Potentiality of Growth Traits for Selection to Improve Productivity in Nilotic Cattle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32734/injar.v5i2.8967Keywords:
absolute growth rate, absolute maturing rate, Kleiber ratio, live-body weight, relative growth rateAbstract
Selection for traits of economic importance is crucial for improving productivity and reproductivity in livestock, including cattle. We investigated the prospects of using growth traits; viz: live-body weight (BW), absolute growth rate (AGR), relative growth rate (RGR), absolute maturing rate (AMR), and Kleiber ratio (KR) as bases for selection in Nilotic cattle, by examining the phenotypic correlations among these traits, using 125 male and 136 female calves reared under traditional husbandry system. In the experimental procedure, the heart girth (HG) and body length (BL) of each calf was measured at birth, and at the age of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 months; then the BW at each age was derived, and used for estimating AGR, RGR, AMR, KR, and dry matter intake for maintenance (DMIm). AGR, RGR, AMR, or KR was calculated from 0~8 months (AGRα, RGRα, AMRα, KRα), 8~12 months (AGRβ, RGRβ, AMRβ, KRβ), and 12~16 months (AGRγ, RGRγ, AMRγ, KRγ). Phenotypic correlations were determined using the Pearson's correlation method. The results revealed that, BW, AGR, RGR, AMR, KR, and DMIm were inter-correlated. In particular, calf weaning weight (CWW at 8 months), and post-weaning AGRβ, RGRβ, AMRβ, and KRβ (all at 8~12 months` interval) were positively correlated among themselves and with post-weaning BW, but negatively correlated with birth weight and DMIm, and thus, considered the most appropriate selection indices in Nilotic cattle, since these would decrease calf birth weight, thereby reducing dystocia incidences, and increase post-weaning growth, with less DMIm. These results provide the first evidence for possible selection using growth traits to improve productive efficiency in Nilotic cattle.
Downloads
References
H. Fitzhugh and C.S. Taylor “Genetic analysis of degree of maturity,†Journal of Animal Science. vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 717–725, 1971. DOI: 10.2527/jas1971.334717x
S. J. Schoeman “Characterization of beef cattle breeds by virtue of their performances in the National Beef Cattle Performance and Progeny Testing Scheme,†South African Journal of Animal Science, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 15–19, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/9395
J. A. Van De Stroet, C. DÃaz, K. J. Stalder, A. J. Heinrichs, and C. D. Dechow, “Association of calf growth traits with production characteristics in dairy cattle,†Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 99, no. 10, pp, 8347–8355, 2016. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-10738
P. Boro, B. C. Naha, A. R. Madkar, D. P. Saikia, C. Prakash, A. S. Godara, S. P. Sahoo, J. Patel, and J. Chandrakar, “The effects of heifer growth on milk production and efficiencyâ€, International Journal of Science and Nature, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 220–227, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2020.100169
J. D. Donker, G. D. Marx, and C. W. Young, “Feed intake and milk production from three rates of concentrate for cows bred to differ in size,†Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 66, no. 6, pp. 1337–1348, 1983. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(83)81943-2
R. P. Yerex, C. W. Young, J. D. Marx, and G. D. Donker, “Effects of selection for body size on feed efficiency and size of Holsteins,†Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 71, no. 5, pp. 1355–1360, 1988. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302 (88)79693-9
F. N. Owens, P. Dubeski, and C. F. Hansont, “Factors that alter the growth and development of ruminants,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 71, pp. 3138–3150, 1993.
C. J. Hayes, C. G. McAloon, E. T. Kelly, C. I. Carty, E. G. Ryan, J. F. Mee, and L. O'Grady, “The effect of dairy heifer pre-breeding growth rate on first lactation milk yield in spring-calving, pasture-based herds,†Animal, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1–8, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2020.100169
P. D. P. Wood, “Some attributes of twin-bearing British Friesian and Canadian Holstein cows recorded in England and Wales,†Journal of Dairy Research, vol. 51, no 3, pp. 365– 370, 1984. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029900023657
J. P. Kastelic, “Male involvement in fertility and factors affecting semen quality in bulls,†Animal Frontiers, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 20–25, 2013.
P. Howell, M. Lock, and S. Cobb, “The Jonglei Canalâ€, Impact and opportunity Livestock and animal husbandry, pp. 279-313, 1988. https://www.cambridge University Press.
A. P. Milla, M. M. Mahjoub, and I. Bushara, “Analysis of pastoral livelihood strategies among displaced Nilotics in Tunga County; Upper Nile State-South Sudan,†Journal of Animal Science Advances, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 458–466, 2012.
I. M. K. Abdel-Rahman, “Sudanese cattle resources and productivity,†Agricultural Reviews, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 305–308, 2007.
R. M. Mohammed, I. M. Fager, A. M. Abu Neikhaila, H. H. Abdelwahid, and E.S. Abu Shulukh, “Milk yield and milk composition of Nilotic cattle breed supplemented with different levels of concentration,†Journal of Applied and Industrial Sciences, vol. 4, no.1, pp. 38–42, 2016.
M. G. Apadieer, “Low Cattle Milk Production in South Sudan: What could be the actual causes?,†PaanLuel Wël media LTD, South Sudan, 2021.
R. H. Stobart, J. W. Bassett, T. C. Cartwright, and R. L. Blackwell, “An Analysis of body weights and maturing patterns in Western Range Ewes,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 729–740, 1986. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1986.633729x
A. H. Brown, Z. B. Johnson, J. J. Chewning, and C. J. Brown, “Relationships among absolute growth rate, relative growth rate and feed conversion during postweaning feedlot performance tests,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 66, no. 10, pp. 2524–2529, 1988. DOI: 10.2527/jas1988.66102524x
J. A. Archer, E. C. Richardson, R. M. Herd, and P. F. Arthur, “Potential for selection to improve efficiency of feed use in beef cattle: a review,†Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 50, pp. 147–61, 1990.
