Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (4): 1452-1464.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2023.04.010

• ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Estimation of Genetic Parameters of Body Weight and Body Size Traits in Jinnan Cattle at Different Growth Stages

GUO Mingpeng1, MENG Yuan1, WANG Honghao1, WANG Yuan2, CHE Leijie3, SHEN Li4, WANG Xi1*   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030032, China;
    2. College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030032, China;
    3. Yuncheng National Jinnan Cattle Genetic Resources Gene Protection Center, Yuncheng 044000, China;
    4. Taiyuan Ecological Engineering School, Taiyuan 030025, China
  • Received:2022-06-27 Online:2023-04-23 Published:2023-04-27

Abstract: A total of 1 937 body weight and body size traits data of 564 Jinnan cattle (279 bulls and 285 cows) from 2011 to 2021 were collected from the National Jinnan Cattle Genetic Resources Gene Protection Center in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province. Genetic parameters of body weight and body size traits of Jinnan cattle at birth, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age were estimated. Using REML algorithm in ASREML software and multi-trait animal model, with birth year, birth season and sex as fixed effects, the heritability, genetic correlation and phenotypic correlation of body weight and body size traits in 5 different growth stages of Jinnan cattle were estimated. The results showed that birth year had significant effects on the body weight and body size traits at different growth stages of Jinnan cattle(P<0.01). Birth season and sex had little effect on early growth and development of Jinnan cattle, but had great effect on late growth and development. The estimated heritability of body weight from birth to 24 months of age ranged from 0.22 to 0.35, the estimated heritability of body height ranged from 0.18 to 0.31, the estimated heritability of stature ranged from 0.17 to 0.43, the estimated heritability of body length ranged from 0.10 to 0.24, and the estimated heritability of chest girth ranged from 0.22 to 0.29. The estimated values of abdomen circumference heritability ranged from 0.25 to 0.33, and the estimated values of shin circumference heritability ranged from 0.16 to 0.56. The body weight and body size traits of Jinnan cattle at different growth stages showed strong positive genetic and phenotypic correlations. The genetic and phenotypic correlations ranged from 0.37 to 0.97 and 0.47 to 0.96, respectively. The genetic parameters of growth and development traits of Jinnan cattle were systematically evaluated and analyzed in this experiment. It was found that the body weight and body size at different growth stages of Jinnan cattle belonged to medium and high heritability traits, and the genetic correlation and phenotypic correlation of these traits showed strong positive correlation. Among them, weight, stature and shin circumference at 18 months of age could be considered as the target traits for constructing selection index of Jinnan cattle due to their high heritability, strong genetic correlation and phenotypic correlation. The results of this experiment can provide a theoretical basis for the scientific conservation of Jinnan cattle and the development and utilization of germplasm resources.

Key words: Jinnan cattle, growth and development traits, genetic parameter, genetic correlation, phenotypic correlation

CLC Number: