Analysis of Genetic Parameters for Reproductive Traits in Crossbred Dairy Cattle Maintained at Holetta Agricultural Research Center.

Abstract

This study was aimed to generate information on variance components and the resulting genetic parameters (heritability, repeatability, genetic and phenotypic correlations and genetic trends) of some economic traits of Borena and its crosses with Holstein Friesian dairy cattle maintained at Holetta agricultural research center dairy farm. Traits studied were age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO) and number of service per conception (NSC). Overall, 11331 dairy cattle reproductive performance records were used for the study. WOMBAT, which is a software package for quantitative genetic analysis of continuous traits, fitting a linear, mixed model; estimates of covariance components and the resulting genetic parameters were employed and obtained. Heritability values of reproductive traits were from very low (0.071, 0.082 and 0.012) for CI, DO and NSC to moderate (0.3 and 0.22) for AFC and AFS traits. Repeatability estimate for CI, DO and NSC were low (0.17, 0.17 and 0.129). Strong and positive genetic correlation (0.98) was appeared between AFS and AFC traits. Negative genetic correlations were observed between AFS and DO (-0.001), AFC and DO (-0.05), AFS and NSC (-0.022), AFC and NSC (-0.29) and CI and NSC (-0.31). AFS were negative phenotypic correlation with CI, DO and NSC. Similarly, AFC was negative phenotypic correlation with CI and DO. Low phenotypic correlation was observed between AFC and NSC, CI and DO, CI and NSC and, DO and NSC. Strong and positive phenotypic correlation was appeared between AFS and AFC. The regression coefficient of mean breeding value for NSC, CI, DO, AFC and AFS on year of birth were -0.0066x+13.25 times/year, -1.19x+2387.4 days/year, -1.23x+2445.6 days/year, 0.2x-410 months/year and 0.48x-980 months/year, respectively.