Genetic association between mature weight and early growth and heifer pregnancy traits in Nellore cattle

Silva, Bárbara da Conceição Abreu; Eler, Joanir Pereira; Júnior, Mário Luiz Santana; Mattos, E. C.; Menezes, Isabela Rocha; Ferraz, José Bento Sterman

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2018.03.003

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In contrast, a study in Nellore cattle observed a heritability estimate of 0.50 for PP14. In this context, the inclusion of PP14 as a selection criterion in beef cattle breeding programs should increase female precocity over generations [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The low heritability estimates of most reproductive traits, as routinely measured in worldwide breeding programs, result in reduced rates of genetic progress per generation compared to high-heritability traits [ 8 , 19 , 20 ]. Given the genetic complexity of fertility and reproductive traits, their sex-dependent phenotypic expression, and the availability of genomic information, it is crucial to evaluate the genetic relationship between fertility and precocity in females and semen quality and production traits of breeding bulls to improve reproductive performance in beef cattle populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic parameters for various semen production and quality traits and indicators of male and female reproductive performance in Nellore cattle

et al. 2023

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Background Given the economic relevance of fertility and reproductive traits for the beef cattle industry, investigating their genetic background and developing effective breeding strategies are paramount. Considering their late and sex-dependent phenotypic expression, genomic information can contribute to speed up the rates of genetic progress per year. In this context, the main objectives of this study were to estimate variance components and genetic parameters, including heritability and genetic correlations, for fertility, female precocity, and semen production and quality (andrological attributes) traits in Nellore cattle incorporating genomic information. Results The heritability estimates of semen quality traits were low-to-moderate, while moderate-to-high estimates were observed for semen morphological traits. The heritability of semen defects ranged from low (0.04 for minor semen defects) to moderate (0.30 for total semen defects). For seminal aspect (SMN_ASPC) and bull reproductive fitness (BULL_FIT), low (0.19) and high (0.69) heritabilities were observed, respectively. The heritability estimates for female reproductive traits ranged from 0.16 to 0.39 for rebreeding of precocious females (REBA) and probability of pregnancy at 14 months (PP14), respectively. Semen quality traits were highly genetically correlated among themselves. Moderate-to-high genetic correlations were observed between the ability to remain productive in the herd until four years of age (stayability; STAY) and the other reproductive traits, indicating that selection for female reproductive performance will indirectly contribute to increasing fertility rates. High genetic correlations between BULL_FIT and female reproductive traits related to precocity (REBA and PP14) and STAY were observed. The genetic correlations between semen quality and spermatic morphology with female reproductive traits ranged from -0.22 (REBA and scrotal circumference) to 0.48 (REBA and sperm vigor). In addition, the genetic correlations between REBA with semen quality traits ranged from -0.23 to 0.48, and with the spermatic morphology traits it ranged from -0.22 to 0.19. Conclusions All male and female fertility and reproduction traits evaluated are heritable and can be improved through direct genetic or genomic selection. Selection for better sperm quality will positively influence the fertility and precocity of Nellore females. The findings of this study will serve as background information for designing breeding programs for genetically improving semen production and quality and reproductive performance in Nellore cattle.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic parameters for various semen production and quality traits and indicators of male and female reproductive performance in Nellore cattle

et al. 2023

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“…In beef cattle breeding programs, SC is routinely measured at young (e.g., yearling) ages to be used as a selection criterion for improving both male and female sexual precocity. Moderate to high (0.25 to 0.58) heritability estimates have been reported for SC [ 29 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. In a meta-analysis study, Rojas de Oliveira et al [ 47 ] reported heritability estimates of 0.43, 0.56, and 0.46 for SC at 365, 450, and 550 days, respectively, in Nellore cattle.…”

Section: The Genetics Of Heifers Sexual Precocitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Intensification of Beef Production in the Tropics: The Role of Genetically Improving Sexual Precocity of Heifers

