Hostname: page-component-68945f75b7-55759 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-04T19:23:09.312Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Responses of prolactin and hair growth to selection for age at puberty in Angus cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2010

C. A. Morris ,
N. C. Amyes  and
S. M. Hickey
C. A. Morris*
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
N. C. Amyes
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
S. M. Hickey
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
*
†E-mail: chris.morris@agresearch.co.nz
Get access

Abstract

A trial was carried out over a 7-year period (1999 to 2005 calf crops) to compare indicators of seasonality in Angus cattle, which were part of a long-term genetic selection experiment. Divergent selection was applied for early (‘AGE−’) or late (‘AGE+’) age at puberty (AP) in heifers, and selection lines differed over the 7-year period by 62 days (15% of the mean). The primary measures of seasonality studied in 629 heifer progeny (59 sire groups) were serum concentration of prolactin (PRL), and winter and summer hair growth. Serial samples were obtained for PRL from 11 to 18 months of age, and data were analysed with adjustment for cortisol concentration. Using restricted maximum likelihood procedures with an animal model, heritability estimates were: AP, 0.26 ± 0.03; logePRL concentration, 0.23 ± 0.07; logecortisol concentration, 0.22 ± 0.07; hair weight, 0.21 ± 0.04; and hair length, 0.09 ± 0.05. Corresponding repeatability estimates for the last four traits were 0.49 ± 0.03, 0.38 ± 0.03, 0.21 ± 0.04, and 0.64 ± 0.02, respectively. The genetic correlation between AP and logePRL concentration was estimated at −0.29 ± 0.13 (P < 0.05). PRL concentration in the AGE− line after passing through puberty was 11 ± 5% lower than in the AGE+ line (P < 0.05). Line effects were not significant for hair weight or hair length. It was concluded that divergent selection for AP changed PRL concentration, which may partly reflect sensitivity to changing day length.

Keywords

cattlegeneticspubertyprolactinhair
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , February 2011 , pp. 198 - 201
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amyes, NC, Morris, CA 2009. Responses to selection for pubertal traits in Angus cattle over 23 years. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 69, 201–205.Google Scholar
Auldist, MJ, Turner, S-A, McMahon, CD, Prosser, CG 2007. Effects of melatonin on the yield and composition of milk from grazing dairy cows in New Zealand. Journal of Dairy Research 74, 52–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berman, A 1960. Peripheral effects of L-thyroxine on hair growth and coloration in cattle. Journal of Endocrinology 20, 288–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Echternkamp, SE, Gregory, KE, Dickerson, GE, Cundiff, LV, Koch, RM, Van Vleck, LD 1990. Twinning in cattle: II. Genetic and environmental effects on ovulation rate in puberal heifers and postpartum cows and the effects of ovulation rate on embryonic survival. Journal of Animal Science 68, 1877–1888.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, AD, Verkerk, GA, Morrow, CJ, Matthews, LR 2002. The effects of feed restriction and lying deprivation on pituitary-adrenal axis regulation in lactating cows. Livestock Production Science 73, 255–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gianola, D, Norton, HW 1981. Scaling threshold characters. Genetics 99, 357–364.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilmour, AR, Gogel, BJ, Cullis, BR, Welham, SJ, Thompson, R 2002. ASReml user guide, release 1.0. VSN International Ltd., Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK.Google Scholar
Montgomery, GW, Davis, GH, Hurrell, GA 1980. Interval from calving to first oestrus in autumn- and spring-calving herds in the same locality. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 40, 280–284.Google Scholar
Morris, CA, Amyes, NC 2005. Response to selection for age at puberty in an Angus herd. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 16, 157–160.Google Scholar
Morris, CA, Amyes, NC 2007. Puberty in Angus bulls from lines selected for heifers’ age at puberty. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 67, 365–369.Google Scholar
Morris, CA, Wilson, JA, Bennett, GL, Cullen, NG, Hickey, SM, Hunter, JC 2000. Genetic parameters for growth, puberty and beef cow reproductive traits in a puberty selection experiment. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 83–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, CA, Amyes, NC, Cullen, NG, Hickey, SM 2006. Carcass composition and growth in Angus cattle genetically selected for differences in pubertal traits. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Notter, DR, Chemineau, P 2001. Nocturnal melatonin and prolactin plasma concentrations in sheep selected for fertility in autumn lambing. Journal of Animal Science 79, 2895–2901.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parrott, RF, Goode, JA 1993. Central effects of naloxone and selected opioid agonists on cortisol and prolactin secretion in non-stressed sheep. General Pharmacology: The Vascular System 24, 101–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearson, AJ, Parry, AL, Ashby, MG, Choy, VJ, Wildermoth, JE, Craven, AJ 1996. Inhibitory effect of increased photoperiod on wool follicle growth. Journal of Endocrinology 148, 157–166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SAS 2001. JMP version 4.0.4. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Smith, JT, Clay, CM, Caraty, A, Clarke, IJ 2007. KiSS-1 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in the hypothalamus of the ewe is regulated by sex steroids and season. Endocrinology 148, 1150–1157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whisnant, CS, Thompson, FN, Kiser, TE, Barb, CR 1986. Effect of naloxone on serum luteinizing hormone, cortisol and prolactin concentrations in anestrus beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 62, 1340–1345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wuliji, T, Weatherall, IL, Andrews, RN, Dodds, KG, Turner, PR, Wheeler, R 1995. Effect of selection for wool growth on seasonal patterns of yield, fibre diameter, and colour in Romney lines. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 27–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar