Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Results from this research will benefit seedstock and commercial beef producers in Kansas and aross the nation. Downstream in the production system, feedlot operators as well as packers will potentially benefit from fewer lameness problems in fed cattle due to genetic selection for structural soundness. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students involved in the project received extensive data analysis training this year. They used SAS software for general statistical analysis, and ASREML for genetic variance component estimation. Students wrote drafts of scientific papers describing their work. Weaber led a Beef Improvement Federation Guidelines Committee on Feet and Leg structure that led to the development of formal guidelines on phenotypic record collection and genetic evaluation structure for feet and leg traits. The committee's recommendations were included in the new BIF Guidelines WiKi. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension Publications Giess, L.K., R.L. Weaber, M. Enns, D.W. Moser, K.Devani, J. Mushrush, M. Perrier, M.M. Rolf, L. Hyde. 2019. Foot and Leg Scores. In: Beef Improvement Federation Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Wiki. Presentations Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at the American Simmental Association Fall Focus, August 24, 2019. Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at the Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium, June 19, 2019. Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at KSU Cattlemen's Day, March 1, 2019. Cattle Structure and Mobility: A Genetics and Management Update. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Cattlemen's College. January 31, 2018. Phoenix, Arizona. (T) Seminar: The Feet & Leg Trait Complex. November, 2020. Colorado State University. Webinar: Feet and Leg Trait Workshop - Evaluating Structure in your herd and how data collection may prove useful. April, 2020. American Simmental Association. Inaugural Webinar Series. Research Reports: Weaber, R. L., B. Jensen, L. Giess, W. Fiske, N. Bello and J. Bormann. 2018. Development of a National Genetic Evaluation System for Feet and Leg Conformation in Beef Cattle: Final Report. Red Angus Association of America. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Develop a scoring system for feet and leg soundness in beef cattle and collect phenotypes. Cattle were scored on 14 subjective traits: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Hoof Claw Shape (FC), Rear Hoof Angle (RA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Hoof Claw Shape (RC), Foot Size (FS), Hoof Orientation (HO), Knee Orientation (KO), Front Side View (FSV), Rear Leg Side View (RS), Rear Leg Hind View (RH), Composite Score (CS). Red Angus cattle (n=1885) were scored for all 14 traits by trained evaluators. All traits except CS were scored with the assumed optimum level being in the middle with undesirable scores being located on the extremes. Scores were observed on a scale of 1-100 and analyzed, then scores were simplified to 1-9. Six traits on the 1-9 scale were selected to generate estimated breeding values (EBV's) based on their heritability and relationship with other traits; BCS RHD, RC, FS, RSV, RH. A linear model was used to determine BCS, RHD, RC, FS, FSV and RH regression on Stayability EPD. When fixed effects were accounted for, RC (P < 0.0001), RSV (P = 0.0517), and FS (P = 0.086) had relationships with Stayability EPD. A less granular scale (1-9 vs. 1-100) can be an appropriate simplification for this type of scoring method. An additional 720 Simmental animals were scored on the 1-9 scale for the 14 feet and leg traits: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Hoof Claw Shape (FC), Rear Hoof Angle (RA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Hoof Claw Shape (RC), Foot Size (FS), Hoof Orientation (HO), Knee Orientation (KO), Front Side View (FSV), Rear Leg Side View (RS), Rear Leg Hind View (RH), Composite Score (CS). 2. Estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for soundness traits. Subjective scores for 14 traits including: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FHA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Claw Shape (FCS), Rear Hoof Angle (RHA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Claw Shape (RCS), Size of Hoof (Size), Front Side View (FSV), Knee Orientation (Knee), Front Hoof Orientation (FHO), Rear Side View (RSV), Rear View (RV), and a Composite Score (COMP) were collected by trained evaluators on 1727 Red Angus cattle at different ranches across the United States. A three-generation pedigree file was obtained from the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) that contained 13,306 animals, and EPDs on all animals with feet and leg scores were obtained. All traits except BCS and COMP were scored as intermediate optimum traits. Data were modeled using a linear bivariate animal model with random additive genetic and residual effects, and fixed effects of age and contemporary group (herd-year). Variances were estimated with ASREML 3.0 and 4.0. Heritability estimates of BCS, FHA, FHD, FCS, RHA, RHD, RCS, Size, FSV, Knee, FHO, RSV, RV, and COMP were 0.11, 0.20, 0.17, 0.09, 0.19, 0.25, 0.17, 0.36, 0.16, 0.17, 0.17, 0.30, 0.14, and 0.12, respectively. These results showed feet and leg traits were lowly to moderately heritable. Strong positive genetic correlations were found between FHA and FHD (0.89), FHA and RHA (0.88), FHD and RHA (0.85), FHA and RHD (0.85), FHD and RHD (0.94), and FHO and Knee (0.95), indicating these traits may be highly related to one another. Strong negative correlations were found between Knee and FSV (-0.59) and FHO and FSV (-0.75). The strongest correlation between front limb traits (FHA, FHD, FSV, FHO, Knee, and Comp) and the Stayability EPD (STAY) was FSV (r =0.16; =0.20) and