Journal of Animal Science, Vol 76, Issue 2 458-467, Copyright © 1998 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Comparison of selection by independent culling levels for below-average birth weight and high yearling weight with mass selection for high yearling weight in line 1 Hereford cattle

M. D. MacNeil, J. J. Urick and W. M. Snelling
Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Miles City, MT 59301, USA. mike@larrl.ars.usda.gov

Mass selection by independent culling levels (YB subline) for below-average birth weight (BWT) and high yearling weight (YWT) was compared with single-trait mass selection (YW subline) for high YWT in the inbred population of Line 1 Hereford cattle at Miles City, Montana. There were 4.2 generations of selection in YB and YW. Heritability estimates for the base population derived from multiple-trait REML were .28 and .31 for direct effects and .16 and .06 for maternal effects on BWT and YWT, respectively. Mid-parent cumulative selection differentials for BWT of YB and YW diverged (-2.9 vs 8.2 kg, respectively), as did the associated genetic trends for direct effects (-.014 kg/yr vs .105 kg/yr, respectively). Mid-parent cumulative selection differential for YWT of YB (102.1 kg) was 64% of that attained in YW (160.7 kg). Likewise, response in YWT of YB (.91 kg/yr) was 61% of response attained in YW (1.5 kg/yr). For BWT and YWT, maternal genetic trends were similar across selection lines. Assistance at parturition of first-parity 2-yr-old heifers was consistently less frequent in YB than in YW.

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