The genetic relationship between immune competence traits and micro-genetic environmental sensitivity of weight, fat, and muscle traits in Australian Angus cattle.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Improving immune competence (IC) in livestock could reduce the incidence of disease and reliance on the use of antibiotics. In Australian Angus cattle, IC is a measure of an animal's combined ability to mount antibody and cell-mediated immune responses (AMIR and CMIR). Immune competence may affect traits such as growth and related phenotypes as well as the variability of such phenotypes. However, the genetic relationship between IC and genetic sensitivity to individual environments, measured as micro-genetic environmental sensitivity (GES), is yet to be reported. In this study the genetic parameters of, and correlations between, AMIR or CMIR and micro-GES of live weaning weight (WW) and ultrasound scan records of rib (RIB) and rump (RUMP) fat depth and eye muscle area (E

SUBMITTER: Madsen MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12465796 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature