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Genetics of Heifer Reproductive Traits in Japanese Black Cattle

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Genetics of Heifer Reproductive Traits in Japanese Black Cattle Open Access Asian-Australas J Anim Sci Vol. 33, No. 2:197-202 February 2020 https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.19.0118 pISSN 1011-2367 eISSN 1976-5517 Genetics of heifer reproductive traits in Japanese Black cattle Asep Setiaji1,2,3 and Takuro Oikawa1,2,* * Corresponding Author: Takuro Oikawa Objective: The objective of this study was to identify environmental factors strongly asso­ Tel: +81-98-895-8756, Fax: +81-98-895-8734, E-mail: [email protected] ciated with and to estimate genetic parameters of reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers. Methods: Data included reproduction records of Japanese Black heifers born between 2004 1 United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, and 2014. First service non­return rate (NRR) to 56 days from first to successful insemination Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890- 0065, Japan (FS), number of services per conception (IN), age at first calving (AFC) and gestation length 2 Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, were analyzed with the use of the general linear model. Genetic parameters were estimated Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213 Japan with the use of the univariate animal model of the residual maximum likelihood. 3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Results: Averages of reproductive traits over eleven years were assessed, and the effects of Semarang, 50275 Central Java, Indonesia farm, year, month, artificial insemination technician and interaction of farm×year on the traits were determined. Estimated heritability of FS was very low and that of AFC was higher ORCID Asep Setiaji than that of the other traits. A close genetic relation was observed among NRR, IN, and FS; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5505-7077 however, their heritabilities were very low. AFC shows favorable genetic correlation with IN Takuro Oikawa and FS. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5001-270X Conclusion: Low heritabilities of most reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers are strongly Submitted Feb 8, 2019; Revised Apr 5, 2019; influenced by farm management practices, and that large residual variances make genetic Accepted May 7, 2019 evaluation difficult. Among the reproductive traits, AFC is potentially more useful for genetic improvement of heifer reproductive traits because it has high heritability and favorable genetic correlations with IN and FS. Keywords: Reproductive Traits; Japanese Black Heifer; Heritability; Genetic Correlation INTRODUCTION Variation in the reproductive performance of cattle is dependent on genetic and environ­ mental factors. The observed performance of a trait in cattle is the result of heredity and the effects of the environment where the animal is raised. Genetic improvement of female reproductive traits is currently attracting great interest in genetic evaluation of beef cattle because of the influence of such traits on the productivity of calves. Difficulties in measuring these traits and the low genetic variability result in slow response to selection [1,2]. Repro­ ductive traits in heifers can be measured at a relatively early stage of their reproductive life; thus, the inclusion of heifer reproductive traits in genetic evaluation programs is potentially effective. Most reproductive traits in heifers are of low heritabilities in dairy cattle [3­5] and in beef cattle [6­8]. The number of reports on reproductive traits of Japanese Black heifers is relatively small. Low heritabilities of reproductive traits is attributed to non­genetic effects, especially farm management practices that largely affect the reproductive performance of heifers [9]. Selection of reproductive traits in heifers based on genetic parameters may potentially solve reproduction problems in the raising of beef calves. Reproductive traits of heifers and cows need to be evaluated separately, although repro­ ductive traits in heifers genetically correlate strongly with reproductive traits in subsequent Copyright © 2020 by Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and repro- www.ajas.info duction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 197 102102 TheThe followi followingng model model was was used used for for AFC AFC: : 102 The following model was used for AFC: 103103 103 104104 yijklyijklopop = =F Fi+iY+jY+jM+Mk+kT+lT+lF+Fi×iY×jY+js+os+oe+ijkleijklop,op, 102104 Theyijkl opfollowi = Fi+ngYj+ modelMk+Tl +wasFi× Yusedj+so +foreijkl AFCop, : 105105 103105 106106 wherewhere y ijklyijklopop is is the the observation observation of of AFC AFC. F. Fi, iT, lT, land, and s os