Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford beef cattle breeds in Kenya

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study estimated genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford cattle in Kenya. Traits considered were birth weight (BW, kg), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) and weaning weight (WW, kg); calving interval (CI, days) and age at first calving (AFC, days). Direct heritability estimates for growth traits were 0.36 and 0.21; 0.25 and 0.10; 0.23 and 0.13 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Maternal heritability estimates were 0.11 and 0.01; 0.18 and 0.00; 0.17 and 0.17 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Direct-maternal genetic correlations ranged between −0.46 and 1.00; −0.51 and −1.00; −0.47 and −0.39 for BW, ADG and WW in Charolais and Hereford, respectively. Genetic correlations ranged from −0.99 to unity and −1.00 to unity for growth and fertility traits respectively. Prospects for improvement of growth and fertility traits exist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Afolayan, R.A., Pitchford, W.S., Deland, M.P.B., McKiernan, W.A., 2007. Breed variation and genetic parameters for growth and body development in diverse beef cattle genotypes. Animal, 1, 13–20. doi:10.1017/S1751731107257933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burrow, H.M., 2001. Variances and covariances between productive and adaptive traits and temperament in a composite breed of tropical beef cattle. Livestock Production Science, 70, 213–233. doi:10.1016/S0301–6226(01)00178–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Mattos, D., Misztal, I., Bertrand, J.K., 2000. Variance and covariance components for weaning weight for Herefords in three countries. Journal of Animal Science, 78, 33–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Demeke, S., Neser, C.W., Schoeman, S.J., 2004. Estimates of genetic parameters for Boran, Friesian and crosses of Friesian and Jersey with the Boran cattle in the tropical highlands of Ethiopia: reproduction traits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 121, 57–65. doi:10.1046/j.0931–2668.2003.00438.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodenhoff, J., van Vleck, L.D., Kachman, S.D., Koch, R.M., 1998. Parameter estimates for direct, maternal, and grand maternal genetic effects for birth weight and weaning weight in Hereford cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 76, 2521–2527.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duangjinda, M., Bertrand, J.K., Misztal, I., Druet, T., 2001. Estimation of additive and non-additive variances in Hereford, Gelbvieh, and Charolais by method ℜ. Journal of Animal Science, 79, 2997–3001.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ilatsia, E.D., Muasya, T.K., Muhuyi, W.B., Kahi, A.K., 2007. Genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for milk production and fertility traits of the Sahiwal cattle in semi-arid Kenya. Tropical Animal Health Production, 39, 37–48. doi:10.1007/s11250–006–4408–2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahi, A.K., Wasike, C.B., Rewe, T.O., 2006. Beef production in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya: constraints and prospects for research and development. Outlook on Agriculture, 35, 217–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaps, M., Herring, W.O., Limbers, W.R., 1999. Genetic and environmental parameters for mature weight in Angus cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 77: 569–574.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lôbo, R.N.B., Madalena, F.E., Vieira, A.R., 2000. Average estimates of genetic parameters for beef and dairy cattle in tropical regions. Animal Breeding Abstracts, 68, 433–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • MALDM., 2000. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Marketing, Annual Report, Animal Production Division, Nairobi, Kenya.

  • Maniatis, N., Pollott, G.E., 2003. The impact of data structure on genetic (co)variance components of early growth in sheep, estimated using an animal model with maternal effects. Journal of Animal Science, 81, 101–108.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, K., 1989. Restricted maximum likelihood to estimate variance components for animal models with several random effects using a derivative free algorithm. Genetic Selection and Evolution, 21, 318–327. doi:10.1051/gse:19890308

    Google Scholar 

  • Mourão, G.B., Ferraz, J.B.S., Eler, J.P., Balieiro, J.C.C., Bueno, R.S., Mattos, E.C., Figueiredo, L.G.G., 2007.Genetic parameters for growth traits of a Brazilian Bos taurus x Bos indicus beef composite. Genetics and Molecular Research, 6, 1190–1200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmiento, R.M., Garcia, J.P., 2007. Estimation of genetic parameters and variance components for growth traits in Romosinuano cattle in the Colombian humid tropics. Genetics and Molecular Research, 6, 482–491.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS, 1998. The statistical analysis system. Version 8 for windows. Cary North Carolina, USA: SAS Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, P.G., Wilton, J.W., Miller, P.S., Banks, L.R., 1999. Genetic trends and breed overlap derived from multiple-breed genetic evaluations of beef cattle for growth traits. Journal of Animal Science, 77, 2019–2027.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wasike, C.B., 2006. Genetic Evaluation of Growth and Reproductive Performance of the Kenya Boran Cattle. M.Sc. Thesis. Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya, 108 Pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are greatly indebted to the management of the ADC Chepchoina farm and Solio Ranch Limited for the provision of data, and to Egerton University and Livestock Recording Centre for provision of facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, 20115, Egerton, Kenya

    J. S. K. Orenge, I. S. Kosgey & A. K. Kahi

  2. Livestock Recording Centre, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, P.O. Box 257, 20117, Naivasha, Kenya

    J. S. K. Orenge

  3. Animal Genetic Resources Group, National Animal Husbandry Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 25, 20117, Naivasha, Kenya

    E. D. Ilatsia

  4. Institute of Animal Production in the Tropics and Sub tropics (480a), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 17, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    E. D. Ilatsia

Authors
  1. J. S. K. Orenge
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. D. Ilatsia
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. S. Kosgey
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. K. Kahi
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. K. Kahi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Orenge, J.S.K., Ilatsia, E.D., Kosgey, I.S. et al. Genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for growth and fertility traits of Charolais and Hereford beef cattle breeds in Kenya. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 767–774 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9250-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9250-2

Keywords