Projects / Programmes
MAS for fattening, carcass, and meat quality traits in dual purpose cattle
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.02.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Animal production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B400 |
Biomedical sciences |
Zootechny, animal husbandry, breeding |
cattle, growth, slaughter trait, meat quality, candidate genes
Researchers (15)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The main objective of the project is to determine important markers for fattening, carcass, and meat quality traits in dual purpose breeds. There will be up to 500 bulls with measurements on phenotypic values and marker assays. Marker assays will be obtained for their sires and dams whenever possible. Data will be used to define subset of traits describing growth, body composition, and meat (and fat) quality as breeding objectives and to get direct or indirect effect of candidate genes on phenotypic traits selected. For the influential genes or markers, the genotype and allele frequency will be obtained and tested against Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These markers will be used together with phenotypic values for genetic evaluation. For this purpose, we intend to develop modules in statistical package VCE 5 in a generalized form in Fortran 95 for various platforms. Software will be tested on four datasets, two from pigs and two for cattle obtained in this project. The final analyses will provide covariance structure with or without marker data included. Comparisons of the results will provide better understanding of inheritance for traits observed and judgement about importance of markers for breeding purposes for meat traits in dual purpose cattle in Slovenia.
Significance for science
Results of the project group serve science in two ways. Our group in cooperation with foreign parners develops software toos for prediction of breeding values and estimation of variance components on selected samples. With development of statistical tools and their implementation in software packages, which are known to be universal, effective and easy to use, we offer to scientists and livestock industry tools that are easy for use without significant preparation. This is demonstrated by a number of citations in scientific papers, as well as by the practical contributions of livestock industry.
The second part of the research is giving a contribution to the knowledge of growth
and carcass traits in dual-purpose breeds of cattle, in which genes from dairy
populations were introduced recently. Researches on the growth by random regression
models was already gained the international response, since it allows to study
the overall growth curve for the whole or parts of population specific growth curves
for animals (genetically determined), permanent or common environment (eg, herd, litter).
Genetic determination of growth and carcass traits was studied in two aspects. In addition
to the quantitative approach mentioned above, we studied the effect of individual genes
and their point mutations that have known effect on carcass fatness. Relationships are
connected to production orientation and production type.
Significance for the country
Most results are obtained from data and material in Slovene populations of cattle, sheep and pigs. Therefore, they can be applied directly into breeding programs. The routine applications require some additional steps like validation and comparison of results with old procedures. Same are already in the process. New knowledges are incorporated in curriculum in animal science classes.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
