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Reproduction, Fertility and Development Reproduction, Fertility and Development Society
Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Genetic parameter estimates and principal component analysis of breeding values of reproduction and growth traits in female Canchim cattle

M. E. Buzanskas A , R. P. Savegnago A , D. A. Grossi C , G. C. Venturini A , S. A. Queiroz B , L. O. C. Silva D , R. A. A. Torres Júnior D , D. P. Munari A F and M. M. Alencar E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Departamento de Ciências Exatas, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo14884-900, Brazil.

B Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo14884-900, Brazil.

C Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.

D Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul70770-901, Brazil.

E Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, São Paulo13560-970, Brazil.

F Corresponding author. Email: danisio@fcav.unesp.br

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 25(5) 775-781 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD12132
Submitted: 25 April 2012  Accepted: 23 June 2012   Published: 15 August 2012

Abstract

Phenotypic data from female Canchim beef cattle were used to obtain estimates of genetic parameters for reproduction and growth traits using a linear animal mixed model. In addition, relationships among animal estimated breeding values (EBVs) for these traits were explored using principal component analysis. The traits studied in female Canchim cattle were age at first calving (AFC), age at second calving (ASC), calving interval (CI), and bodyweight at 420 days of age (BW420). The heritability estimates for AFC, ASC, CI and BW420 were 0.03 ± 0.01, 0.07 ± 0.01, 0.06 ± 0.02, and 0.24 ± 0.02, respectively. The genetic correlations for AFC with ASC, AFC with CI, AFC with BW420, ASC with CI, ASC with BW420, and CI with BW420 were 0.87 ± 0.07, 0.23 ± 0.02, –0.15 ± 0.01, 0.67 ± 0.13, –0.07 ± 0.13, and 0.02 ± 0.14, respectively. Standardised EBVs for AFC, ASC and CI exhibited a high association with the first principal component, whereas the standardised EBV for BW420 was closely associated with the second principal component. The heritability estimates for AFC, ASC and CI suggest that these traits would respond slowly to selection. However, selection response could be enhanced by constructing selection indices based on the principal components.

Additional keywords: age at first calving, bodyweight, calving interval, selection index.


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