MULTIPLE TRAIT ANALYSIS OF GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION FOR MILK YIELD TRAITS IN SLOVENIAN CATTLE

The objective of the study was to evaluate genotype by environment interaction (GxEI) for yield traits in Holstein, Simmental and Brown breed cattle in Slovenia using multiple trait analysis. Data from Slovenian milk-recording scheme was used. The lactation records on cows having first to third calving in the period 1990-2004 and milk, protein and fat yield in 305 days were studied. The variables used to characterize the environment were herd-year averages of each trait. The multiple trait analysis was done using the highest and lowest quartiles of the environments. To study the GxEI, animal model methodology and the genetic correlation between the traits were used. GxEI was generally smaller for fat and milk yield than for protein yield. The lowest genetic correlations between high and low environments were estimated for protein yield, especially in Simmental (0.81) and in Brown (0.86) breed. In Holstein the correlation was higher, 0.94. The genetic correlations for fat yield were 0.95 for Brown and Simmental breed and 0.96 for Holstein. For milk yield the estimated genetic correlations were 0.88, 0.92 and 0.96 in Brown, Simmental and Holstein breed, respectively. Differences between variance components obtained in low and high quartile result in the rank of heritabilities from 0.04 to 0.12 in low and from 0.12 to 0.22 in high quartile

SLOVENSKE IZKUŠNJE PRI OCENJEVANJU MESNATOSTI PRAŠIČEV PO SEUROP V LETIH 1996 DO 2004

Slovenian results on pig carcass classifi cation according to SEUROP (average lean meat percentage, carcass weight, measurements of fat and muscle and their variability) are presented for years from 1996 to 2004. In these years, an important increase of average lean meat percentage was noted (51.9 % in year 1996 vs. 55.9 % in year 2004). As a consequence the percentage of pig carcasses being graded into S and E classes was almost tripled from 1996 to 2004 (21.3 to 58.2%, respectively). This improvement was initiated by the payment according to the lean meat percentage, to which pig breeders responded by better management of herds and partly by increased use of pietrain breed. Potential for further improvement remains in attaining genetically more uniform herds and reduction of carcass weight variability. A new method, introducing an optic probe Hennessy, adapted to changes of the EU legislation, is expected to shift up the average meat percentage close to 57%, which places Slovenian pigs into the EU average.S prispevkom želimo predstaviti slovenske izkušnje pri ocenjevanju mesnatosti prašičjih klavnih trupov po SEUROP sistemu v letih 1996 do 2004. Metoda, ki je bila vpeljana leta 1996 upoštevajoč EU zakonodajo in imenovana DM5, temelji na izračunu odstotka mesa v prašičjem klavnem trupu na podlagi enačbe, ki vključuje dve meritvi na liniji razseka trupa; meritev F, ki je debelina slanine na mestu, kjer je ta najtanjša oziroma kjer se m. gluteus medius najbolj vrašča v slanino ter meritev M, ki je razdalja med kranialnim robom m. gluteus medius in dorzalnim robom hrbteničnega kanala, kot kazalcem debeline hrbtne mišice (slika 1). Zbrali smo mesečne statistične podatke (poprečja in standardne odklone) za obdobje od julija 1996 do decembra 2004 za lastnosti, ki se merijo ali izračunajo; za meritvi M in F, za odstotek mesa v trupih in klavno težo trupov. Zbrane podatke smo prikazali na letni osnovi (preglednica 1). Z regresijsko analizo, oziroma uporabo procedure REG statističnega paketa SAS, smo ocenili mesečne trende ter jih grafi čno prikazali. Rezultati ocenjevanja mesnatosti prašičev na klavni liniji kažejo na velik napredek v mesnatosti prašičev. Poprečni odstotek mesa v trupih se je dvignil iz 51,9 % v letu 1996 na 55,9 % v letu 2004 (preglednica 1), kar v obliki trendov predstavlja statistično značilen (p<0,001) pozitiven trend na ravni 0,045 % mesečno oziroma 0,54 % letno (slika 7). Ta napredek v mesnatosti pripisujemo predvsem uvedbi plačevanja na osnovi odstotka mesa v trupih ter posledično izboljšanju rejskega dela ter deloma tudi večji uporabi pasme pietrain pri križanju; ne moremo pa jih pripisati spremembam v teži klavnih trupov, saj se ta ni bistveno spremenila (preglednica 1). Rezerve za izboljšanje klavne kakovosti prašičev ostajajo v zagotavljanju večje izenačenosti populacije glede na klavno težo in mesnatost. Ugotavljamo namreč veliko variabilnost v klavni teži (preglednica 1), ki bi jo bilo mogoče izboljšati z ustrezno plačilno shemo (pribitki oziroma odbitki glede na klavno težo) ter veliko variabilnost v mesnatosti, ki je delno posledica variabilnosti v teži, delno pa velikega števila različnih genotipov v relativno majhni populaciji prašičev. V letu 2004 naj bi se uveljavila nova metoda, ki temelji na uporabi optične sonde Hennessy Grading Probe in je prilagojena spremembam EU zakonodaje. Pričakujemo, da bo nova metoda dvignila poprečno mesnatost blizu 57 %, ta rezultat pa uvršča mesnatost slovenskih prašičev v EU poprečje

