Forabosco F, Groen A F, Bozzi R, Van Arendonk J A M, Filippini F, Boettcher P, Bijma P
Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Bovini Italiani da Carne, 06070 S. Martino in Colle, Italy.
J Anim Sci. 2004 Jun;82(6):1572-80. doi: 10.2527/2004.8261572x.
Longevity is an increasingly important trait in beef cattle. Increased longevity decreases costs for the farmer and increases revenue. The objective of this research was to investigate the phenotypic relationship between type traits and longevity in Chianina beef cattle, and the relationship between production and longevity, to analyze the effect of voluntary culling. Data included records on reproductive, productive, and type traits provided by the National Association of Italian Beef Cattle Breeders from 6,395 Chianina cows. The average length of productive life was 1,829 d. The herd-year had a strong effect on the risk of culling. The effects of 22 type traits were analyzed. All the muscularity traits analyzed were highly significant (P < 0.01) and as a group had the largest effect on longevity, followed by dimension, refinement, and leg traits. Cows that calved before 35 mo of age had a lower probability of being culled than cows calving after 35 mo of age. Variation in herd size had a strong effect on risk ratio, with lower risk for intermediate classes. Cows with approximately one calf per year remained in the herd longer than did cows with fewer calves. Straight-legged animals had a 59% greater probability of being replaced than cows with a moderate angle to the hock, whereas sickle-legged animals had only a 3% higher probability of being culled than average cows. Udder conformation had no effect on longevity. In summary, results of this study indicate that herd-year effects and muscularity traits were the most important factors for longevity for Chianina cows among the factors studied.
长寿在肉牛中是一个越来越重要的性状。长寿可降低养殖户的成本并增加收益。本研究的目的是调查契安尼娜肉牛类型性状与长寿之间的表型关系，以及生产与长寿之间的关系，以分析自愿淘汰的影响。数据包括意大利肉牛养殖者全国协会提供的6395头契安尼娜母牛的繁殖、生产和类型性状记录。生产寿命的平均长度为1829天。畜群年份对淘汰风险有很大影响。分析了22种类型性状的影响。所有分析的肌肉发达性状都非常显著（P < 0.01），并且作为一个整体对长寿的影响最大，其次是体型、精致度和腿部性状。35月龄前产犊的母牛被淘汰的概率低于35月龄后产犊的母牛。畜群规模的变化对风险比有很大影响，中等规模畜群的风险较低。每年产犊约一头的母牛在畜群中停留的时间比产犊较少的母牛更长。腿部笔直的动物被替换的概率比跗关节角度适中的母牛高59%，而腿部呈镰刀状的动物被淘汰概率仅比普通母牛高3%。乳房形态对长寿没有影响。总之，本研究结果表明，在研究的因素中，畜群年份效应和肌肉发达性状是契安尼娜母牛长寿的最重要因素。
