The genetics of body condition and leg weakness in the blue fox (<i>Alopex lagopus</i>)

Kempe, Riitta; Koskinen, Nita; Mäntysaari, Esa; Strandén, Ismo

doi:10.1080/09064702.2010.515241

Cited by 21 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In our study, the estimated heritability for gSI (0.28) was higher than observed by Peura et al (, ) and Koivula et al (), but lower than in a single‐farm study by Kempe et al (). Indeed, there is fairly large variation in the heritability estimates reported for body size, ranging from 0.16 to 0.32 (Kempe et al, ; Koivula et al, ; Peura et al, ). The heritability for gQU was also higher in our study than in the study of Peura et al ().…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Joint breeding value evaluation for fertility in Finnish and Norwegian blue foxes

Kempe

Strandén

2018

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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We developed a multiple‐trait animal model for blue fox fertility evaluation and estimated genetic parameters simultaneously for seven traits: first three litter sizes (LS), pregnancy rate (PREG), whelping success (WHELP), grading size (gSI) and fur quality (gQU). Grading size and quality were included into the new multiple‐trait model as correlated traits. Litter size of the first parity had the highest unfavourable genetic correlations with gSI (−0.57) and gQU (−0.56). Thus, selection for higher gSI and gQU slows down the genetic gain in fertility traits. WHELP had moderate to fairly high negative genetic correlations with gSI and gQU (−0.44 and −0.36, respectively), indicating that larger animals are more likely to lose their pups during pregnancy or immediately after birth. Our new model corrected the slight overestimation of estimated breeding values (EBVs) especially for first litter size. The accuracy of LS, PREG and WHELP estimation is likely to benefit from the new multiple‐trait animal model. PREG and WHELP improved steadily from 1998 to 2014, and LS traits have shown a moderate genetic trend since 2007, whereas the positive genetic trend for gSI has levelled down, at least temporarily. The fairly high effective population size (150) allows to increase selection intensity, and the new fertility evaluation enables further improvement of fertility traits.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Joint breeding value evaluation for fertility in Finnish and Norwegian blue foxes

Kempe

Strandén

2018

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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“…Because subjective size scoring is affected by the fatness of the animal, in addition to its length and body weight, emphasizing grading size in selection may simultaneously increase average levels of fatness in blue fox production (Kempe et al . ). Owing to antagonistic genetic correlations (Kempe et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Kempe et al . (, ) and Kempe & Strandén reported that size traits (animal size, body condition score, pelt size) had several antagonistic genetic and/or phenotypic correlations with eye infection and leg conformation traits. However, we were unable to calculate economic value of leg conformation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk aversion affects economic values of blue fox breeding scheme

Peura

Kempe

Strandén

et al. 2016

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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The profit and production of an average Finnish blue fox farm was simulated using a deterministic bio-economic farm model. Risk was included using Arrow-Prat absolute risk aversion coefficient and profit variance. Risk-rated economic values were calculated for pregnancy rate, litter loss, litter size, pelt size, pelt quality, pelt colour clarity, feed efficiency and eye infection. With high absolute risk aversion, economic values were lower than with low absolute risk aversion. Economic values were highest for litter loss (18.16 and 26.42 EUR), litter size (13.27 and 19.40 EUR), pregnancy (11.99 and 18.39 EUR) and eye infection (12.39 and 13.81 EUR). Sensitivity analysis showed that selection pressure for improved eye health depended strongly on proportion of culled animals among infected animals and much less on the proportion of infected animals. The economic value of feed efficiency was lower than expected (6.06 and 8.03 EUR). However, it was almost the same magnitude as pelt quality (7.30 and 7.30 EUR) and higher than the economic value of pelt size (3.37 and 5.26 EUR). Risk factors should be considered in blue fox breeding scheme because they change the relative importance of traits.

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“…This time period was not available in the current study, and is higher than the heritability estimate for RFI on August (105 days of age). In addition, Kempe et al (2010) obtained a heritability of 0.28 for feed efficiency (gain : dry mater intake) for the total period from midAugust to mid-October period in blue fox. The differences between the above studies and the current study could be due to the method of estimating feed efficiency, with RFI explaining the proportion of feed intake that is independent of BW gain compared to feed efficiency as a ratio trait that contains the genetic properties of feed intake and BW gain.…”

Section: Heritabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal analysis of residual feed intake and BW in mink using random regression with heterogeneous residual variance

Shirali

Nielsen

Møller

et al. 2015

Animal

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The aim of this study was to determine the genetic background of longitudinal residual feed intake (RFI) and BW gain in farmed mink using random regression methods considering heterogeneous residual variances. The individual BW was measured every 3 weeks from 63 to 210 days of age for 2139 male + female pairs of juvenile mink during the growingfurring period. Cumulative feed intake was calculated six times with 3-week intervals based on daily feed consumption between weighing's from 105 to 210 days of age. Genetic parameters for RFI and BW gain in males and females were obtained using univariate random regression with Legendre polynomials containing an animal genetic effect and permanent environmental effect of litter along with heterogeneous residual variances. Heritability estimates for RFI increased with age from 0.18 (0.03, posterior standard deviation (PSD)) at 105 days of age to 0.49 (0.03, PSD) and 0.46 (0.03, PSD) at 210 days of age in male and female mink, respectively. The heritability estimates for BW gain increased with age and had moderate to high range for males (0.33 (0.02, PSD) to 0.84 (0.02, PSD)) and females (0.35 (0.03, PSD) to 0.85 (0.02, PSD)). RFI estimates during the growing period (105 to 126 days of age) showed high positive genetic correlations with the pelting RFI (210 days of age) in male (0.86 to 0.97) and female (0.92 to 0.98). However, phenotypic correlations were lower from 0.47 to 0.76 in males and 0.61 to 0.75 in females. Furthermore, BW records in the growing period (63 to 126 days of age) had moderate (male: 0.39, female: 0.53) to high (male: 0.87, female: 0.94) genetic correlations with pelting BW (210 days of age). The result of current study showed that RFI and BW in mink are highly heritable, especially at the late furring period, suggesting potential for large genetic gains for these traits. The genetic correlations suggested that substantial genetic gain can be obtained by only considering the RFI estimate and BW at pelting, however, lower genetic correlations than unity indicate that extra genetic gain can be obtained by including estimates of these traits during the growing period. This study suggests random regression methods are suitable for analysing feed efficiency and BW gain; and genetic selection for RFI in mink is promising.

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The genetics of body condition and leg weakness in the blue fox (Alopex lagopus)

Cited by 21 publications

References 38 publications

Joint breeding value evaluation for fertility in Finnish and Norwegian blue foxes

Joint breeding value evaluation for fertility in Finnish and Norwegian blue foxes

Risk aversion affects economic values of blue fox breeding scheme

Longitudinal analysis of residual feed intake and BW in mink using random regression with heterogeneous residual variance

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