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Did Genetic Change Improve Production Efficiency in Three Landrace Breeds of South Africa?

Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Posters (The Westin Bayshore)
Frans J Jordaan , University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Michiel M Scholtz , University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Frederick W C Neser , University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Norman A Maiwashe , University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Zelda King , ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene, South Africa
Abstract Text: It is easy to achieve genetic change, but much more difficult to achieve genetic improvement.This study investigates the influence of selection on the cow efficiency in three landrace beef breeds (Afrikaner,Bonsmara,Nguni) in South Africa over a period of 25 years.Cow efficiency was defined as kilogram calf weaned (KgC) per cow Large Stock Unit (LSU). Breeding values for direct weaning weight in the Afrikaner and Bonsmara changed by +6.7kg and +11.7kg, respectively.That for mature cow weight only changed in the case of the Bonsmara (+9kg).The phenotypic changes were +21kg, +15kg and -14kg for weaning weight; and +14kg, +16kg and -22kg for mature cow weight in the Afrikaner, Bonsmara and Nguni, respectively.Cow efficiency increased by 12.0% in the Afrikaner and by 2.7% in the Bonsmara and decreased by 7.3% in the Nguni. Possible reasons for the differences between the breeds are discussed.

Keywords:

large stock unit

production trends

weaning weight

See more of: Posters: Breeding objectives, economics of Selection Schemes, and Advances in Selection Theory (Group 1)
See more of: Genetic Improvement Programs: Breeding objectives, economics of selection schemes, and advances in selection theory
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