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Estimation of genetic parameters for young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2019

R. B. Davis ,
E. Norberg  and
A. Fogh
R. B. Davis*
Affiliation:
SEGES, Danish Milk and Beef Research Centre, Agro Food Park 15, Aarhus N 8200, Denmark Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, Tjele 8830, Denmark
E. Norberg
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, Tjele 8830, Denmark Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Arboretveien 6, Ås 1432, Norway
A. Fogh
Affiliation:
SEGES, Danish Milk and Beef Research Centre, Agro Food Park 15, Aarhus N 8200, Denmark
*
†E-mail: rubd@seges.dk
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Abstract

Young stock survival is a trait of crucial importance in cattle breeding as calf mortality leads to economic losses and represents an animal welfare issue. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and sire breeding values for young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves. Two traits were analysed with a univariate animal model: young stock survival between 1 to 30 days and 31 to 200 days after birth. Breed combinations with Belgian Blue sires outperformed all other sire breeds. The lowest survival rates were found for breed combinations with Jersey dams or Blonde d’Aquitaine sires. The results showed low but significant heritabilities (0.045 to 0.075) for both survival traits. Differences in breeding values between sires ranged from −2.5% to 3.5% and from −5.4% to 4.7% survival from 1 to 30 days and 31 to 200 days, respectively. Based on these findings, we concluded that it is feasible to breed for improved young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves. This will hopefully contribute to increasing the survival rate of the calves and reduce economic losses for the farmers.

Keywords

calf mortalitybeef x dairy crossbreedingveal productiongenetic parameterspost-natal survival
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , March 2020 , pp. 445 - 451
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2019 

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