for rear limb traits (RHA, RHD, RCS, RSV, RV, and Comp) and STAY was RCS (r = -0.12; =-0.14). This indicates that cattle with more slope to the angle of the shoulder stay in the herd longer and cattle with less curl to the inside of the claw tend to stay in the herd longer. The correlation between the production traits and the intermediate optimum traits were low and revealed little to no relationship. Genetic analysis was performed on feet and leg scores from 1546 Simmental cattle. With the addition of 720 Simmental phenotypes, the genetic analysis was able to successfully converge and produce meaningful results. Heritability estimates for the Simmental population were consistently lower across the spectrum of traits compared to the Red Angus population. Possible causes for this could be fewer contemporary groups with shared sires, the lack of large numbers of purebred Simmental animals (a high influence of SimAngus composites were found at every location), too few records, or there is less genetic control for feet and leg traits in Simmental animals compared to Red Angus. An attempt on a genetic analysis on a shared dataset should be made. Both the RAAA and ASA animals were combined into one dataset to add additional power to the analysis. There were a small number of direct sires represented in both databases, with more grand and great-grand sires shared across both databases found in the pedigree file. The analysis successfully converged and produced meaningful results. Heritability estimates obtained from the combined dataset proved consistent with estimates found in literature, both in beef and dairy. Breeding values obtained from the combined data analysis were fit in a regression model as explanatory variables for the IGS calculated Stayability EPD. Preliminary results showed there may be some merit to use feet and leg trait phenotypes obtained on young animals as a predictor to better calculate and improve the accuracy of Stayability EPD. However, this needs to be confirmed as more member-submitted data is collected. 3. Genomic analysis of soundness traits. A subset of cattle that have been scored for feet and leg traits have had genomic data submitted to their breed association by their breeders.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) has received a full breakdown of the results from the study and recommendations from this study. The RAAA will use the information provided to make decisions for fully implementing feet and leg traits into their national genetic evaluation. The American Simmental Association (ASA) has received guidance and updates on the progress of their analysis. They too will use the information already gathered to make decisions of how to fully implement feet and leg traits into their national genetic evaluation. The International Genetics Solutions (IGS) collaboration of 15 beef breed associations, including Red Angus and Simmental has received guidance and updates on the progress of the study. They intent to fully implement a consistent set of guidelines for the feet and leg trait complex consistent with BIF. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) has reviewed the current findings of the study. The BIF will use the information gathered to develop a standardized scoring method for feet and leg traits for use across the beef industry. The results of this study were used to develop recommendations for appropriate data collection of feet and leg scores for beef cattle breed associations and producers. These recommendations are published in the 2019 BIF Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Wiki, which are freely available to all beef cattle producers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students involved in the project received extensive data analysis training this year. They used SAS software for general statistical analysis, and ASREML for genetic variance component estimation. Students wrote drafts of scientific papers describing their work. Weaber led a Beef Improvement Federation Guidelines Committee on Feet and Leg structure that led to the development of formal guidelines on phenotypic record collection and genetic evaluation structure for feet and leg traits. The committee's recommendations were included in the new BIF Guidelines WiKi. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension Publications Giess, L.K., R.L. Weaber, M. Enns, D.W. Moser, K.Devani, J. Mushrush, M. Perrier, M.M. Rolf, L. Hyde. 2019. Foot and Leg Scores. In: Beef Improvement Federation Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Wiki. Presentations Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at the American Simmental Association Fall Focus, August 24, 2019. Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at the Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium, June 19, 2019. Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at KSU Cattlemen's Day, March 1, 2019. Cattle Structure and Mobility: A Genetics and Management Update. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Cattlemen's College. January 31, 2018. Phoenix, Arizona. (T) Research Reports: Weaber, R. L., B. Jensen, L. Giess, W. Fiske, N. Bello and J. Bormann. 2018. Development of a National Genetic Evaluation System for Feet and Leg Conformation in Beef Cattle: Final Report. Red Angus Association of America. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Publications prepared and submitted. Breed associations will begin data collection Perform multi-breed genetic analysis with member-submitted data Estimate heritabilities of traits Estimate genetic correlations between traits Estimate genetic correlations between feet and leg traits and production traits
