Selection intensity and generation interval were evaluated in a Hereford cattle herd made up of 14 inbred lines and 14 linecross groups corresponding to the lines of inbred sires at the Suan Juan Basin Research Center, Hesperus, Colorado. Selection indexes practiced were calculated in retrospect. Analyses of the records collected from 1946 through 1973 involved weaning weight (WW) and postweaning traits in males and females. Analyses by line were performed for the inbreds, while pooled analyses were done on the inbred and linecross populations. From records of 1,239 calves weaned, age of sire averaged 3.75 yr compared with 4.52 yr for age of dam, showing faster generation turnover for sires than for dams. Generation interval determined as actual age of midparent was 4.13 yr. Selection applied for WW, evaluated as annual selection differentials within inbred lines and then pooled over all lines, averaged .55 standard deviations (sigma)/generation for sires. For females, selection was much less intense. Midparent selection differential amounted to .33 sigma/generation. For sires, pooled standardized selection differentials per generation over all lines during the postweaning gain period were .49 sigma, .46 sigma, .40 sigma, -.20 sigma, -.10 sigma and .69 sigma, respectively, for initial weight, final weight, feed consumed, feed efficiency (FE, unadjusted and adjusted) and average daily gain (ADG). Selection of females for postweaning traits was not intense. Selection index actually practiced in retrospect for sires was: IS = .4461 (WW) - .0092 (FE) + .6126 (ADG). The indexes for dams included WW, 12-mo weight (12W), 18-mo weight (18W), mature spring weight (SPW) and mature fall weight (FAW) and were: for inbred dams, ID = .1824 (WW) - .0284 (12W) + .0736 (18W) - .1097 (SPW) - .1097 (FAW); for linecross dams, ID = .2693 (WW) - .2960 (12W) + .0147 (18W) + .1185 (SPW) - .0354 (FAW). The corresponding index selection differentials were .818, .203 and .209. Sire index selection differentials represent about 79% of the total selection differentials.
Data from 14 inbred lines and 14 linecross groups of Hereford cattle at the San Juan Basin Research Center, Hesperus, were used to evaluate expected and realized response in birth and weaning traits and postweaning traits in males and females over a 28-yr period. There were large differences in the means and variances of the performance traits among the inbreds and linecrosses, with the inbreds showing inbreeding depression and greater variability among lines, while the linecrosses manifested within-breed heterosis. Except for gain from weaning to 12 mo, in females, genetic progress was expected in all traits studied, mainly due to sire selection. Regressions of annual trait means on years indicated positive phenotypic trends in the inbreds for heart girth circumference at birth, adjusted weaning weight (adjusted for inbreeding), weaning score, final weight, feed consumption and the yearling weights and gains in females. Changes were negative for other traits. In the linecross group phenotypic trends were positive in all traits except heart girth circumference, weaning age, initial test weight and feed efficiency. Estimated genetic progress per generation due to within-line selection was negative in most of the traits in the inbreds but was considerably positive for the linecrosses for most of the traits. As expected, between-line selection yielded greater genetic improvement in the inbred than in the linecross population. The different patterns of response in the two populations are attributed to high rates and levels of inbreeding. Although variable, the actual progress was below prediction in most of the traits studied.
Selection intensity and generation interval were evaluated in a Hereford cattle herd of 14 inbred lines and 14 linecross groups corresponding to the lines of inbred sire at the San Juan Basin Research Centre, Hesperus, Colorado. Selection indexes practised were calculated in retrospect. The records analysed were weaning weight and postweaning traits in males and females collected from 1946 through 1973. Analyses were performed by line for the inbreds and pooled analyses for the inbred and linecross populations. From records of 1,239 calves weaned, age of sire averaged 3.75 years compared with 4.52 years for age of dam, showing faster generation turnover for sires than for dams. Generation interval determined 98 actual age of midparent was 4.13 years.Selection applied, evaluated as annual selection differentials within inbred lines and then pooled over all lines, averaged .55 standard deviations per generation for sires for weaning weight. Selection of females was much less. Midparent selection differential amounted to .33 standard deviations per generation. Pooled standardized selection differentials per generation over all lines for sires were .49, .46, 40, -.20, -.10, and .69, respectively, for initial weight, final weight, feed consumption, unadjusted feed efficiency, adjusted feed efficiency, and average daily gain. Selection of females for postweaning traits was not intense. Selection Indexes actually practiced in retrospect were: for sires, IS = .4661(WW) -.0092(FE) + .6126(ADG); for inbred dams, ID = .1824(WW) -.0284 (12W) + .0736 (18W) - 1097 (SPW) -.1097 (FAW); for linecross dams, ID= .2693 (WW) - 2960 (12W) + .0147 (18W) + 1185 (SPW) -.0354 (FAW). The corresponding index selection differentials were .818, 203, and .209. Sire index selection differentials represent about 79 percent of the total selection differentials.
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