Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (8): 1833-1844.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2020.08.007

• ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genetic Parameter and Genetic Gain Estimation for Growth and Development Traits in Chinese Simmental Beef Cattle

ZHU Bo1,2,4*, LI Jiao3, WANG Congyong4, XU Lingyang1, CHEN Yan1, GAO Xue1, ZHANG Lupei1, GAO Huijiang1,2,4, LI Junya1,2,4*   

  1. 1. Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. National Centre of Beef Cattle Genetic Evaluation, Beijing 100193, China;
    3. National Animal Husbandry Station, Beijing 100125, China;
    4. Beef Simmental Breeding Alliance, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2020-01-13 Online:2020-08-25 Published:2020-08-19

Abstract: This study was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters and genetic gains(2007—2017) of weight and average daily gain in different periods of 6 837 Chinese Simmental beef cattle born from 2000 to 2019, where these data were collected by National Center of Beef Cattle Genetic Evaluation. Heritabilities of traits were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method in Chinese Simmental beef cattle. The estimated breeding value for each individual was calculated using ASREML software, and the genetic gain for each trait from 2007 to 2017 was also assessed. The results showed that the estimations of heritability for birth weight, 6-month weight, 12-month weight, 18-month weight, 24-month weight were 0.44, 0.42, 0.35, 0.38 and 0.46, respectively; The estimations of heritability of average daily gains of birth-to-six month, 6-12 month, 12-18 month, 18-24 month were 0.47, 0.32, 0.36 and 0.39, respectively in Chinese Simmental beef cattle. Average genetic gain per year from 2007 to 2017 for birth weight, 6-month weight, 12-month weight, 18-month weight, 24-month weight were 0.46, 2.65, 4.31, 4.12 and 2.44 kg, respectively; Average genetic gain per year for average daily gain of birth-to-six month, 6-12 month, 12-18 month, 18-24 month were 0.014, 0.016, 0.009 and 0.007 kg·d-1, respectively. The systematic evaluation on genetic parameters for growth and development traits in Chinese Simmental beef cattle was conducted. Genetic gain for each trait was also assessed, and these results could provide theoretical basis for the future implementation of genetic improvement plan of beef cattle in China.

Key words: Chinese Simmental beef cattle, growth and development traits, genetic parameters, genetic gain

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