Estimation of genetic parameters of type traits in Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed

Abstract

Ten type traits and a final score were analysed in 5868 records of the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed. Traits were grouped into two classes: (i) traits scoring skeletal and muscular development and (ii) traits scoring adjustment to the breed standard. Heritabilities were moderate to low, ranging from 0.04 to 0.26. Genetic correlations among traits were, in general, in the same direction as, but higher than, phenotypic correlations. The genetic variability shown, in general, for the analysed traits would justify the inclusion of morphological assessment in the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed sire selection programme. Main characteristics of the current type classification system are criticized. The knowledge of (co)variances among type and economically important productive and reproductive traits is recommended before revision of the classification methodology.