Abstract
The majority of Japanese Black beef cattle farms product calves in Hokkaido, Japan. It is very important to produce calves that are sold at a high price in markets. The genetic characteristics for the market price of calves were examined by the construction of a statistical model and estimation of genetic parameters. This study used 2,570 records on calves of Japanese Black beef cattle that were sold at auctions in Hokuren Tokachi market between 2007 and 2009. Age in days, sex, reproductive method and inbreeding coefficient for the calves were included in the analysis. Also, live weight, daily gain (live weight/age in days), withers height, chest girth and hip height were considered. Best model for market price included year, month, herd, sex, reproductive method, age in days, live weight, hip height, inbreeding coefficient and breeding value of the animals (calves). The market price had the highest genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficient (0.51 and 0.52) with live weight. Heritability of the market price was 0.64, which meant that a part of the variation was at least attributed to genetic difference among animals.