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT STATEMENT There has been recent concern in the beef cattle industry about structural soundness of cattle feet and legs. As well as being an animal welfare issue, unsoundness is a major reason for culling of both bulls and cows. Bull purchases and replacement heifer development are large cost centers in most commercial beef operations. Scores for 14 different feet and leg traits have been collected on 3264 Red Angus and Simmental seedstock bulls and heifers. Data was analyzed to determine the most efficient and effective scoring system that could be performed at the producer level. Genetic analysis on this data has determined that feet and leg traits are lowly to moderately heritable, and have relationships with some production traits and herd longevity. Seedstock producers are beginning to collect and submit foot and leg scores to their breed associations. This will enable genetic evaluation and selection for improved soundness and longevity of beef cattle. Major goals of the project Develop a scoring system for feet and leg soundness in beef cattle and collect phenotypes. An additional 720 Simmental animals were scored on the 1-9 scale for the 14 feet and leg traits: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Hoof Claw Shape (FC), Rear Hoof Angle (RA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Hoof Claw Shape (RC), Foot Size (FS), Hoof Orientation (HO), Knee Orientation (KO), Front Side View (FSV), Rear Leg Side View (RS), Rear Leg Hind View (RH), Composite Score (CS). 2. Estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for soundness traits. Genetic analysis was performed on feet and leg scores from 1546 Simmental cattle. With the addition of 720 Simmental phenotypes, the genetic analysis was able to successfully converge and produce meaningful results. Heritability estimates for the Simmental population were consistently lower across the spectrum of traits compared to the Red Angus population. Possible causes for this could be fewer contemporary groups with shared sires, the lack of large numbers of purebred Simmental animals (a high influence of SimAngus composites were found at every location), too few records, or there is less genetic control for feet and leg traits in Simmental animals compared to Red Angus. An attempt on a genetic analysis on a shared dataset should be made. Both the RAAA and ASA animals were combined into one dataset to add additional power to the analysis. There were a small number of direct sires represented in both databases, with more grand and great-grand sires shared across both databases found in the pedigree file. The analysis successfully converged and produced meaningful results. Heritability estimates obtained from the combined dataset proved consistent with estimates found in literature, both in beef and dairy. Breeding values obtained from the combined data analysis were fit in a regression model as explanatory variables for the IGS calculated Stayability EPD. Preliminary results showed there may be some merit to use feet and leg trait phenotypes obtained on young animals as a predictor to better calculate and improve the accuracy of Stayability EPD. However, this needs to be confirmed as more member-submitted data is collected. 3. Genomic analysis of soundness traits. A subset of cattle that have been scored for feet and leg traits have had genomic data submitted to their breed association by their breeders. The additional 720 animals scored this year all have genotypes on file with the American Simmental Association.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at the American Simmental Association Fall Focus, August 24, 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at the Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium, June 19, 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Genetic control of cattle feet and leg structure, presented at KSU Cattlemens Day, March 1, 2019.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Weaber, R. L., B. Jensen, L. Giess, W. Fiske, N. Bello and J. Bormann. 2018. Development of a National Genetic Evaluation System for Feet and Leg Conformation in Beef Cattle: Final Report. Red Angus Association of America.
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:A simple scoring method app was developed and used through Qualtrics™ in the early stages of the project. The app was used to gather phenotypes in mass while shortening the amount of time needed to write values down. Additionally this reduced the likelihood of user input error. This app concept has been recommended to the Red Angus and Simmental breed associations. The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) has received a full breakdown of the results from the study and recommendations from this study. The RAAA will use the information provided to make decisions for fully implementing feet and leg traits into their national genetic evaluation. The American Simmental Association (ASA) has received guidance and updates on the progress of their analysis. They too will use the information already gathered to make decisions of how to fully implement feet and leg traits into their national genetic evaluation. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) has reviewed the current findings of the study. The BIF will use the information gathered to develop a standardized scoring method for feet and leg traits for use across the beef industry. Changes/Problems:The animal model failed to converge with the Simmental dataset. Additional phenotypes will be collected on Simmental cattle to overcome this problem. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students involved in the project received extensive data analysis training this year. They used SAS software for general statistical analysis, and ASREML for genetic variance component estimation. Students wrote drafts of scientific papers describing their work. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Proceedings Articles Weaber, R.L., B. Jensen, L. Giess, J. Bormann, and N. Bello. Genetic control of feet and leg structure in cattle. Proceedings of Weight Trait Project Meeting, October 16, 2017. US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE. Research Reports Giess, L.K.; B.R. Jensen, R.L. Weaber, J.M. Bormann, and W.A. Fiske. 2018. Feet and Leg Traits are Moderately to Lowly Heritable in Red Angus Cattle. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 4: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7533 Weaber, R. L., B. Jensen, L. Giess, W. Fiske, N. Bello and J. Bormann. 2018. Development of a National Genetic Evaluation System for Feet and Leg Conformation in Beef Cattle: Final Report. Red Angus Association of America. Presentations Genetic control of feed and leg structure in cattle. Weight Trait Project Meeting. October 16, 2017. US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE Update on Structure EPD Development. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Brown Bagger Webinar Series. October 18, 2017. Cattle Structure & Mobility: A Genetics and Management Update. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Cattlemen's College. January 31, 2018. Phoenix, Arizona. Genetic parameter estimates for feet and leg traits of Red Angus cattle. Kansas Red Angus Association Field Day. September 21, 2018. Manhattan KS. Genetic Evaluation of Feet and Leg Structure - Nontraditional Trait Data Collection. RA Brown Ranch Cooperator Meeting. November 30, 2018. Throckmorton, TX. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Publications resulting from this work will be prepared and submitted. Additional phenotypes on Simmental cattle will be collected and genetic parameters will be estimated. Genomic analysis will begin.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Cattle were scored on 14 subjective traits: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Hoof Claw Shape (FC), Rear Hoof Angle (RA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Hoof Claw Shape (RC), Foot Size (FS), Hoof Orientation (HO), Knee Orientation (KO), Front Side View (FSV), Rear Leg Side View (RS), Rear Leg Hind View (RH), Composite Score (CS). Simmental were scored for all 14 traits by trained evaluators. All traits except CS were scored with the assumed optimum level being in the middle with undesirable scores being located on the extremes. Scores were observed on a scale of 1-100 and analyzed, then scores were simplified to 1-9. Six traits on the 1-9 scale were selected to generate estimated breeding values (EBV's) based on their heritability and relationship with other traits; BCS RHD, RC, FS, RSV, RH. A linear model was used to determine BCS, RHD, RC, FS, FSV and RH regression on Stayability EPD. A less granular scale (1-9 vs. 1-100) can be an appropriate simplification for this type of scoring method. Additional data is being collected on Simmental cattle to further evaluate an optimal scoring system. Subjective scores for 14 traits including: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FHA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Claw Shape (FCS), Rear Hoof Angle (RHA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Claw Shape (RCS), Size of Hoof (Size), Front Side View (FSV), Knee Orientation (Knee), Front Hoof Orientation (FHO), Rear Side View (RSV), Rear View (RV), and a Composite Score (COMP) were collected by trained evaluators on 827 registered Simmental cattle at different ranches across the United States. A three-generation pedigree file with 4792 animals was obtained from the American Simmental Association (ASA) that contained EPDs on all animals with feet and leg scores. All traits except BCS and COMP were scored as intermediate optimum traits. Data were modeled using a linear bivariate animal model with random additive genetic and residual effects, and fixed effects of age and contemporary group (herd-year). Currently, the genetic analysis for 14 feet and leg traits in Simmental cattle is underway. During the course of the project, fewer phenotypes were gathered due to scheduling conflicts and post data collection screening resulting in too few of phenotypes to get meaningful results. Feet and leg traits with little variation are not converging using ASREML, a residual maximum log likelihood statistical analysis for linear mixed models. With these results, an effort should be made to gather additional feet and leg trait phenotypes to introduce increased power to the analysis. More records on Simmental cattle are needed to enable convergence of the model used to estimate variance components. A subset of cattle that have been scored for feet and leg traits have had genomic data submitted to their breed association by their breeders.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Weight Trait Project participants National Cattleman's Beef Association NCBA Cattleman's College National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Brown Bagger Webinar Series Graduate students participated in data collection, analysis, and presentation of results. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students involved in the project received extensive data analysis training this year. They used SAS software for general statistical analysis, and ASREML for genetic variance component estimation. Students completed literature reviews and wrote drafts of scientific papers describing their work. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Popular Press Weaber, R.L., J. Shearer, and S. Bedwell. 2017. Reducing lameness and improving cattle structure through genetics and management. NCBA Directions. April. Proceedings Weaber, R.L., B. Jensen, L. Giess, J. Bormann, and N. Bello. Genetic control of feet and leg structure in cattle. Proceedings of Weight Trait Project Meeting, October 16, 2017. US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE. Invited Presentations Genetic control of feed and leg structure in cattle. Weight Trait Project Meeting. October 16, 2017. US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE Reducing lameness and improving cattle structure through genetics and management. NCBA Cattleman's College. February 1, 2017., Nashville, TN. Update on Structure EPD Development. