Phenotypic differences and genetic parameters for methane concentration in BeefxDairy crossbred slaughter calves

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Genetic selection for reduced methane emission and BeefxDairy crossbreeding are strategies to lower the climate impact of beef. Combined they require knowledge of phenotypes on methane production for BeefxDairy offspring. Slaughter calves sired by Belgian Blue, Charolaise and Angus sires to Holstein dams were compared to purebred Holstein calves. Heritability for methane concentration (CH4c) were estimated for Belgian blue crosses. Raw phenotypic means showed that CH4c was lower for calves born after Charolaise and Angus
sires compared to Belgian Blue. The heritability of log transformed CH4c for Belgian blue crosses was estimated to be 0.44 (±0.08), and for log transformed CH4c adjusted for background CH4 it was 0.33 (±0.06). This is in line with heritabilities found for log transformed CH4c in Holstein cows, and will be the basis for further analysis in genetic architecture of methane traits in crossbred slaughter calves.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWCGALP 2022 Programme book
Number of pages4
PublisherWageningen Academic Publishers
Publication dateJul 2022
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022
EventWorld Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Duration: 3 Jul 20228 Jul 2022
Conference number: 12
https://wcgalp.com/

Conference

ConferenceWorld Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production
Number12
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityRotterdam
Period03/07/202208/07/2022
Internet address

Cite this