Dhr. Flavio Forabosco : Breeding for longevity in Italian Chianina cattle

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18 Oct 2005 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Promotor: prof.dr.ir. J.A.M van Arendonk (Animal Breeding and Genetics)
Co Promotor: dr. R. Bozzi (Italië), dr.ir. P Bijma

 The objective of this thesis was to evaluate genetic aspects of longevity (LPL) in the Chianina beef cattle population. The Chianina breed has been raised for over twenty-two centuries in Italy and today this breed is present in different countries across Europe, South and Central America, Australia, Canada and the USA. Its characteristics of somatic gigantism and rapid growth are combined with enormous resistance to harsh environmental conditions, great ease of calving and an excellent meat quality. In this breed longevity was recorded as the length of productive life (LPL) and was equal to 5.97 years on average. Heritability was equal to 0.11 when both censored and uncensored data were included to estimate longevity with the survival analysis. Including longevity in both the Chianina breeding index and breeding goal either using empirical or economical weights increases the total economic return.
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