Genetic and Environmental Relationships among Economic Characters in Beef Cattle. I. Correlation among Paternal and Maternal Half-Sibs

Abstract

Data from 4553 calves raised at the U. S. Range Livestock Experiment Station, Miles City, Montana, were analyzed. Estimates of heritability, repeatability, genetic and environmental correlations were calculated for several economic characteristics. The heritability and repeatability (measured as a permanent characteristic of the cow) estimates were, giving heritability first and repeatability second, .35 and .26 for birth weight, .24 and .34 for weaning weight, .21 and .34 for gain from birth to weaning, .18 and .22 for weaning score, .47 and .20 for yearling weight, .39 and .09 for gain from weaning to yearling age, and .27 and .02 for yearling score. The analyses indicate that maternal environment is quite important for birth weight, gain from birth to weaning and weaning score. Maternal environment appeared to be of little importance for yearling gain and score or is even negatively related to the genes directly influencing these traits. The genetic correlations among the traits were discussed.