SELECTION IN HEREFORD CATTLE I. SELECTION INTENSITY, GENERATION INTERVAL AND INDEXES IN RETROSPECT

Résumé

Selection intensity and generation interval were evaluated in a Hereford cattle herd of 14 inbred lines and 14 linecross groups corresponding to the lines of inbred sire at the San Juan Basin Research Centre, Hesperus, Colorado. Selection indexes practised were calculated in retrospect. The records analysed were weaning weight and postweaning traits in males and females collected from 1946 through 1973. Analyses were performed by line for the inbreds and pooled analyses for the inbred and linecross populations. From records of 1,239 calves weaned, age of sire averaged 3.75 years compared with 4.52 years for age of dam, showing faster generation turnover for sires than for dams. Generation interval determined 98 actual age of midparent was 4.13 years.Selection applied, evaluated as annual selection differentials within inbred lines and then pooled over all lines, averaged .55 standard deviations per generation for sires for weaning weight. Selection of females was much less. Midparent selection differential amounted to .33 standard deviations per generation. Pooled standardized selection differentials per generation over all lines for sires were .49, .46, 40, -.20, -.10, and .69, respectively, for initial weight, final weight, feed consumption, unadjusted feed efficiency, adjusted feed efficiency, and average daily gain. Selection of females for postweaning traits was not intense. Selection Indexes actually practiced in retrospect were: for sires, I_S = .4661(WW) -.0092(FE) + .6126(ADG); for inbred dams, I_D = .1824(WW) -.0284 (12W) + .0736 (18W) - 1097 (SPW) -.1097 (FAW); for linecross dams, I_D= .2693 (WW) - 2960 (12W) + .0147 (18W) + 1185 (SPW) -.0354 (FAW). The corresponding index selection differentials were .818, 203, and .209. Sire index selection differentials represent about 79 percent of the total selection differentials.