L. Bergh, M. M. Scholtz, and G. J. Erasmus, “Identification and assessment of the best animals: The Kleiber ratio (growth rate/ metabolic mass) as a selection criterion for beef cattle,†Proceedings of the Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics, vol. 10, pp. 338–340, 1992.
E. Koster, J. V. D. Westhuizen, and G. J. Erasmus, “Heritability estimates for different Kleiber ratios obtained from growth performance data in a Hereford herd,†South African Journal of Animal Science, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 71–72, 1994.
E. V. Marle-Köster, B. E. Mostert, and J. V. D. Westhuizen, “Body measurements as selection criteria for growth in South African Hereford cattle,†Archiv Fur Tierzucht Dummerstorf, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 5–15, 2000.
A. L. Grion, M. E. Z. Mercadante, J. N. S. G. Cyrillo, S. F. M. Bonilha, E. Magnani, and R. H. Branco, “Selection for feed efficiency traits and correlated genetic responses in feed intake and weight gain of Nellore cattle,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 92, pp. 955–965, 2014.
A. M. Hurley, N. Lopez-Villalobos S, McParland, E. Lewis, E. Kennedy, M. O'Donovan, J.L. Burke, and D.P. Berry, “Characteristics of feed efficiency within and across lactation in dairy cows and the effect of genetic selection,†Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 101, no. 2, pp. 1267–1280, 2018. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-12841
A. BarrÃa, A. B. Doeschl-Wilson, J. P. Lhorente, R. D. Houston, and J. M. Yáñez, “Novel insights into the genetic relationship between growth and disease resistance in an aquaculture strain of Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch),†Aquaculture. 511, 734207, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734207
H. Mehrban, M. Naserkheil, D. H. Lee, and N. Ibáñez-Escriche, “Genetic parameters and correlations of related feed efficiency, growth, and carcass traits in Hanwoo beef cattle,†Animal Bioscience, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 824–832, 2021.
J. Gallardo-Hidalgo, A. BarrÃa, G. M. Yoshida, and J. M. Yáñéz, “Genetics of growth and survival under chronic heat stress and trade-offs with growth- and robustness-related traits in rainbow trout,†Aquaculture, vol. 511, 735685, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735685
A. M. Pitia, J. E. Muso, and M. M. Ahmed, “Growth performance of the Nilotic cattle under traditional husbandry system,†Malaysian Animal Husbandry Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 22–28, 2022.
A. P. Milla, and M. M. Mahjoub, “Estimation of live body weight from heart girth, body length, and condition score in Nilotic cattle, Southern Sudan,†Agricultural Technology Transfer Society Magazine, vol. 1, no. 1, 15–19, 2013.
F. Szabó, E. Szabó, S. Bene, “Statistic and genetic parameters of 205-day weaning weight of beef calves,†Archiv Tierzucht, vol. 55, no. 6, pp. 552–561, 2012.
N. Gannon, “The importance of maintenance nutrient requirements during periods of high feed prices,†2019.
M. A. Hoque, M. Hosono, T. Oikawa, and K. Suzuki, “Genetic parameters for measures of energetic efficiency of bulls and their relationships with carcass traits of field progeny in Japanese Black cattle,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 87, no. 1, pp. 99–106, 2009. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2007-0766
R. R. Frahm, C. G. Nichols, and D. S. Buchanan, “Selection for increased weaning or yearling weight in Hereford cattle. II. Direct and correlated responses,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 60, no. 6, pp. 1385–95, 1985. DOI: 10.2527/jas1985.6061385x
B. E. Cunningham, W. T. Magee, and H. D. Ritchie, “Effects of using sires selected for yearling weight and crossbreeding with beef and dairy breeds: birth and weaning traits,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 64, no. 6, pp. 1591–1600, 1987. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1987.6461591x
A. S. Jubara, E. B. Ochi, A. J. Deng, and L. K. Jaja, “Dystocia Due to Multiple Craniofacial Fetal Anomalies in Nilotic Zebu Cattle and the Attached Traditional Beliefs: A Case Report,†International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 2456 – 6470, 2021.
D. Holm, P. N. Thompson, and P. C. Irons, “The value of reproductive tract scoring as a predictor of fertility and production outcomes in beef heifers,†Journal of Animal Science, vol. 87, no. 6, pp. 1934–1940, 2009. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2008-1579
R. Khandaker, M. K. I. Khan, and M.M. Momin, “Correlations among certain growth and production traits in different breeds of goats,†Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 465–470, 2017.
G. M. Smith, and L. V. Cundiff, “Genetic analysis of relative growth rate in crossbreed and Straightbred Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn Steers,†Journal of Animal Science, vol 43, no. 6, pp. 1171–1175, 1976. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1976.4361171x
M. Castilhos, R. H. Branco, T. L. S. Corvino, A. G. Razook, S. Bonilha, and L. Figueiredo, “Feed efficiency of Nellore cattle selected for postweaning weight,†Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia. Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia, vol. 39, no. 11, pp. 2486–2493, 2010. <http://hdl.handle.net/11449/30836>
K. Sejrsen, S. Purup, M. Vestergaard, and J. Foldager, “High body weight gain and reduced bovine mammary growth: Physiological basis and implications for milk yield potential,â€Domestic Animal Endocrinology, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 93–104, 2000. DOI: 10.1016/S0739-7240(00)00070-9
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2023 Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