SLOVENIAN EXPERIENCE IN PIG CARCASS CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SEUROP DURING THE YEARS 1996 TO 2004

Slovenian results on pig carcass classifi cation according to SEUROP (average lean meat percentage, carcass weight, measurements of fat and muscle and their variability) are presented for years from 1996 to 2004. In these years, an important increase of average lean meat percentage was noted (51.9 % in year 1996 vs. 55.9 % in year 2004). As a consequence the percentage of pig carcasses being graded into S and E classes was almost tripled from 1996 to 2004 (21.3 to 58.2%, respectively). This improvement was initiated by the payment according to the lean meat percentage, to which pig breeders responded by better management of herds and partly by increased use of pietrain breed. Potential for further improvement remains in attaining genetically more uniform herds and reduction of carcass weight variability. A new method, introducing an optic probe Hennessy, adapted to changes of the EU legislation, is expected to shift up the average meat percentage close to 57%, which places Slovenian pigs into the EU average

Growth and Mortality of Suckling Rabbit

Rabbits are usually smaller and mortality is higher in large litters. The aim of the study was to estimate effects on mortality and growth in rabbits. The study was carried out in Slovenian SIKA sire line. In total, 430 kits of 60 does were included. In the analyses the effects of parity, number of liveborn kits and number of teats were analysed. Initial weight was included in the model for mortality, while age was included in the model for growth. Parity, litter size and teat number affected all traits, except on mortality. Body weight varied according to age. A total of 430 kits were observed, corresponding to an average litter size of 7.8 kits born, 7.3 kits born alive and 6.2 kits weaned. The birth to weaning mortality was 15.35% and mortality has steadily declined with age. Average weight up to age of three days was 75 g and at weaning 1035 g. Kits in smaller litters had a higher growth rate

Genetic Parameters for Number of Piglets Born Alive Using a Random Regression Model

A random regression model (RRM) was applied to estimate dispersion parameters for number of piglets born alive (NBA) from first to tenth parity. Random regressions on Legendre polynomials of standardized parity were included for common litter environmental, permanent environmental and additive genetic effects. Estimated phenotypic variance and variance components (ratios) for NBA changed over parities and differed between farms. Eigenvalues for additive genetic effect were calculated in order to detect the proportion of additive genetic variability explained with individual production curves of animals. Existence of the 10-20 % genetic variability in the shape of the curves confirms a possibility for selection on persistency in litter size

