Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids

The objectives of this study were to evaluate fixed risk factors associated with PWM and to estimate genetic parameters for PWM. A total of 927 birth records from a mixed population of purebred and crossbred Boer and Spanish goats born between 2016 and 2023 at the International Goat Research Center...

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Main Authors: Liuhong Chen, William Foxworth, Scott Horner, Mustafa Hitit, Negusse Kidane, Erdogan Memili
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-04-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1085
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author Liuhong Chen
William Foxworth
Scott Horner
Mustafa Hitit
Negusse Kidane
Erdogan Memili
author_facet Liuhong Chen
William Foxworth
Scott Horner
Mustafa Hitit
Negusse Kidane
Erdogan Memili
author_sort Liuhong Chen
collection DOAJ
description The objectives of this study were to evaluate fixed risk factors associated with PWM and to estimate genetic parameters for PWM. A total of 927 birth records from a mixed population of purebred and crossbred Boer and Spanish goats born between 2016 and 2023 at the International Goat Research Center (IGRC) were used for this study. Four binary traits were studied: D0–3 (death within 3 days after birth), D4–60 (death between 4 and 60 days), D61–90 (death between 61 and 90 days), and D0–90 (death within 90 days). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with PWM traits. Bayesian threshold models and Gibbs sampling were used to estimate the genetic parameters. Birth weight, season, litter size, sex, dam age, breed, and heterosis were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the PWM traits. Heritability estimates were 0.263, 0.124, 0.080, and 0.207, for D0–3, D4–60, D61–90, and D0–90, respectively. The genetic correlations between the studied traits ranged from 0.892 (D0–3 and D0–90) to 0.999 (D0–3 and D61–90). These results suggest that PWM in goats is influenced by both non-genetic and genetic factors and can be reduced by management, genetic selection, and crossbreeding approaches.
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spelling doaj.art-a8aff7d9d32448b7b26d35f80741b4d92024-04-12T13:14:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-04-01147108510.3390/ani14071085Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat KidsLiuhong Chen0William Foxworth1Scott Horner2Mustafa Hitit3Negusse Kidane4Erdogan Memili5International Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USAInternational Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USAInternational Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USAInternational Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USAInternational Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USAInternational Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USAThe objectives of this study were to evaluate fixed risk factors associated with PWM and to estimate genetic parameters for PWM. A total of 927 birth records from a mixed population of purebred and crossbred Boer and Spanish goats born between 2016 and 2023 at the International Goat Research Center (IGRC) were used for this study. Four binary traits were studied: D0–3 (death within 3 days after birth), D4–60 (death between 4 and 60 days), D61–90 (death between 61 and 90 days), and D0–90 (death within 90 days). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with PWM traits. Bayesian threshold models and Gibbs sampling were used to estimate the genetic parameters. Birth weight, season, litter size, sex, dam age, breed, and heterosis were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the PWM traits. Heritability estimates were 0.263, 0.124, 0.080, and 0.207, for D0–3, D4–60, D61–90, and D0–90, respectively. The genetic correlations between the studied traits ranged from 0.892 (D0–3 and D0–90) to 0.999 (D0–3 and D61–90). These results suggest that PWM in goats is influenced by both non-genetic and genetic factors and can be reduced by management, genetic selection, and crossbreeding approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1085pre-weaning mortalityrisk factorsgoatgenetic parameter
spellingShingle Liuhong Chen
William Foxworth
Scott Horner
Mustafa Hitit
Negusse Kidane
Erdogan Memili
Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids
Animals
pre-weaning mortality
risk factors
goat
genetic parameter
title Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids
title_full Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids
title_fullStr Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids
title_full_unstemmed Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids
title_short Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids
title_sort risk factor analysis and genetic parameter estimation for pre weaning mortality traits in boer spanish and crossbred goat kids
topic pre-weaning mortality
risk factors
goat
genetic parameter
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1085
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