Divergent selection for methane yield in beef cattle — ASN Events
  1. Schedule
  2. Concurrent 11 - Feed Efficiency & Methane emission II
  3. Divergent selection for methane yield in beef cattle

Divergent selection for methane yield in beef cattle (#67)

Tracie L Bird-Gardiner , Kath A Donoghue 1 , Paul F Arthur 2 , Robert M Herd 3 , Roger F Hegarty 4
  1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Trangie, NSW, Australia
  2. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW, Australia
  3. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia
  4. Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

High and Low selection lines for methane yield (MY) were created in each of two performance-recorded Angus research herds during the 2011 mating season. This study is a preliminary report on the divergence of the selection lines, as assessed by the performance of the 2013 born progeny. There was no significant selection line by herd interaction.  Approximately half a generation of selection was achieved. There was a significant (P<0.05) divergence between the two lines in the selected trait, methane yield. This was also reflected in the significant (P<0.05) selection line differences in the residual methane (actual minus expected methane production) traits and also in the estimated breeding values for these traits. There were no significant selection line differences in birth, weaning and yearling weights.

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