useful as predictors of animals genetically superior in the production or carcass traits studied. Nonsignificant year x sire within ranch interactions for all traits except percent kidney fat indicate that sires can be evaluated on the basis of one progeny test. The relative importance of years, ranches and sires as sources of variation in the traits measured were also studied.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Publication No. 1121 of the Journal Series. Cooperative with A.R.S., U.S.D.A., and a contribution from Regional Project NC-1.

² Present address: American International Charolais Association, 1610 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas 77025.

³ The authors wish to express their appreciation to Dr. Walter Harvey, Ohio State University, for his assistance in the statistical analyses of these data.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Rios-Utrera, L. V. Cundiff, K. E. Gregory, R. M. Koch, M. E. Dikeman, M. Koohmaraie, and L. D. Van Vleck Genetic analysis of carcass traits of steers adjusted to age, weight, or fat thickness slaughter endpoints J Anim Sci, April 1, 2005; 83(4): 764 - 776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]