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Heritability of IGF-I in beef cattle and its association with growth and carcase traits.
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2001
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NutritionGeneticsMeat QualityAnimal GeneticsCarcase TraitsEarly Life MeasureBody CompositionLactationGrowth RateLivestock GeneticsAnimal ProductionHealth SciencesAnimal PhysiologyAnimal PerformanceQuantitative GeneticsAnimal NutritionAnimal AgricultureDevelopmental BiologyAnimal ScienceHeritability EstimatePhysiologyFeed IntakeBeef CattleMedicineAnimal BreedingMeat Science
Plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) concentration taken post weaning from 1240 Bos Taurus beef cattle were used to estimate the heritability of the trait and to investigate its genetic relationship with various growth and carcase traits. IGF-I had a heritability estimate of 32% and was positively genetically correlated with various measures of carcase fatness, both on the live animal (scanned rump and rib fat depth) and carcase (intramuscular fat % and P8 fat). Genetic correlations with weight traits (live weight and carcase weight) were close to zero (0.11 and –0.02, respectively) but slightly negative (-0.25) with finishing average daily gain. Opportunities exist to use this early life measure as a selection criterion for the genetic improvement of finishing growth rate and carcase fat traits.