0361 Estimation of genetic parameters on carcass traits and body type measurements in Hanwoo

The objective of this study is to estimate genetic parameters on carcass traits and body type measurements in Hanwoo cows (Korean native cattle). The data for this study were obtained from local rearing farms in Jeonnam province, South Korea from 2003 to 2014. Two hundred seventy-seven head of reproductive cattle were measured for withers height, rump height, body length, chest depth, chest width, rump length, pelvic width, rump width, hipbone width, chest girth, and shank girth. Of the 277 head of cattle, 151 were randomly selected for investigation of carcass traits. Birth year, birth location, and sex were considered as fixed factors. Genetic correlation coefficients of live weight with chest depth, chest width, rump width, and chest girth were 0.67, 1.00, 0.97, and 0.99, respectively. Genetic correlation coefficients of rump length with withers height, rump height, chest width, and pelvic width were 0.85, 0.92, 0.85, and 0.98, respectively. Positive selection for chest girth, chest width, chest depth, and rump width resulted in increased live weight. Correlation coefficients of rump length with withers height and rump height were highly positive, which suggests that rump length and rump width are informative indicators for selection of body type measurements. Heritabilities of body type measurement and carcass traits ranged from 0.19 to 0.83. Estimates of heritability on marbling score, body length, and rump height were 0.18, 0.19, and 0.24, respectively. Estimates of heritability on eye muscle area, shank girth, and withers height were 0.30, 0.36, and 0.48, respectively. Heritabilities of carcass weight, chest width, live weight, hipbone width, rump length, and chest depth were 0.51, 0.67, 0.68, 0.71, 0.76, and 0.77, respectively. The genetic correlation between carcass weight and chest depth was a negative value of −0.98. The genetic correlation between carcass weight and chest width was 0.68. Genetic correlation coefficients of eye muscle area with rump length, chest depth, hipbone width, and shank girth were 0.67, 0.84, 0.66, and 0.94, respectively. Genetic correlation coefficients of marbling score with withers height, rump length, and hipbone width were −0.54, −0.74, and −0.83, respectively. Improvement in both quality and quantity traits of Hanwoo cows is difficult due to the negative correlation between the two traits. To develop an optimal breeding scheme for Hanwoo cows, rearing farms need to establish breeding goals for Hanwoo cows individually and obtain informative data, including pedigree information and reproductive records, from each cow.