J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1986. 63:409-417.
© 1986 American Society of Animal Science
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Heritabilities and Genetic Correlations of Growth and Reproductive Measurements in Hereford Bulls1

T. C. Nelsen, R. E. Short, J. J. Urick and W. L. Reynolds

U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Agriculture Experiment Station2, Miles City 59301

Abstract

Weight, hip height, heart girth, pelvic height, pelvic width and scrotal circumference were measured at 403 and 490 d on 427 Hereford bulls. The bulls were members of a random-selection herd so estimates of genetic parameters should have a minimum of bias due to selection. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated by normal paternal half-sib (PHS) correlation procedures. In addition, 256 son-sire pairs (RSS) were used to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations by regression and covariance methods. The PHS method produced heritability estimates in the range of .41 to .58 for all measures at both ages, with the exceptions of hip height at 403 d (.24) and pelvic height at 490 d (.23). The estimates derived in the RSS method ranged from .10 to .60. The RSS relationship would contain a portion of any maternal x direct covariance effects. A difference in heritability estimated by the two methods could be a reflection of this covariance. Genetic correlations tended to be larger than phenotypic and, in several cases, were negative. The difference in the correlation between two measurements taken at 403 d vs the same correlation estimated at 490 d was not readily explainable but may be evidence for differences in maturation rates or maternal effects. Scrotal circumference had a positive genetic correlation with weight and heart girth and near 0 or negative genetic correlations with pelvic measures. Hip height had positive genetic correlations with weight and heart girth at 403 and 490 d and with pelvic measurements at 403 d, but the correlations were not as large at 490 d. All the measurements except pelvic height had positive genetic correlations with preweaning average daily gain. Weights, hip heights and heart girths had positive genetic correlations with birth weight, the pelvic measurements had negative genetic correlations with birth weight and the genetic correlations between the scrotal circumference measures and birth weight were near 0.

Footnotes

1 Publication has been approved by the Director of the Montana Agr. Exp. Sta., Journal Series No. J-1721.

2 Agr. Res. Serv., Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Res. Sta.






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Copyright © 1986 by the American Society of Animal Science.