[Estimation of the heritability of abomasal displacement in German black-pied cattle in Hesse]

Abstract

The degree of heritability of displacement of the abomasum was estimated in 30 Hessian herds breeding German Black Pied cattle in which displacement of the abomasum occurred more frequently than normal. Estimation was made by investigating the similarity between mothers and daughters. A total of 2626 pairs were used for this investigation, based on the absence or occurrence of abomasal displacement in the mothers and daughters. The fourpoint correlation coefficient was determined for each herd using a quadrant square. The arithmetic means were then calculated from the correlation coefficients. The number of herds examined was limited by assuming the correlation coefficient to be stable when it varied by less than 0.02 units during the investigation of more than 15 herds. Heritability was then calculated using the correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient was stable after examining 15 herds; for the examination of the last six herds, it was 0.12 (0.117-0.124) units. Based on this, the heritability of displacement of the abomasum in the herds was taken to be h2 = 0.24.