oare are as as described described in in the the previous previous model model where where two two 104106 whereyijklop y =ijkl Fopi +isY thej+M observationk+Tl+Fi×Yj+ sofo+ AFCeijklop,. Fi, Tl, and so are as described in the previous model where two 107107 effectseffects were were defined defined differently, differently, Y jY thej the jth jth fixed fixed effect effect of of year year of of birth birth, M, Mk thek the k Setiajithkth fixed fixedand Oikawa effect effect (2020) of of monthAsian-Australas month J Anim Sci 33:197-202 105107 effects were defined differently, Yj the jth fixed effect of year of birth, Mk the kth fixed effect of month 108108 ofof bi birthrth and and e ijklopeijklop the the random random residual residual of of y ijklopyijklop. The. The GLM GLM procedure procedure of of SAS SAS 9.3 9.3 software software [11] [11] was was used used parities [10]. Therefore, designing breeding programs at an nation, Mk the kth fixed effect of month of insemination, Tl 106108 whereof bir thyijkl andop is e theijklop observation the random ofresidual AFC. Fofi, yTijklopl, and. The so GLMare as proceduredescribed ofin SASthe previous 9.3 software model [11] where was twoused early stage, necessitates the selection of reproductive traits the lth fixed effect of AI technicians,A m the mth fixed effect 109109 toto estimate estimate the the least least square square mean mean (LSM) (LSM) of of the the year year effect effect. The. The univariate univariate animal animal model model by by residual residual of as high heritabilities as possible and of favorable genetic of age at first insemination, so the oth random effect of sire, 107109 effectsto estimate were definedthe least differently, square mean Yj the (LSM) jth fixed of the effect year of effect year .of The birth univariate, Mk the kanimalth fixed model effect by of residualmonth correlations with other reproductive traits. Here, the study is and e the random residual of y . 110110 mmaximumaximum likelihood likelihood of of the the Asreml Asreml software software [12] [12] was was used used to to estimate estimate the theijklmop genetic genetic parameters parameters. The. The linear linearijklmop directed at identifying non­genetic factors strongly associated The following model was used for AFC: 108110 ofm biaximumrth and leikelihoodijklop the random of the Asreml residual software of yijklop [12]. The was GLM used procedure to estimate of theSAS genetic 9.3 software parameters [11]. wasThe usedlinear with reproductive traits and to estimate genetic parameters 111111 modelmodel for for the the a nalysisanalysis was was as as follows: follows: of reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers. 109111 tomodel estimateyijklop for = F thethei+Y ja+leastnalysisMk+ Tsquarel+ wasFi×Y jasmean+s ofollows:+eijklop (LSM), of the year effect. The univariate animal model by residual 112112 MATERIALS AND METHODS 110112 maximumwhere yijklop likelihood is the observation of the Asreml of AFC. software Fi, Tl, and [12] so wasare as used de­ to estimate the genetic parameters. The linear 113113 y y= =X Xb+bGu+Gu+e,+e, scribed in the previous model where two effects were defined Reproduction records of Japanese Black heifers were obtained111113 modeldifferently,y for= X theb+ Y Guaj nalysisthe+ e,jth fixed was aseffect follows: of year of birth, Mk the kth 114114 from the Artificial Insemination Center of Northern Okinawa: fixed effect of month of birth ande ijklop the random residual data comprised artificial insemination and calving events,112 114five of y ijklop. The GLM procedure of SAS 9.3 software [11] was 115115 wherewherereproductive, y, y= =a avector vector traits of of fromreproductive reproductive artificial traits, inseminations traits, b b= =a avector vectorand calvingof of fixed fixed effect, effect,used X toX = estimate =an an incidence incidence the least matrix squarematrix meanfor for the the(LSM) of the year effect. from a registry book. The traits studied were first service113115 whereThey = ,Xunivariate yb =+ Gua vector+ e,animal of reproductivemodel by residual traits, bmaximum = a vector likeli of­ fixed effect, X = an incidence matrix for the 116116 fixedfixednon effects, effects,­return u u =rate =a a vector(NRR) vector ofto of random56 random days codedgenetic genetic one additive additive(1), when effect, effect, no Z Z = =anhood an incidence incidence of the Asreml matrix matrix software for for the the random [12]random was used to estimate the subsequent insemination occurred until 56 days after114 116the fixedgenetic effects, parameters. u = a vectorThe linear of random model geneticfor the analysisadditive waseffect, Z = an incidence matrix for the random 117117 effecteffectfirst and and insemination,e e= =a avector vector of ofand random random zero (0)residuals. residuals. otherwise;
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