Genetic parameters for carcass weight, conformation and fat in five beef cattle breeds

Profitability of beef production can be increased by genetically improving carcass traits. To construct breeding value evaluations for carcass traits, breed-specific genetic parameters were estimated for carcass weight, carcass conformation and carcass fat in five beef cattle breeds in Finland (Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Simmental, Charolais and Limousin). Conformation and fat were visually scored using the EUROP carcass classification. Each breed was separately analyzed using a multitrait animal model. A total of 6879-19 539 animals per breed had phenotypes. For the five breeds, heritabilities were moderate for carcass weight (h(2) = 0.39 to 0.48, s.e. = 0.02 to 0.04) and slightly lower for conformation (h(2) = 0.30 to 0.44, s.e. = 0.02 to 0.04) and carcass fat (h(2) = 0.29 to 0.44, s.e. = 0.02 to 0.04). The genetic correlation between carcass weight and conformation was favorable in all breeds (r(G) = 0.37 to 0.53, s.e. = 0.04 to 0.05), heavy carcasses being genetically more conformed. The phenotypic correlation between carcass weight and carcass fat was moderately positive in all breeds (r(P) = 0.21 to 0.32), implying that increasing carcass weight was related to increasing fat levels. The respective genetic correlation was the strongest in Hereford (r(G) = 0.28, s.e. = 0.05) and Angus (r(G) = 0.15, s.e. = 0.05), the two small body-sized British breeds with the lowest conformation and the highest fat level. The correlation was weaker in the other breeds (r(G) = 0.08 to 0.14). For Hereford, Angus and Simmental, more conformed carcasses were phenotypically fatter (r(P) = 0.11 to 0.15), but the respective genetic correlations were close to zero (r(G) = -0.05 to 0.04). In contrast, in the two large body-sized and muscular French breeds, the genetic correlation between conformation and fat was negative and the phenotypic correlation was close to zero or negative (Charolais: r(G) = -0.18, s.e. = 0.06, r(P) = 0.02; Limousin: r(G) = -0.56, s.e. = 0.04, r(P) = -0.13). The results indicate genetic variation for the genetic improvement of the carcass traits, favorable correlations for the simultaneous improvement of carcass weight and conformation in all breeds, and breed differences in the correlations of carcass fat.