Factors affecting actual weaning weight, preweaning average daily gain and relative growth rate in Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the major environmental and genetic factors affecting actual weaning weight (WW), preweaning average daily gain (ADG) and relative growth rate (RGR) in a representative sample of field data of Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed. Major environmental factors affect preweaning growth performance of Asturiana de los Valles calves in the direction usually found in the literature. However RGR seems to be selfcorrected for sex of calf and calving number. Heritabilities for the direct and maternal genetic effects were 0.67 and 0.29, 0.51 and 0.31 and 0.18 and 0.12 respectively for WW, ADG and RGR. The estimates of genetic parameters affecting RGR are more realistic than those estimated for the WW and ADG. Selection for RGR would lead to obtain higher growth rates and lower birth weights. RGR could be an interesting selection criterion in beef cattle improvement programs.

Factors affecting growth traits of beef cattle breeds raised inSlovakia

“…The results are in accordance with findings of Dadi et al (2002) and Goyache et al (2003), who analysed growth traits of beef calves raised in South Africa and Spain, respectively.…”

“…These results are in partial accordance with findings about differences between beef breeds raised in Slovakia even though the differences reported by Přibyl et al (2003) were larger. Results reported for sex effect correspond with those of Říha et al (1999), Jakubec et al (2003) and Goyache et al (2003). When birth weights of calves raised in Slovakia were compared, both males-singles and males-twins had higher birth weights than females-singles and females-twins.…”

“…Higher growth intensity in twins could be due either to a smaller number of twins involved in the analyses or to "milk stealing" behaviour of twin calves. Goyache et al (2003) reported the highest weaning weight for calves descending from 7-11 years old cows (calving 5-9). This is in agreement with findings of Říha et al (1999) and Jakubec et al (2003).…”

Growth curve analysis for body weight and dry matter intake in Friesian, Limousin x Friesian and Piemontese x Friesian cattle

“…Although there are several reports on growth curve parameters of cattle related to live weight of animal, there have been few reports on curve parameters related to feed intake. However, CHAMBAZ et al (2001) andGOYACHE et al (2003) suggest that considering only the BW of animal seems to be highly controversial to discuss improved biological efficiency. A genotype with high growth rate may not necessarily provide an improvement in biological efficiency over a slower growing animal with the same mature size.…”

“…Furthermore, some authors indicate that selection of cattle for higher maturity rates may lead to lighter weights at maturity (NELSEN et al, 1982;BULLOCK et al, 1993). The individual growth curve parameters, both basic and derived, are suitable phenotypic variables for the assessment of growth pattern and maturity (KRATOCHVILOVÁ et al, 2002;GOYACHE, et al, 2003). Several nonlinear growth models were available for mathematical description of growth curve such as logistic, Gompertz, Brody, Von Bertalanffy and Richards (AKBAS, 1995;MATTHES et al, 1996).…”