Chung-Il Cho

Development of International Genetic Evaluation Models for Dairy Cattle

This study was aimed to solve the problems of current national genetic evaluation systems in Korea and its development to pass the verification processes as required by International Bull Evaluation Service (Interbull). This will enable Korea to participate in international genetic evaluation program. A total of 1,416,589 test-day milk records with calving dates used in this study were collected by National Agricultural Cooperative Federation from 2001 to 2009. Parity was limited up to fifth calving and milk production records were adjusted to cumulative 305 day lactation. The pedigree consisted of 2,279,741 animals where 2,467 bulls had 535,409 parents. A newly developed multiple trait model was used in calculation of breeding values for milk yield, milk fat, and protein yield. Data were edited with SAS (version 9.2) and R programs, and genetic parameters were estimated using VCE 6.0. Results showed a continuous increase in genetic potentials, in general, and no remarkable differences were found between performances by parity. Except fat yield, potentials in milk yield and protein yield were well calculated. We found an increased number of daughters per each top ranked 1,000 bulls in recent years of calf births compared to the cases of previous evaluations. Of the bulls ranked top 100 by our new models (multiple-trait models) we found that increased numbers of bulls were included. Of twenty eight bulls born in 2006, twenty bulls born in 2007 and eight bulls born in 2008 that were listed by new models, only 23, 12, and 2 bulls born in respective years were represented on top 100 by old single-trait models. Re-ranking of the daughters or sires by multiple-trait models suggest that this new multiple trait approach should be used for dairy cattle genetic evaluation and seed-stock selection in the future to increase the accuracy of multiple trait selection. Breeding values for these traits should also be calculated by new method for international genetic evaluation. (Key words : Holestein, Genetic evaluation, Multiple trait models, Breeding values)

Effects of Body Condition Score and Estimation of Growth Curves for Chest Girth and Ultra Sonic Longissimus Muscle Area, Backfat Thickness and Marbling Scores in Hanwoo (Korean cattle) Cows

Growth curves for ultrasonic carcass traits such as longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness and marbling score as well as chest girth which was simultaneously measured when carcass traits were investigated using ultrasound measuring technique were estimated to identify growth patterns and to adjust maturing effects in order to evaluating genetic merits on cows in farming basis. 27,410 records from 22,451 cows on which of 15~90 month of age were investigated from the national wide of Korea using by ultrasonic scanning techniques by the skilled persons from 2002 to 2007. Van Bertalanffy growth function was applied for estimating growth curves on these traits. Carcass traits and chest girth would be linearly increased by body condition score. It might be used for multiplicative correction factors for pre- adjustment on the body condition scores. Growth pattern on chest girth would be quickly reached to mature size and stable on after reached to asymptotic mature size. Longissimus muscle area would also be reached to mature size but little smoother than chest girth. Otherwise, growth curve on backfat thickness would be steadily increasing up to 7 years of age. It also showed large individual difference by way of mean square error. Marbling score would be steadily increased but sharper than those on backfat thickness. It would be reached to mature size up at 5 years of age. Those growth curves would be used for correcting function on age at investigating on genetic evaluation system.

Approximation of Multiple Trait Effective Daughter Contribution by Dairy Proven Bulls for MACE

국가간 유전능력평가를 위하여 5산차 다형질 모형을 적용한 다형질유효 딸소 기여도를 추정하기 위하여 농협중앙회 젖소개량부에서 수집한 한국형 보증종모우 및 수입 씨수소 2,046두의 딸소에 대한 산유량 검정기록 및 관련된 혈통을 수집하였으며, 수집된 산유량 검정기록 중 산차는 5산차, 누적착유일은 75~307일로 제한하였고, 305일 보정유량이 15,000 kg이 넘는 기록은 국제평가기준에 맞추기 위하여 제거하여, 총 301,551두 딸소의 681,860개 기록을 이용하였다. EDC 계산을 위하여 모든 개체의 육종가 추정 신뢰도를 부모 육종가 평균 (Parents average), 개체의 기록(Yield deviation) 및 배우자의 신뢰도가 보정된 후손의 육종가 기여도(Progeny contribution) 부분으로 분리하였으며, 1~5산차 유생산 유전상관을 고려하여 다형질 유효 딸소 기여도를 추정하였다. 씨수소 2,046두의 유생산 기록을 가지는 딸소 두수의 산차별 평균은 1~5산에서 각 140.57, 94.24, 55.14, 29.20 및 14.06두로 나타났으며, 추정된 MTEDC는 113.49, 89.28, 73.56, 54.02 및 35.08로 나타나 3산 이후의 기록이 부족함에도 유전상관을 고려한 EDC 추정치는 높게 형성되어 검정자료의 활용도가 높아진 것을 확인하였다. 또한 EDC 계산은 국제유전능력평가 적용을 위한 필수항목으로 정확한 국제유전능력평가를 위해서는 관련 알고리즘에 대한 이해가 필요하며, 지속적인 EDC 검증 및 종모우당 딸소 검정 두수 증가 등의 노력이 필요하다고 사료된다. 【This study was conducted to investigate the basic concept of multiple trait effective daughter contribution (MTEDC) for dairy cattle sires and calculate effective daughter contribution (EDC) by applying a five lactation multiple trait model using milk yield test records of daughters for the Multiple-trait Across Country Evaluation (MACE). Milk yield data and pedigree information of 301,551 cows that were the progeny of 2,046 Korean and imported dairy bulls were collected from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and used in this study. For MTEDC approximation, the reliability of the breeding value was separated based on parents average, own yield deviation and mate adjusted progeny contribution. EDC was then calculated by lactation using these reliabilities. The average number of recorded daughters per sire by lactations were 140.57, 94.24, 55.14, 29.20 and 14.06 from the first to fifth lactation, respectively. However, the average EDC per sire by lactation using the five lactation multiple trait model was 113.49, 89.28, 73.56, 54.02 and 35.08 from the first to fifth lactation, respectively, while the decrease of EDC in late lactations was comparably lower than the average number of recorded daughters per sire. These findings indicate that the availability of daughters without late lactation records is increased by genetic correlation using the multiple trait model. Owing to the relatedness between the EDC and reliability of the estimated breeding value for sire, understanding the MTEDC algorithm and continuous monitoring of EDC is required for correct MACE application of the five lactation multiple trait model.】

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Milk Production Traits in Holstein Dairy Cattle

The purpose of this study was to estimate (co) variance components of three milk production traits for genetic evaluation using a multiple lactation model. Each of the first five lactations was treated as different traits. For the parameter estimation study, a data set was set up including lactations from cows calved from 2001 to 2009. The total number of raw lactation records in first to fifth parities reached 1,416,589. At least 10 cows were required for each contemporary group, herd-year-season effect. Sires with fewer than 10 daughters were discarded. Lactations with 305d milk yield exceeding 15,000 kg were removed. In total, 1,456 sires of cows were remained after all the selection steps. A complete pedigree consisting of 292,382 records was used for the study. A sire model containing herd-year-season, caving age, and sire additive genetic effects was applied to the selected lactation data and pedigree for estimating (co) variance components via VCE. Heritabilities and genetic or residual correlations were then derived from the (co) variance estimates using R package. Genetic correlations between lactations ranged from 0.76 to 0.98 for milk yield, 0.79~1.00 for fat yield, 0.75~1.00 for protein yield. On individual lactation basis, relatively low heritability values were obtained 0.14~0.23, 0.13~0.20 and 0.14~0.19 for milk, fat, and protein yields, respectively. For the combined lactation heritability values were 0.29, 0.28, and 0.26 for milk, fat, and protein yields. The estimated parameters will be used in national genetic evaluations for production traits. (Key words : Holestein, Genetic parameters, Milk production traits, Heritability )

A Consideration on the Lactation Persistency Evaluation in Korean Holstein Dairy Cattle

The characteristics of lactation persistency was investigated for new evaluation trait using 4,366,900 milk yield records from 436,690 heads of Korean Holstein dairy cattle. The average lactation persistencies of first parity, second parity and over third parity were 97.5%, 95.1% and 94.6%, respectively and there was a trend that after the peak yield, lactation persistency decreased collectively. The average days of peak milk yields after calving was about 50 days, but only 33.2% of cows reached peak yields at 36~66 days (second test day). Also, there was a difference between the milk yield of cows which reached peak yields at first test day by lactation days and that of cows which reached peak yields at second to fourth test day. The estimates of heritabilty and repeatability for mean lactation persistency were 0.16 and 0.35, respectively. The genetic correlation between cumulative lactation persistency from third to tenth test day and that from third to seventh test day was 0.91 and while it increased in later test day, it decreased sharply in earlier test day. The breeding value correlations of Data II and III for Data I were 0.80 and 0.72, respectively, while the rank correlations were 0.78 and 0.71, respectively. Based on the results, the breeding value and rank correlations decreased when more data were added.

The Effect of Living Conditions on Stress and Behavior of Horses

ABSTRACT Providing an adequate environment for horses is important to minimize the level of stress for domesticated horses. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the effect of living conditions on stress level of horses, 2) to observe the effect of one month confinement on self-maintenance behavior and stereotypic behavior of horses. The experiment was conducted at National Institute of Animal Science, Equine Field Station (Seonghwan-eup, Korea). Horses were staying in the paddock prior to the experiment. On day 1, five horses were randomly selected and housed in metal fence panels stall. Six horses remained in the same paddock. The ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte (on day 15) and cortisol (on day 1 and 29) from stalled horses were significantly higher than horses in the paddock. Duration or frequency of self-maintenance behaviors such as feeding, drinking, resting, walking was not significantly different between day 1 and day 29. However, the frequency of urination significantly decreased (p<0.05) on day 29 compared with day 1. The frequency of stereotypic behaviors was not different between day 1 and 29. Our data indicate that horses may be more stabled when they are staying in the paddock rather than staying in the stall, but the stress level of horses in the stall during one month confinement was not effective for horses to adapt stereotypic behavior. In conclusion, providing an adequate environment and stress-less horse management techniques can minimize the stress level of horses. (

Genetic Parameter Estimates for Reproductive and Productive Traits of Pig in a Herd

The purpose of this study was to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for reproductive and productive traits and to apply their estimates to selection strategies in a swine population. Reproductive and productive traits considered in this study were number of born alive piglet (NBA), number of weaned piglet (NW), loin eye area (LEA), days to 90 kg (D90KG), back fat thickness (BF), and lean meat content (LEAN). Data were collected from 9,886 litters on 2,447 sows for reproductive traits and 10,181 gilts and boars for productive traits from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2008 in a swine GGP farm. The statistical model to estimate genetic parameters for considering traits was a multiple traits animal model with including animal and maternal additive effects and litter effects on reproductive traits and animal additive effects on productive traits as random as well as some of fixed effects. For estimating (co) variance components of several random effects, restricted maximum likelihood methodology was used on this assumed model. The estimated heritabilities by animal additive effects and maternal effects were 0.07 and 0.02 for NBA and 0.03 and 0.02 for NW, respectively. Genetic correlation estimate for direct genetic effects between NBA and NW was 0.14. Heritability estimates for direct genetic effects were 0.19, 0.39, 0.36, and 0.43 for LEA, D90KG, BF and LEAN, respectively. The genetic correlation of LEA with LEAN was 0.35. Productive traits were antagonistically correlated with reproductive traits. From these results it is concluded that, if selection is done for strong positive effects of reproductive traits, then this would decline productive performance. (Key words : Genetic parameters, Reproductive traits, Productive traits, Pig, Swine breeding)

Correlation Analyses on Body Size Traits, Carcass Traits and Primal Cuts in Hanwoo Steers

This study was conducted to estimate the correlation structure between body size traits, carcass traits, and primal cuts in Hanwoo steers. Hanwoo progeny test data (body weight and body measurements) were collected from 2008 to 2010 from a total of 882 steers at the Hanwoo Improvement Main Center (NACF). Carcass traits considered were cold carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, and marbling scores evaluated at the time of carcass grading. Correlation analyses were performed with observed scales of the traits and with residuals considering fixed environmental effects in generalized linear models. The correlation coefficient estimated between loin weight and chest girth was high at 0.74. The shank negatively correlated with pelvic width (-0.23) and hipbone width (-0.27). In addition, rib weight and chest girth was highly correlated (0.80). The correlation between carcass weight and chest girth was 0.86 in observed scale. Residual correlation between these traits was estimated at 0.65. Correlation between carcass weight and loin was 0.87 in the observed scale. Residual correlation was estimated at 0.83. The correlation coefficient estimated between shank weight and brisket and flank weight was negative at -0.69. Chest girth had a high correlation between primal cuts weight and body measurements. Thus, we believe that these results will provide a greater understanding on the relationship of primal cuts and other phenotypes, thus enabling valid production models for Hanwoo steers.

Comparison of Breeding Value by Establishment of Genomic Relationship Matrix in Pure Landrace Population

Genomic relationship matrix (GRM) was constructed using whole genome SNP markers of swine and genomic breeding value was estimated by substitution of the numerator relationship matrix (NRM) based on pedigree information to GRM. Genotypes of 40,706 SNP markers from 448 pure Landrace pigs were used in this study and five kinds of GRM construction methods, G05, GMF, GOF, GOF* and GN, were compared with each other and with NRM. Coefficients of GOF considering each of observed allele frequencies showed the lowest deviation with coefficients of NRM and as coefficients of GMF considering the average minor allele frequency showed huge deviation from coefficients of NRM, movement of mean was expected by methods of allele frequency consideration. All GRM construction methods, except for GOF*, showed normally distributed Mendelian sampling. As the result of breeding value (BV) estimation for days to 90 kg (D90KG) and average back-fat thickness (ABF) using NRM and GRM, correlation between BV of NRM and GRM was the highest by GOF and as genetic variance was overestimated by GOF*, it was confirmed that scale of GRM is closely related with estimation of genetic variance. With the same amount of phenotype information, accuracy of BV based on genomic information was higher than BV based on pedigree information and these symptoms were more obvious for ABF then D90KG. Genetic evaluation of animal using relationship matrix by genomic information could be useful when there is lack of phenotype or relationship and prediction of BV for young animals without phenotype.

Estimation of Primal Cuts Yields by Using Body Size Traits in Hanwoo Steer

ABSTRACT The study aimed to develop prediction models of primal cut yield using body measurements of Hanwoo steers in Korea. The progeny of 874 steers at Hanwoo Improvement Main Center from 2008 to 2010 were recorded. Pearson’s correlation coefficients for primal cuts and other traits were estimated. Primal cuts were adjusted for slaughter date and age using the SAS GLM procedure. Afterwards, a stepwise regression was performed on each primal cut by fitting body measurement traits. An independent covariable was selected at the highest coefficient of determination with the greater fitness model using Mallows’s Cp statistic. Results showed that primal cuts were significantly influenced by slaughter date (P<0.01). The age at slaughter, however, was only significant for the top round (P<0.05). There was a moderate to high correlation between chest girth and tenderloin (0.54), loin (0.74), and rib (0.80). Most primal cut percentages were negatively related to BFT. Similar negative to low positive correlations were observed for primal cut percentage and body size traits. In addition, a correlation of 0.21 was observed between rib percentage and chest girth. The regression of body measurements on the adjusted primal cuts were significant for later traits. Regression estimates revealed that wither height, body length, rump length, hip bone width, and chest girth are important for primal cut weight and percentage determination. In particular, chest girth was always important for primal cut weight estimates. (