SLOVENSKE IZKUŠNJE PRI OCENJEVANJU MESNATOSTI PRAŠIČEV PO SEUROP V LETIH 1996 DO 2004

Slovenian results on pig carcass classifi cation according to SEUROP (average lean meat percentage, carcass weight, measurements of fat and muscle and their variability) are presented for years from 1996 to 2004. In these years, an important increase of average lean meat percentage was noted (51.9 % in year 1996 vs. 55.9 % in year 2004). As a consequence the percentage of pig carcasses being graded into S and E classes was almost tripled from 1996 to 2004 (21.3 to 58.2%, respectively). This improvement was initiated by the payment according to the lean meat percentage, to which pig breeders responded by better management of herds and partly by increased use of pietrain breed. Potential for further improvement remains in attaining genetically more uniform herds and reduction of carcass weight variability. A new method, introducing an optic probe Hennessy, adapted to changes of the EU legislation, is expected to shift up the average meat percentage close to 57%, which places Slovenian pigs into the EU average.S prispevkom želimo predstaviti slovenske izkušnje pri ocenjevanju mesnatosti prašičjih klavnih trupov po SEUROP sistemu v letih 1996 do 2004. Metoda, ki je bila vpeljana leta 1996 upoštevajoč EU zakonodajo in imenovana DM5, temelji na izračunu odstotka mesa v prašičjem klavnem trupu na podlagi enačbe, ki vključuje dve meritvi na liniji razseka trupa; meritev F, ki je debelina slanine na mestu, kjer je ta najtanjša oziroma kjer se m. gluteus medius najbolj vrašča v slanino ter meritev M, ki je razdalja med kranialnim robom m. gluteus medius in dorzalnim robom hrbteničnega kanala, kot kazalcem debeline hrbtne mišice (slika 1). Zbrali smo mesečne statistične podatke (poprečja in standardne odklone) za obdobje od julija 1996 do decembra 2004 za lastnosti, ki se merijo ali izračunajo; za meritvi M in F, za odstotek mesa v trupih in klavno težo trupov. Zbrane podatke smo prikazali na letni osnovi (preglednica 1). Z regresijsko analizo, oziroma uporabo procedure REG statističnega paketa SAS, smo ocenili mesečne trende ter jih grafi čno prikazali. Rezultati ocenjevanja mesnatosti prašičev na klavni liniji kažejo na velik napredek v mesnatosti prašičev. Poprečni odstotek mesa v trupih se je dvignil iz 51,9 % v letu 1996 na 55,9 % v letu 2004 (preglednica 1), kar v obliki trendov predstavlja statistično značilen (p<0,001) pozitiven trend na ravni 0,045 % mesečno oziroma 0,54 % letno (slika 7). Ta napredek v mesnatosti pripisujemo predvsem uvedbi plačevanja na osnovi odstotka mesa v trupih ter posledično izboljšanju rejskega dela ter deloma tudi večji uporabi pasme pietrain pri križanju; ne moremo pa jih pripisati spremembam v teži klavnih trupov, saj se ta ni bistveno spremenila (preglednica 1). Rezerve za izboljšanje klavne kakovosti prašičev ostajajo v zagotavljanju večje izenačenosti populacije glede na klavno težo in mesnatost. Ugotavljamo namreč veliko variabilnost v klavni teži (preglednica 1), ki bi jo bilo mogoče izboljšati z ustrezno plačilno shemo (pribitki oziroma odbitki glede na klavno težo) ter veliko variabilnost v mesnatosti, ki je delno posledica variabilnosti v teži, delno pa velikega števila različnih genotipov v relativno majhni populaciji prašičev. V letu 2004 naj bi se uveljavila nova metoda, ki temelji na uporabi optične sonde Hennessy Grading Probe in je prilagojena spremembam EU zakonodaje. Pričakujemo, da bo nova metoda dvignila poprečno mesnatost blizu 57 %, ta rezultat pa uvršča mesnatost slovenskih prašičev v EU poprečje

Growth and Mortality of Suckling Rabbit

Rabbits are usually smaller and mortality is higher in large litters. The aim of the study was to estimate effects on mortality and growth in rabbits. The study was carried out in Slovenian SIKA sire line. In total, 430 kits of 60 does were included. In the analyses the effects of parity, number of liveborn kits and number of teats were analysed. Initial weight was included in the model for mortality, while age was included in the model for growth. Parity, litter size and teat number affected all traits, except on mortality. Body weight varied according to age. A total of 430 kits were observed, corresponding to an average litter size of 7.8 kits born, 7.3 kits born alive and 6.2 kits weaned. The birth to weaning mortality was 15.35% and mortality has steadily declined with age. Average weight up to age of three days was 75 g and at weaning 1035 g. Kits in smaller litters had a higher growth rate

ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR CARCASS TRAITS FOR SIMMENTAL CATTLE IN CROATIA

The objective of this paper was an estimation of genetic parameters for carcass weight, conformation, fatness class and net gain for Simmental cattle in Croatia. Data of young bulls slaughtered in years 2005 and 2006 with 12 to 24 months of age was taken from the central database of the Croatian Livestock Centre. Three data sets were constructed as follows: 1) data set 1 (DS1) included 80462 records of bulls with known and unknown parents; 2) data set 2 (DS2) had 26245 records of bulls with at least one known parents; 3) data set 3 (DS3) with 6272 records of bulls slaughtered between 12 and 14 months of age. Pedigree for DS1 included a total of 118595 animals, 70415 animals and 19319 animals in pedigree for DS2 and DS3, respectively. Variance components were estimated by REML method as implemented in the VCE-5 program package. Statistical model included region, calving season, abattoir-supervisor interaction as fixed class effects and slaughter age as quadratic regression. Direct additive genetic effect was included in the model as random effect. For carcass weight heritability estimates were 0.10 ± 0.006, 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.11 ± 0.03 for DS1, DS2 and DS3, respectively. Heritability estimates for net gain were 0.09 ± 0.006, 0.16 ± 0.03 and 0.13 ± 0.03, and for carcass conformation were 0.05 ± 0.006, 0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.05 ± 0.006 for DS1, DS2 and DS3, respectively. Results attained indicate that DS2 can be used for genetic evaluation of the Simmental carcass traits in Croatia. However, in the future more improvement should be done, concerning the constitution of contemporary groups, and special attention should be given to data collection