Evaluation of phenotypic and genetic trends in weaning weight in Angus and Hereford populations in Virginia.
Weaning weight records of 27,774 Angus calves in 13 herds and 14,738 Hereford calves in 11 herds born during 1953 through 1983 in Virginia were analyzed using regression techniques and maximum likelihood (ML) procedures to estimate phenotypic and genetic trends for adjusted weaning weight (AWWT), weaning weight ratio (WWR) and deviations of AWWT from the mean AWWT of the contemporary group (DEV). Phenotypic trends for AWWT in the Angus and Herefords were .96 plus or minus .02 and .82 plus or minus .03 kg/yr, respectively. In the Angus breed, estimates of one-half of the sire genetic trend obtained from the ML procedure for WWR and DEV were .40 plus or minus .04 ratio units/yr and .72 plus or minus .07 kg/yr, respectively; corresponding values for Herefords were .25 plus or minus .06 ratio units/yr and .45 plus or minus .12 kg/yr. Estimates of one-half of the dam trends for the respective traits were .32 plus or minus .02 ratio units/yr and .55 plus or minus .04 kg/yr for Angus and .21 plus or minus .03 ratio units/yr and .30 plus or minus .07 kg/yr for Herefords. Estimates of sire and dam genetic trends from the regression analyses were slightly higher than estimates from the ML procedure, but adjustments to eliminate bias due to non-random mating and culling from the regression analyses increased the similarity of the results from the two procedures. Average annual genetic trends over the entire study period from the ML procedure for AWWT were 1.27 kg/yr for Angus and .75 kg/yr for Herefords. Genetic trends were not linear over the entire period. Total genetic trends in AWWT for Angus and Hereford, respectively, were .30 and -.61 kg/yr before 1971 and 2.18 and 1.98 kg/yr after 1970.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity