Genetic Relations between Body Measurements at Three Ages in Holsteins

Abstract

Body measurements at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years of age were used to study patterns of growth relationships. Phenotypic correlations between measures on the same animal, phenotypic correlations between 1 measure on the dam and another on the daughter, genetic correlations, and heritabilities were calculated and considered. The influence of genetic factors relative to that of environmental factors increased with age. The effect of general factors was most evident at 6 months whereas the effect of group and specific factors became more evident as age increased.