Article contents
Estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth and reproductive traits for red deer on an upland farm
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
Abstract
Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) in an upland environment in the north-east of Scotland. Genetic parameters were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood analyses. Heritabilities of pre-weaning traits associated with growth were moderate for birth weight (0·27 (s.e. 0·04)), weaning weight, generally in September at 3 months of age (0·21 (s.e. 0·06)) and growth rate from birth to weaning (0·15 (s.e. 0·03)). Heritabilities for post-weaning traits were 0·10 (s.e. 0·05) for turn-out weight in April/May, 0·14 (s.e. 0·06) for September weight, at 15 months of age, 0·08 (s.e. 0·05) for growth rate weaning to turn-out and 0·12 (s.e. 0·06) for growth rate turn-out to September. Correlations between weaning weight and post-weaning traits were high indicating the usefulness of weaning weight as a selection criterion for red deer on upland farms. While Wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) crosses grew faster than pure red deer they also tended to have higher mortality rates pre-weaning. Older dams were more likely to have a successful pregnancy and also tended to calve earlier. Date of calving was found to show no heritable variation in this study.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991
References
- 5
- Cited by