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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

C. M. McManus  and
W. J. Hamilton
C. M. McManus
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
W. J. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Glensaugh Research Farm, Laurencekirk AB3 1HB
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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.

Keywords

environmental factorsgenetic parametersred deer
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 53 , Issue 2 , October 1991 , pp. 227 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

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