Genetic analysis for gestation length, birth weight, weaning weight, and accumulated productivity in Nellore beef cattle

Autor(es)

Chud, Tatiane C. S. ^[1] ; Caetano, Sabrina L. ^[2] ; Buzanskas, Marcos E. ^[1] ; Grossi, Daniela A. ^[3] ; Guidolin, Diego G. F. ^[4] ; Nascimento, Guilherme B. ^[1] ; Rosa, Jaqueline O. ^[1] ; Lobo, Raysildo B. ^[5] ; Munari, Danisio P. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNFSP, Dept Ciencias Exatas, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Ctr Univ Fundacao Educ Barretos, BR-14783226 Barretos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Guelph, Ctr Genet Improvement Livestock, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 - Canada

^[4] Fundacao Univ Fed Grande Dourados, BR-79804970 Dourados, MS - Brazil

^[5] Associacao Nacl Criadores & Pesquisadores, BR-14020230 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: LIVESTOCK SCIENCE; v. 170, p. 16-21, DEC 2014.
• Citações Web of Science: 18

Resumo

The aim of this study was to estimate variance and covariance components for gestation length (GL), birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and accumulated productivity (ACP), and their respective genetic trends for Nellore cattle raised in Brazil. The ACP trait is a reproduction index developed by the National Association of Breeders and Researchers (ANCP) and comprises the total number of calves born per dam, weight of weaned calves, and age of the dam at calving. A total of 25,085, 46,911, 50,044, and 7351 observations were considered to analyze GL, BW, WW, and ACP. Genetic parameters were estimated by the Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood method in single and two-trait analyses. The average direct heritability estimates obtained in two-trait analyses were equal to 0.38 +/- 0.03 (GL), 0.25 +/- 0.02 (BW), 0.28 +/- 0.02 (WW), and 0.11 +/- 0.02 (ACP). The highest genetic correlation was found between BW and WW (0.36 +/- 0.05), followed by BW and ACP (0.20 +/- 0.09), and BW and GL (0.19 +/- 0.06). Significant direct genetic trends (P < 0.001) were observed for GL, BW, and WW equal to -0.027 days per year, 0.073 kg per year, and 0.8456 kg per year, respectively. Greater emphasis should be given to accumulated productivity and gestation length traits in order to increase the number and weight of weaned calves. As accumulated productivity presents low heritability estimates, genetic improvement through selection could be slow in the Nellore breed. Our study reports genetic progress for weaning weight, since its genetic trend has increased over the years. Similar genetic trend for birth weight was observed, which may be a consequence of selection towards higher body weights at older ages. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/15480-2 - Associações genéticas entre período de gestação com peso ao nascer e produtividade acumulada em bovinos da raça Nelore
• Beneficiário: Tatiane Cristina Seleguim Chud
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 13/19335-2 - Estudo do nível de mistura em animais da raça Canchim e grupo genético ma utilizando painel de polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único de alta densidade
• Beneficiário: Marcos Eli Buzanskas
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 12/23384-6 - Efeitos da seleção genômica em populações simuladas de aves poedeiras
• Beneficiário: Guilherme Batista Do Nascimento
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado