Genotype by Environment Interaction in Nordic Dairy Cattle Studied Using Reaction Norms
- 1 January 2002
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science
- Vol. 52 (1), 11-24
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700252806380
Abstract
Genotype by environment interaction for production and fertility was studied by use of a reaction norm model. Milk recording data, comprising 927 929 records, were analysed to predict reaction norms for young bulls of the Nordic Red dairy breeds. Random regressions were estimated for each bull, regressing phenotypic values of daughters on herd environment. The phenotypic measures were 305 days kg protein production and days open in first lactation. The herd environment was defined as the herd-year average of protein production and days open, respectively. Heritability of protein production and days open and genetic correlation between the two traits were estimated as functions of the herd environment. The results showed that the genetic parameters change over environments, which are measured on a continuous scale across countries. Grouping of observations is avoided and thereby the problem of genetic connectedness between groups or countries may be avoided. Although significant genetic variation for the slope of the reaction norm was found, there was little reranking of sires, except between extreme environments. More appropriate models and methods need to be developed for further studies of genetic variation in reaction norms.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Heterogeneity of variances across regions of northern Germany and adjustment in genetic evaluationLivestock Production Science, 1998
- Selection environment and environmental sensitivity in barleyEuphytica, 1991
- Heterogeneity of (Co)Variance and Heritabitity in Different Levels of Intraherd Milk Production Variance and of Herd AverageJournal of Dairy Science, 1990
- Adjustment for Heterogeneity of Variances by Herd Production Level in Dairy Cow and Sire EvaluationJournal of Dairy Science, 1990
- Phenotypic and genetic association between fertility and production in dairy cowsLivestock Production Science, 1989
- Effect of Relationships on Estimation of Variance Components with an Animal Model and Restricted Maximum LikelihoodJournal of Dairy Science, 1988
- Comparison of proven sires from five Holstein-Friesian strains in high-yield Israeli dairy herdsLivestock Production Science, 1987
- Mixed Model Sire Evaluation with Dairy Cattle—Experience and Genetic GainJournal of Animal Science, 1984
- Interaction between Genotype and Environment in Sire Evaluation for Milk ProductionActa Agriculturae Scandinavica, 1982
- The analysis of adaptation in a plant-breeding programmeAustralian Journal of Agricultural Research, 1963