Júnior

Silva

Mota

et al. 2022

Animals

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Increasing productivity through continued animal genetic improvement is a crucial part of implementing sustainable livestock intensification programs. In Zebu cattle, the lack of sexual precocity is one of the main obstacles to improving beef production efficiency. Puberty-related traits are complex, but large-scale data sets from different “omics” have provided information on specific genes and biological processes with major effects on the expression of such traits, which can greatly increase animal genetic evaluation. In addition, genetic parameter estimates and genomic predictions involving sexual precocity indicator traits and productive, reproductive, and feed-efficiency related traits highlighted the feasibility and importance of direct selection for anticipating heifer reproductive life. Indeed, the case study of selection for sexual precocity in Nellore breeding programs presented here show that, in 12 years of selection for female early precocity and improved management practices, the phenotypic means of age at first calving showed a strong decreasing trend, changing from nearly 34 to less than 28 months, with a genetic trend of almost −2 days/year. In this period, the percentage of early pregnancy in the herds changed from around 10% to more than 60%, showing that the genetic improvement of heifer’s sexual precocity allows optimizing the productive cycle by reducing the number of unproductive animals in the herd. It has a direct impact on sustainability by better use of resources. Genomic selection breeding programs accounting for genotype by environment interaction represent promising tools for accelerating genetic progress for sexual precocity in tropical beef cattle.

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“…Consequently, series of GWAS have been performed for performance and functional traits in various livestock species and breeds in European, American and Asian countries, e.g. [16][17][18][19]. In Africa, however, only a few GWAS in livestock have been reported to date [20][21][22], due to the difficulties in collecting valid phenotypic data in the smallholder production system, as well as the lack of resources and technologies for genotyping [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multi-breed GWAS for morphometric traits in four Beninese indigenous cattle breeds reveals loci associated with conformation, carcass and adaptive traits

et al. 2020

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Background Specific adaptive features including disease resistance and growth abilities in harsh environments are attributed to indigenous cattle breeds of Benin, but these breeds are endangered due to crossbreeding. So far, there is a lack of systematic trait recording, being the basis for breed characterizations, and for structured breeding program designs aiming on conservation. Bridging this gap, own phenotyping for morphological traits considered measurements for height at withers (HAW), sacrum height (SH), heart girth (HG), hip width (HW), body length (BL) and ear length (EL), including 449 cattle from the four indigenous Benin breeds Lagune, Somba, Borgou and Pabli. In order to utilize recent genomic tools for breed characterizations and genetic evaluations, phenotypes for novel traits were merged with high-density SNP marker data. Multi-breed genetic parameter estimations and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for the six morphometric traits were carried out. Continuatively, we aimed on inferring genomic regions and functional loci potentially associated with conformation, carcass and adaptive traits. Results SNP-based heritability estimates for the morphometric traits ranged between 0.46 ± 0.14 (HG) and 0.74 ± 0.13 (HW). Phenotypic and genetic correlations ranged from 0.25 ± 0.05 (HW-BL) to 0.89 ± 0.01 (HAW-SH), and from 0.14 ± 0.10 (HW-BL) to 0.85 ± 0.02 (HAW-SH), respectively. Three genome-wide and 25 chromosome-wide significant SNP positioned on different chromosomes were detected, located in very close chromosomal distance (±25 kb) to 15 genes (or located within the genes). The genes PIK3R6 and PIK3R1 showed direct functional associations with height and body size. We inferred the potential candidate genes VEPH1, CNTNAP5, GYPC for conformation, growth and carcass traits including body weight and body fat deposition. According to their functional annotations, detected potential candidate genes were associated with stress or immune response (genes PTAFR, PBRM1, ADAMTS12) and with feed efficiency (genes MEGF11 SLC16A4, CCDC117). Conclusions Accurate measurements contributed to large SNP heritabilities for some morphological traits, even for a small mixed-breed sample size. Multi-breed GWAS detected different loci associated with conformation or carcass traits. The identified potential candidate genes for immune response or feed efficiency indicators reflect the evolutionary development and adaptability features of the breeds.

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Genetic association between mature weight and early growth and heifer pregnancy traits in Nellore cattle

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

Genetic parameters for various semen production and quality traits and indicators of male and female reproductive performance in Nellore cattle

Genetic parameters for various semen production and quality traits and indicators of male and female reproductive performance in Nellore cattle

Sustainable Intensification of Beef Production in the Tropics: The Role of Genetically Improving Sexual Precocity of Heifers

A multi-breed GWAS for morphometric traits in four Beninese indigenous cattle breeds reveals loci associated with conformation, carcass and adaptive traits

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