Phenotypic relationships between longevity, type traits, and production in Chianina beef cattle1

Autor:	F. Forabosco, J.A.M. van Arendonk, Riccardo Bozzi, Piter Bijma, Paul Boettcher, F. Filippini, A.F. Groen
Rok vydání:	2004
Předmět:	Veterinary medicine animal diseases media_common.quotation_subject Longevity food and beverages Ice calving General Medicine Culling Beef cattle Biology Animal science medicine.anatomical_structure Relative risk Genetics medicine Herd Trait Animal Science and Zoology Udder Food Science media_common
Zdroj:	Journal of Animal Science. 82:1572-1580
ISSN:	1525-3163 0021-8812
DOI:	10.2527/2004.8261572x
Popis:	Longevity is an increasingly important trait in beef cattle. Increased longevity decreases costs for the farmer and increases revenue. The objective of this research was to investigate the phenotypic relationship between type traits and longevity in Chianina beef cattle, and the relationship between production and longevity, to analyze the effect of voluntary culling. Data included records on reproductive, productive, and type traits provided by the National Association of Italian Beef Cattle Breeders from 6,395 Chianina cows. The average length of productive life was 1,829 d. The herd-year had a strong effect on the risk of culling. The effects of 22 type traits were analyzed. All the muscularity traits analyzed were highly significant (P < 0.01) and as a group had the largest effect on longevity, followed by dimension, refinement, and leg traits. Cows that calved before 35 mo of age had a lower probability of being culled than cows calving after 35 mo of age. Variation in herd size had a strong effect on risk ratio, with lower risk for intermediate classes. Cows with approximately one calf per year remained in the herd longer than did cows with fewer calves. Straight-legged animals had a 59% greater probability of being replaced than cows with a moderate angle to the hock, whereas sickle-legged animals had only a 3% higher probability of being culled than average cows. Udder conformation had no effect on longevity. In summary, results of this study indicate that herd-year effects and muscularity traits were the most important factors for longevity for Chianina cows among the factors studied.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::e88656d6c1a91d4d1c3f27a07ee4f94f https://doi.org/10.2527/2004.8261572x Zobrazit plný text záznamu