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Genotype x Environment Interaction in Hereford Cattle: III. Postweaning Traits of Heifers¹

US Department of Agriculture, Miles City, MT 59301 Brooksville, FL 33512 Knoxville, TN 37616 Fort Collins, CO 80521 , Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, Miles City 59301 and and Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville 32601

Abstract

The postweaning performance of heifers from contrasting lines of Hereford cattle was compared simultaneously at Miles City, Montana and at Brooksville, Florida in an experiment designed to evaluate the importance of genotype x environment interactions in beef cattle. During Phase 1 of the study (1964 to 1973), the performance of two unrelated lines, M₁ and F₆, was compared at the two locations. During Phase 2 (1967 to 1974), two related lines, M₁ of Montana origin and F₄ derived from M₁ by selection in Florida, were compared at each of the two locations. The line x location interaction term was highly significant in either Phase 1, Phase 2 or both for weaning weight, daily gain from weaning to spring, spring yearling weight, daily gain from weaning to fall, fall yearling weight, yearling condition score, conformation score, wither height, body depth, body length, shoulder width, hook width and forecannon circumference. Daily gain of yearlings from spring to fall was the only objective measurement for which the interaction term was nonsignificant in both phases. These results, consistent with the results on performance to weaning age reported previously, indicate the existence of highly significant genotype x environment interactions in beef cattle. The results indicate that genetic adaptation to the local environment is important in beef cattle production and should be considered in designing breeding programs or performance testing procedures and in interregional transfer of breeding stock.

¹ This research was conducted as an interregional effort by the USDA, ARS, WR and the State Agr. Exp. Sta. of Montana and Florida under Regional Projects WRCC-1 and S-10. The cattle were located at the Livestock and Range Research Station, Miles City, MT and the Brooksville Beef Cattle Research Station, FL. Published as Montana Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 1259.

² Livestock and Range Res. Sta., USDA, ARS-WR, Miles City, MT 59301.

³ Florida Agr. Exp. Sta., Gainesville 32611.

⁴ Brooksville Beef Cattle Res. Sta., USDA, ARS, Brooksville, FL 33512.

⁵ USDA, ARS, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville 37916.

⁶ Biometrical Services, USDA, ARS, Fort Collins, CO 80521.

⁷ Appreciation is expressed to J. S. Brinks, N. M. Kieffer, R. S. Temple, E. J. Warwick and F. S. Willson for contributions to establishment of the project and to R. L. Blackwell, B. W. Knapp, W. L. Milmine and W. C. Russell for help in data collection or processing.