Genotype by environment interaction in ultrasound carcass traits and growth of Hereford and Braford cattle

• Published in: Ciência rural Vol. 54; no. 9
• Main Authors: Zuim, Deise Mescua, Bignardi, Annaiza Braga, Pereira, Rodrigo Junqueira, Boligon, Arione Augusti, Piccoli, Mário Luiz, Roso, Vanerlei Mozaquatro, Carvalheiro, Roberto, Santana, Mário Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria 01-01-2024
• Subjects: AGRONOMY; beef cattle; fat thickness; genetic correlation; longissimus dorsi; reaction norm; visual score; longissimus dorsi; beef cattle; visual score; correlação genética; fat thickness; reaction norm; escore visual; genetic correlation; bovinos de corte; norma de reação; espessura de gordura
• ISSN: 1678-4596; 1678-4596
• DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20230198

In beef cattle breeding programs, various selection criteria have been proposed and employed with the aim of improving traits related to carcass composition and the quality of the final product, meat. However, the importance of genotype by environment interaction (G×E) for such traits is still not well understood. Our objectives were: 1) to investigate the importance of G×E on ultrasound carcass traits, growth and visual scores and 2) to estimate the genetic correlation of ultrasound carcass traits with growth and visual scores taking into account the G×E in Hereford and Braford cattle. A multiple-trait reaction norm model was fitted to the field records of 37,948 animals. With the exception of postweaning average daily weight gain (ADG), the G×E can lead to important changes in the ranking of estimated breeding values of sires across environments for all traits. Thus, models that consider heterogeneity of genetic variances along an environmental gradient may be considered more appropriate for genetic evaluations of animals reared under conditions similar to the present study. Based on estimates of genetic correlation, the quality of visual scores or ADG as indicators of carcass quality assessed by ultrasonography is dependent on the production environment.