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The performance of Hereford × Friesian offspring of bulls selected for lean growth rate and lean food conversion efficiency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

S. C. Bishop ,
J. S. Broadbent ,
R. M. Kay ,
I. Rigby  and
A. V. Fisher
S. C. Bishop
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
J. S. Broadbent
Affiliation:
ADAS, MAFF, Windsor House, Cornwall Road, Harrogate HG1 2PW
R. M. Kay
Affiliation:
Drayton EHF, Alcester Road, Stratford on Avon CV37 9RQ
I. Rigby
Affiliation:
High Mowthorpe EHF, Duggleby, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 8BP
A. V. Fisher
Affiliation:
Department of Meat Animal Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY
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Abstract

The performance of Hereford × Friesian calves sired by Hereford bulls selected for either lean growth rate (LGR) or lean food conversion ratio (LFCR), or by unselected Hereford bulls, was evaluated on 327 calves on three farms over 2 years. Animals started test at 130 days of age on average and remained on test for approximately 300 days, whereupon all animals were slaughtered and carcass dissections were undertaken. Individual food intake was measured on tioo of the farms (189 animals), but only intake per pen of animals was measured on the third farm and individual food intake had to be estimated. LGR, LFCR and other traits describing performance were calculated from the growth, food intake and carcass composition data.

If no breed or environment interactions exist it is expected that proportionately 0-5 of the genetic differences between selected and control line bulls would be transmitted to their offspring. For the LGR and LFCR line bulls these values were 0·38 and 0·44, respectively, however the LGR value had a much smaller confidence interval. Genetic correlations derived from regressing breeding values predicted from offspring performance on breeding values predicted from the bulk's own performance in the selection experiment were 0·62 (s.e. 0·28) and 0·96 (s.e. 0·28) for LGR and LFCR, respectively. Heritabilities were: live-weight gain on test, 0·27; daily gain, 0·48; food intake, 0·06; food conversion ratio, 0·46; predicted carcass lean content, 0·10; killing-out proportion, 0·10; LGR, 0·36 and LFCR, 0·48.

Keywords

beef cattlebody lean masscrossbreedingfood conversionselection
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 54 , Issue 1 , February 1992 , pp. 23 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1992

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