Direct – Maternal Genetic Parameters Estimated for Real-Time Ultrasound Scan Measures of Eye Muscle Area, Rib Fat Depth, and their Correlation with Body Weight in Male Philippine Riverine Buffaloes

Ester B.  Flores; Emmanuel  Bacual

doi:10.6000/1927-520X.2023.12.11

Authors

Ester B. Flores Animal Breeding and Genomics Section Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9057-1664
Emmanuel Bacual Animal Breeding and Genomics Section Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0569-6994

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2023.12.11

Keywords:

EMA, heritability, growth traits, genetic correlations, estimated breeding values, linear mixed model, BLUP, ASREML

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound scanning is a non-invasive technique for evaluating animals based on carcass yield and meat quality traits. It has been incorporated into the beef cattle breeding program. However, little has been done in buffaloes. Thus, this study was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters for growth traits- body weights (BW) and a real-time ultrasound scan of eye muscle area (EMA) and rib fat (RF) to determine their suitability as a tool for selection.

Methods: Four hundred thirty-eight (438) male Philippine riverine buffaloes with 1,535 BW records and 417 real-time ultrasound scans of EMA and RF scans at the 12th rib were available for the study. BW was taken and adjusted at birth, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months while RF and EMA scans were taken at 12 & 18 mos. Genetic parameters were estimated with a pedigree-based multi-trait animal model using ASREML software.

Results: The average BW of buffaloes adjusted to 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age were 135kg, 230.8kg, 323.0kg, 382.7, 453.6, and 502.4kg, respectively. The mean EMA and RF at 12 months were 29.7 cm² and 3.2mm, respectively. Direct genetic heritabilities were 0.26±0.16, 0.29±0.12, 0.35±0.19 and 0.67±0.32 for birth, BW12mos, EMA12mos and RF12mos, respectively. Maternal genetic heritability for birth weight. was 0.12±0.09. Genetic correlations among traits were positive except between birth and RF.

Conclusions: Results indicate that ultrasound scanning can be used for selection together with BW at 12mos. and suggest that early performance is an excellent predictor of performance at a later age.

References

Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). Carabao industry performance report January – December 2014. ISSN-2012-0664.

Lapitan RM, Del Barrio A, Katsube O, et al. Comparison of carcass and meat characteristics of Brahman grade cattle (Bos indicus) and crossbred water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) fed on high roughage diet. Anim Sci J 2008; 79: 210-217. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00519.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00519.x

Burk RL, Feeney DA. The Abdomen; In “Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasonography-A Diagnostic Atlas and Text. "3rd ed. Saunders St. Louis, Missouri 2003; pp. 249-466. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7216-8177-1.50005-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7216-8177-1.50005-5

van der Werf J. Materials on linear models in animal breeding. Mixed models for genetic analysis 2003; Chapter 17. Available from https://jvanderw.une.edu.au/ LinModMaterials.htm

Gilmour AR, Gogel BJ, Cullis BR, Welham SJ, Thompson R. ASReml User Guide Release 4.1 Structural Specification, VSN International Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1ES, UK. 2015. www.vsni.co.uk

Jorge AM, Andrighetto C, de Lima Francisco C, Ramos A, Pinheiro RS, Rodrigues E. Correlations among carcass traits taken by ultrasound and after slaughter in Mediterranean young bulls. Ital J Anim Sci 2007; 6: 1160-1162. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2007.s2.1160 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2007.s2.1160

Suguisawa L, Soares Mattos WR, de Oliveira HN, Silveira AC, de Beni Arrigoni M, Haddad CM, Chardulo LAL, Martins CL. Ultrasonography as a predicting tool for carcass traits of young bulls. Sci Agric 2003; 60(4): 779-784. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162003000400026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162003000400026

Reverter A, Johnston DJ, Graser H, Wolcott ML, Upton MH. Genetic analyses of live-animal ultrasound and abattoir carcass traits in Australian Angus and Hereford cattle. J Anim Sci 2000; 78: 1786-1795. https://doi.org/10.2527/2000.7871786x DOI: https://doi.org/10.2527/2000.7871786x

Prayaga KC, Henshall JM. Adaptability in tropical beef cattle: genetic parameters of growth, adaptive and temperament traits in a crossbred population. Aust J Exp Agric 2005; 45: 971-983. https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05045

Malhado CHM, Amorim R, Souza C, de Souza, JC, Lamberson WR. Genetic and phenotypic trends for growth traits of buffaloes in Brazil. Ital J Anim Sci 2007; 6(sup2): 325-327. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2007.s2.325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2007.s2.325

Naserkheil M, Lee D-H, Kong H-S, Seong J, Mehrban H. Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Correlation between Yearling Ultrasound Measurements and Carcass Traits in Hanwoo Cattle. Animals 2021; 11(5): 1425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051425 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051425

Kaplan Y, Tekerli M. Genetic parameters of growth, reproductive, and productive characteristics in Anatolian buffaloes. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 2023; 47: 222-228. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4289 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4289

Joshi P, Gowane GR, Alex R, Gupta ID, Worku D, George L, Ranjan A, Verma A. Estimation of genetic parameters of growth traits for direct and maternal effects in Murrah buffalo. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022; 54: 352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03343-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03343-z