Genetic and phenotypic aspects of temperament associated with productive and reproductive performance traits in Nelore cattle

• Grant number: 24/20163-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Rachel Santos Bueno Carvalho
• Grantee: Beatriz Aparecida Niimoto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Temperament is a characteristic that influences the reproductive and productive potential of cattle herds as it is associated with animal performance and aspects that facilitate handling activities and animal welfare. Thus, it is relevant to understand the genetic and environmental factors that influence this trait in order to establish selection methods for animals with a temperament more suited to the production system. This study aims to estimate genetic parameters for temperament scores in Nelore cattle, Lemgruber lineage, including the genetic correlation of this trait with productive performance characteristics at weaning and reproductive characteristics of females, considering traits such as age at first calving (in days), interval between recorded calvings (in days), birth and weaning weights of each calf, and calf vigor using genetic models. Thus, with the results of this study, it is expected that the animals' temperament can be used to improve herd productivity and reproductive performance, in addition to enhancing animal welfare practices and employee safety by facilitating the handling of less reactive cattle.