Genetic correlations among sex-limited traits in beef cattle (original) (raw)

Journal of Animal Science

Data from a comprehensive germ plasm evaluation program were used to estimate genetic correlations of reproductive and maternal traits of beef females with growth and carcass traits of their steer paternal half-sibs. The data set consisted of 187 sires with approximately four female and five male progeny each. Heritability estimates for age at puberty, weight at puberty, conceptions/service, gestation length, calving difficulty, progeny birth weight, progeny preweaning daily gain and mature weight measured on females were .613 +/- .177, .700 +/- .114, .026 +/- .126, .298 +/- .175, .217 +/- .175, .374 +/- .174, .094 +/- .161, and .540 +/- .150, respectively. Postweaning daily gain, carcass weight, fat trim weight and retail product weight measured on male half-sibs had estimated heritabilities of .363 +/- .090, .441 +/- .093, .502 +/- .093 and .451 +/- .093, respectively. The estimated genetic correlations suggest that selection for postweaning daily gain would result in increased ag...