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Genetic Parameter Estimates for Preweaning Traits of Beef Cattle in a Stressful Environment¹

University of Arizona, Tucson 85721

Abstract

Data collected from 1957 through 1985 from a Hereford herd located in the Southwest were analyzed separately for each sex to evaluate the heritabilities of and genetic correlations among preweaning growth traits within groups of environmentally similar years. Data were grouped into years with poor, moderate and good environments based on contemporary group means for male calves' weaning weight. A total of 7,690 records were analyzed for birth weight, weaning weight and preweaning daily gain with a model that included year of birth, sire within year of birth, age of dam and a covariate of day of birth for birth weight or age at weaning for the weaning traits. Year of birth was a significant source of variation in all environments for all traits, accounting for more of the variation in the good and poor years than in moderate years. Heritability estimates for all traits were greater in good and moderate years than in poor years for bull calves. For heifers, however, estimates for weaning weight and preweaning daily gain were greater in the poor environment. Genetic correlations among birth weight and preweaning gain increased from the good environment to the poor environment (–.49 ± .26 to .82 ± .56 for male calves and –.09 ± .26 to .46 ± .25 for female calves), but phenotypic correlations were near zero in all environments. These results indicate that genotypic x environment and sex x environment interactions are important under range conditions of the southwestern U.S. Selection of females for any of the preweaning traits in all environments should result in genetic progress, but may be inefficient. Selection of males raised in poor environments may be hindered by low heritability. Genetic correlations among the preweaning growth traits were dependent on the environment.

¹ Published as paper no. 4428, Journal Series, Arizona Agric. Exp. Sta., Tucson.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.