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Brown Bagger Webinar Series. October 18, 2017. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Publications resulting from this work will be prepared and submitted, and genomic analysis will begin.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Develop a scoring system for feet and leg soundness in beef cattle and collect phenotypes. Cattle were scored on 14 subjective traits: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Hoof Claw Shape (FC), Rear Hoof Angle (RA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Hoof Claw Shape (RC), Foot Size (FS), Hoof Orientation (HO), Knee Orientation (KO), Front Side View (FSV), Rear Leg Side View (RS), Rear Leg Hind View (RH), Composite Score (CS). Red Angus cattle (n=1885) were scored for all 14 traits by trained evaluators. All traits except CS were scored with the assumed optimum level being in the middle with undesirable scores being located on the extremes. Scores were observed on a scale of 1-100 and analyzed, then scores were simplified to 1-9. Six traits on the 1-9 scale were selected to generate estimated breeding values (EBV's) based on their heritability and relationship with other traits; BCS RHD, RC, FS, RSV, RH. A linear model was used to determine BCS, RHD, RC, FS, FSV and RH regression on Stayability EPD. When fixed effects were accounted for, RC (P < 0.0001), RSV (P = 0.0517), and FS (P = 0.086) had relationships with Stayability EPD. A less granular scale (1-9 vs. 1-100) can be an appropriate simplification for this type of scoring method. 2. Estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for soundness traits. Subjective scores for 14 traits including: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FHA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Claw Shape (FCS), Rear Hoof Angle (RHA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Claw Shape (RCS), Size of Hoof (Size), Front Side View (FSV), Knee Orientation (Knee), Front Hoof Orientation (FHO), Rear Side View (RSV), Rear View (RV), and a Composite Score (COMP) were collected by trained evaluators on 1727 Red Angus cattle at different ranches across the United States. A three-generation pedigree file was obtained from the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) that contained 13,306 animals, and EPDs on all animals with feet and leg scores were obtained. All traits except BCS and COMP were scored as intermediate optimum traits. Data were modeled using a linear bivariate animal model with random additive genetic and residual effects, and fixed effects of age and contemporary group (herd-year). Variances were estimated with ASREML 3.0 and 4.0. Heritability estimates of BCS, FHA, FHD, FCS, RHA, RHD, RCS, Size, FSV, Knee, FHO, RSV, RV, and COMP were 0.11, 0.20, 0.17, 0.09, 0.19, 0.25, 0.17, 0.36, 0.16, 0.17, 0.17, 0.30, 0.14, and 0.12, respectively. These results showed feet and leg traits were lowly to moderately heritable. Strong positive genetic correlations were found between FHA and FHD (0.89), FHA and RHA (0.88), FHD and RHA (0.85), FHA and RHD (0.85), FHD and RHD (0.94), and FHO and Knee (0.95), indicating these traits may be highly related to one another. Strong negative correlations were found between Knee and FSV (-0.59) and FHO and FSV (-0.75). The strongest correlation between front limb traits (FHA, FHD, FSV, FHO, Knee, and Comp) and the Stayability EPD (STAY) was FSV (r =0.16; =0.20) and for rear limb traits (RHA, RHD, RCS, RSV, RV, and Comp) and STAY was RCS (r = -0.12; =-0.14). This indicates that cattle with more slope to the angle of the shoulder stay in the herd longer and cattle with less curl to the inside of the claw tend to stay in the herd longer. The correlation between the production traits and the intermediate optimum traits were low and revealed little to no relationship. 3. Genomic analysis of soundness traits. A subset of cattle that have been scored for feet and leg traits have had genomic data submitted to their breed association by their breeders.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience during this reporting period was the Red Angus Association of America and the American Simmental Association, as well as individual Red Angus and Simmental breeders that participated in the project. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students involved in the project have gained experience in phenotypic data collection, database construction, and beginning data analysis. They have also had the opportunity to present project updates. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations include: Red Angus Association of America annual membership meeting, Montana Red Angus Assocation Commercial Producer Symposium, Red Angus Association of America board of directors, American Simmental Association board of directors, Kansas State University Global Food Systems symposia What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?2. Complete genetic evaluation, including heritabilities of feet and leg traits, as well as genetic correlations between those traits and genetic correlations with other traits such as stayability 3. Begin genome-wide association study to look for regions that impact soundness and longevity.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. During this reporting year, the scoring system was refined and data was collected on over 3500 head of cattle from 10 different locations. 2. The database has been constructed and genetic analysis is ongoing. 3. A subset of cattle that have been scored for feet and leg traits have had genomic data submitted to their breed association by their breeders.
Publications
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