AN INDEX FOR BEEF AND VEAL CHARACTERISTICS IN DAIRY-CATTLE BASED ON CARCASS TRAITS

Carcass data are nowadays routinely collected from Dutch slaughterhous es. The aim of this study was to develop a selection index for beef pr oduction traits in a dairy cattle population based upon such data. Rec ords were available from three categories of animals: veal calves, bee f bulls, and cows culled fr om dairy herds. All animals originated fro m dairy or dual purpose breeds. Heritabilities for carcass traits on v eal calves varied from 0.06 to 0.19; for bulls from 0.25 to 0,30, and for culled cows from 0.07 to 0.20. Economic values were determined fro m profit equations for each of the three categories and cumulative dis counted expressions (CDE) were used to compare economic values of trai ts across groups. Relative to dairy traits, CDE were 0.55, 0.05 and 0. 28 for traits on veal calves, beef bulls, and culled cows, respectivel y. The standard deviation of the resulting selection index was about 9 % of the standard deviation of the net merit index for milk production traits. The largest amount of the total genetic gain is allocated to daily gain in veal:production. In cows, carcass weight (with a negativ e economic value) and fleshiness were increased. The study shows that some additional genetic gain can be obtained by utilising routinely re corded carcass data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.