Genetic parameters for weaning weight of Zimbabwean Nguni cattle accounting for direct-maternal genetic covariances

Authors

  • N. Assan Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, Zimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo Region, Box 3550, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
  • A. Masache Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Keywords:

Variance components, Maternal effects, Weaning, Mallows Cp statistic, Nguni

References

Abera, H., Abegaz, S., Mekasha, Y., 2011. Genetic parameter estimates of pre-weaning weight of Horro (Zebu) and

their crosses with Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle breeds in Ethiopia. Intern. J. Liv. Prod. 2(6): 84- 91.

Assan, N., 2006. The phenotypic studies on Nguni cattle of Zimbabwe. Afric.J. Agric. Res.2(1): 24- 26.

Assan, N., 2012. Estimation of variance components by sex and theoretical expectation and selection implication

for weaning weight in indigenous Tuli cattle. J. Anim. Sci. Adv. 2(1): 141- 150.

Baker, R.L., 1980. The role of maternal effects on the efficiency of selection in beef cattle: A review. Proc. N.Z. Soc.

Anim. 40: 285.

Bertrand, J.K., Benyshek, L.L., 1987. Variance and covariance estimates for maternally influenced beef growth

traits. J. Anim. Sci. 64: 728.

Berweger Baschnagel, M., Moll, J., Kunzi, K., 1999. Comparison of models to estimate maternal effects for weaning

weight of Swiss Angus cattle fitting a sire*herd interaction as an additional random effect. Livest. Prod. Sci.

: 203-208.

Cantet, R.J.C., Gionola, D., Misztal, I., Fernando, R.I., 1993. Estimates of dispersion parameters and genetic and

environmental trends for weaning weight in Angus cattle using a maternal animal model with genetic

grouping. Livest. Prod. Sci. 34: 203- 212.

Cundiff, L.V., 1972. The role of maternal effects in animal breeding. VIII. Comparative aspects of maternal effects. J.

Anim. Sci. 35: 1335- 1337.

Day, K. A., Maclaurin, G., Dube, S., Hlatshwayo, A., Trevor, C., 2003. Capturing the benefits of seasonal climate

forecasts in agricultural management. Final Report for Australian Centre for International Agricultural

Research (ACIAR). June 2003. Sub Project 3- Grazing Systems in Zimbabwe, 67 pp.

Deese, R.E., Koger, M., 1967. Maternal effects on pre-weaning growth rate in cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 26: 250.

Demeke S, Neser, F.W.C., Schoeman, S.J., 2003. Variance components and genetic parameters for early growth

traits in a mixed population of purebred Bos indicus and crossbred cattle. Livest. Prod. Sci. 84: 11- 21.

Dezfuli, B.T., Mashayeshi, M.R., 2009. Genetic study of birth weight and weaning weight in Najdi calves. J. Anim.

Vet. Adv. 8(2):276- 280.

Dobson, A.J., 1990. An introduction to generalized linear models. Chapman and Hall,, New York, USA.

Dodenhoff, J. van Vleck, L.D., Gregory, K.E., 1999. Estimation of direct, maternal and grand maternal genetic

effects for weaning weight in several breeds of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 77: 840- 845.

Faulkner, D.E., Epstein, H., 1957. The indigenous cattle of the British Dependent Territories in Africa Publication of

the Colonial Advisory Council for Agriculture. Animal Health and Forestry, No 5. H.M.S.O. London.

Ferraz, J.B.S., Eler, J.P., Ribeiro, P.M.T., 2000. Genetic study of Santa Getrudis cattle in Brazil. Liv. Res. Rural Dev.

(2): 130- 137.

Gambiza, J., Nyama, C., 2000. Country pasture/forage resource profiles. Country profiles, Zimbabwe. Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

Gilmour, A., 1995. Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AIREML) manual, Polycopy.

Hagreveas, S. K., Bruce, D., Beffa, L.M., 2004. Disaster mitigation options for livestock production in communal

farming systems in Zimbabwe. 1. Background information and literature review. P.O. Box 776, Bulawayo,

Zimbabwe: ICRISAT and FAO Rome, Italy. 56pp.

Haile-Mariam, M., Kassa-Mersha, H., 1995. Estimates of direct and maternal covariance components of growth

traits in Boran cattle. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 112: 43-52.

Hlatshwayo, A., 2007. The effects of soil type and woody cover on grass production on rangelands in Zimbabwe. B.

Sc. Thesis Zimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Hohenboken, W.D., Brinks, J.S., 1971. Relationship between direct and effects on growth in Herefords: Partitioning

covariances between relatives. J. Anim. Sci. 39: 459.

Homann, S., Van Rooyen, A. F., Moyo, T., Nengomahsa, Z., 2007. Goat production and marketing: Baseline

information for semi-arid Zimbabwe. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, P.O.

Box 776. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. 84pp.

Kaps, M., Herring, WO., Lamberson, W.R., 2000. Genetic and environmental parameters for traits derived from the

Brody growth curve and their relationships with weaning weight in Angus cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 78:1436- 1442.

