The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle

This study investigated the factors influencing gestation length in a herd of Wagyu cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Fifty-five multiparous purebred Wagyu cows underwent a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) protocol using semen from a bull randomly selected from five bulls representing th...

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Main Authors: Janine de Camargo, Carla Alba, Caroline Gallas, Thales Vogt Kronbauer, Mateus Timbola Mozzato, Dominike Prediger Delazeri, Mariana Groke Marques, Eraldo Lourenso Zanella, Ricardo Zanella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/551
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author Janine de Camargo
Carla Alba
Caroline Gallas
Thales Vogt Kronbauer
Mateus Timbola Mozzato
Dominike Prediger Delazeri
Mariana Groke Marques
Eraldo Lourenso Zanella
Ricardo Zanella
author_facet Janine de Camargo
Carla Alba
Caroline Gallas
Thales Vogt Kronbauer
Mateus Timbola Mozzato
Dominike Prediger Delazeri
Mariana Groke Marques
Eraldo Lourenso Zanella
Ricardo Zanella
author_sort Janine de Camargo
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the factors influencing gestation length in a herd of Wagyu cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Fifty-five multiparous purebred Wagyu cows underwent a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) protocol using semen from a bull randomly selected from five bulls representing three distinct genetic lines. Following birth, we recorded the calves’ gender, weight, and gestation length. The ANOVA test was employed to assess genetic effects on calf weight and gestation length, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. The 55 inseminations resulted in 52 births, comprising 34 females and 18 males. The average calf weight was 25.9 kg, with 25.2 kg for females and 27.2 kg for males (<i>p</i> = 0.38). No significant effect was observed for birth weight concerning the sire’s genetic line (<i>p</i> = 0.42), although there was a trend towards an effect from the maternal grandfather (<i>p</i> = 0.09). The mean duration of pregnancy was 283.8 ± 5.91 days, with no significant effect of gender on gestation length (<i>p</i> = 0.6). However, when evaluating the genetic influences on gestation length, we observed significant effects from the sire’s genetic line (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and the maternal grandfather (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Notably, longer pregnancies resulted in heavier calves (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). This is the first study to identify the effects of Wagyu breed lines on pregnancy length.
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publisher MDPI AG
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spelling doaj-art-634b4cc3efdf4f03bea004599747b20a2025-08-20T01:53:56ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-11-01111155110.3390/vetsci11110551The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu CattleJanine de Camargo0Carla Alba1Caroline Gallas2Thales Vogt Kronbauer3Mateus Timbola Mozzato4Dominike Prediger Delazeri5Mariana Groke Marques6Eraldo Lourenso Zanella7Ricardo Zanella8ESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilIFC—Instituto Federal Catarinense, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção e Sanidade Animal, Concórdia 89703-720, SC, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilESAN—Veterinary Course, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo 99052-900, RS, BrazilThis study investigated the factors influencing gestation length in a herd of Wagyu cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Fifty-five multiparous purebred Wagyu cows underwent a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) protocol using semen from a bull randomly selected from five bulls representing three distinct genetic lines. Following birth, we recorded the calves’ gender, weight, and gestation length. The ANOVA test was employed to assess genetic effects on calf weight and gestation length, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. The 55 inseminations resulted in 52 births, comprising 34 females and 18 males. The average calf weight was 25.9 kg, with 25.2 kg for females and 27.2 kg for males (<i>p</i> = 0.38). No significant effect was observed for birth weight concerning the sire’s genetic line (<i>p</i> = 0.42), although there was a trend towards an effect from the maternal grandfather (<i>p</i> = 0.09). The mean duration of pregnancy was 283.8 ± 5.91 days, with no significant effect of gender on gestation length (<i>p</i> = 0.6). However, when evaluating the genetic influences on gestation length, we observed significant effects from the sire’s genetic line (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and the maternal grandfather (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Notably, longer pregnancies resulted in heavier calves (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). This is the first study to identify the effects of Wagyu breed lines on pregnancy length.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/551wagyupregnancy lengthgeneticsbirth weightbeef cattle
spellingShingle Janine de Camargo
Carla Alba
Caroline Gallas
Thales Vogt Kronbauer
Mateus Timbola Mozzato
Dominike Prediger Delazeri
Mariana Groke Marques
Eraldo Lourenso Zanella
Ricardo Zanella
The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle
Veterinary Sciences
wagyu
pregnancy length
genetics
birth weight
beef cattle
title The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle
title_full The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle
title_fullStr The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle
title_full_unstemmed The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle
title_short The Sire Effect on Gestational Length in Wagyu Cattle
title_sort sire effect on gestational length in wagyu cattle
topic wagyu
pregnancy length
genetics
birth weight
beef cattle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/551
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