Khombe, C.T., Hayes, J.F., Wade, K.M., 1995. Estimation of direct additive and maternal additive genetic effects for

weaning weight in Mashona cattle in Zimbabwe using an individual animal model. Anim. Sci. 60: 41- 48.

Koch, R.M., Cundiff L.V., Gregory, K.E., 1994. Cumulative selection and genetic change for weaning or yearling

weight or for yearling plus muscle score in Hereford cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 72:864- 885.

Koots, K.R., Gibson, J.P., Wilton, J.W., 1999a. Analysis of published genetic parameters estimates for beef

production traits. 1. Heritability. Anim. Breed. Abstr., 62: 309- 388.

Kriese, L.A., Bertrand, J.K., Benyshek, L.L., 1991. Genetic and environmental growth trait parameter estimates for

Brahman and Brahman-derivative cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 69:2362-2370.

Lee, C., Pollak, E.J., 1997. Influence of partitioning data by sex on genetic variance and covariance components for

weaning weight in beef cattle. J Anim. Sci. 75:61.

Lobo, R.H.B., Madalena, F.E., Viera, A.R., 2000. Average estimates of genetic parameters for beef and dairy cattle in

tropical regions. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 68: 433- 462.

Maiwashe, A.N., Bradfield, M.J., Theron, H.E., Van Wyk, J.B., 2002. Genetic parameter estimates for body

measurements and growth traits in South African Bonsmara cattle. Livest. Prod. Sci. 75: 293- 300.

Mallows, C. L., 1973. Some comments on Cp. Technometrics, 15: 661–675.

Mercadante, M.E.Z., Lobo, R.B., 1997. Estimates of covariance components and genetic parameters for growth

traits due to direct and maternal effects in Nelore heifers. Rev. Bras. Zootec. 26: 1124-1133.

Meyer, K., 1992. Variance components due to direct and maternal effects for growth traits of Australian beef

cattle. Livest. Prod. Sci. 31:179-204.

Meyer, K., 1997. Estimates of genetic parameters for weaning weight of beef cattle accounting for direct-maternal

environmental covariances. Livest. Prod. Sci. 52:187-199.

Nephawe, K.A., 2004. Application of random regression models to the genetic evaluation of cow weight in

Bonsmara cattle of South Africa. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 34: 166- 173.

Norris, D., Banga, C., Benyi, K., Sithole, B.C., 2004. Estimation of gentic parameters and variance components for

growth traits of Nguni cattle in Limpopo province, South Africa. Trop. Anim. Hlth. Prd. 36: 801- 806.

Robinson, D.L., 1996a. Estimation and interpretation of direct and maternal genetic parameters for weights of

Australian Angus cattle. Livest. Prod. Sci. 45:1- 11.

Robinson, D.L., 1996b. Models which might explain negative correlations between direct and maternal genetic

effects. Livest. Prod. Sci. 45:110- 122.

Schoeman, S.J., Jordaan, G.F., 2000. Multitrait estimation of direct and maternal covariances for growth and

efficiency traits in a multbreed beef cattle herd. South Afri. J. Anim. Sci. 29: 124.

Siniksaran, E., 2008. A geometric interpretation of Mallows’ Cp statistic and an alternative plot in variable

selection. Computational Statistics and data Analysis. 52(7) vi- ix.

Skrypzeck, H., Schoeman, S.J.G., Jordaan, F., Neser, F.W.C., 2000. Preweaning growth traits of the Hereford breed

in a multibreed composite beef cattle population. South Afr. J. Anim. Sci., 30(3): 220- 229.

Snyman, M.A., Erasmus, G.J., Van Wyk, J.B., Olivier, J.J., 1995. Direct and maternal co variances components and

heritability estimates of body weight at different ages and fleece traits in Afrino sheep. Livest. Prod. Sci.

:229-235.

Van Rooyen, A.F., Homann, S., 2008. Enhancing incomes and livelihoods through omproved farmers practices on

goat production and marketing: Proceedings of a workshop organized by the Goat Forum, 2-3 October, 2007.

Bulawayo Zimbabwe. P.O. Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: International Crops Research Institute for Semi

Arid Tropics. 84 pp.

Waldron, D.F., Morris, C.A., Baker, R.L., Johnson, D.L., 1993. Maternal effects for growth traits in beef cattle. Livest.

Prod. Sci. 34: 57- 70.

Wasike, C.B., llatsia, E.D., Ojango, J.M.K., Kahi, A.K., 2006. Genetic parameters for weaning weight of Kenyan Boran

cattle accounting for direct-maternal genetic covariances. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 36(4): 275- 281.

Willham, R.L., 1972. The role of maternal effects in animal breeding: III. Biometrical aspects of maternal effects in

animals. J. Anim. Sci. 35:1288-1293.

Published

2012-08-31

How to Cite

Assan, N. ., & Masache, A. . (2012). Genetic parameters for weaning weight of Zimbabwean Nguni cattle accounting for direct-maternal genetic covariances. Agricultural Advances, 1(3), 53-60. Retrieved from http://sjournals.com/index.php/aa/article/view/789

Issue

Section

Original Article