Abstract
Genetic parameters were estimated for pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and number of days to gain 160 kg from birth to weaning (D160) of Nelore cattle. Ranks of animals were compared for these traits. Heritability estimates were 0.17 and 0.10 for ADG (direct and maternal), and 0.14 and 0.09, for D160 (direct and maternal). Rank correlations between expected breeding values (EBV) were 0.97 and 0.95, for direct and maternal effects, respectively. Despite similar heritability estimates and high rank correlations, results showed that changes in rank could happen when choosing the best animals according to EBV for D160 or ADG. There were evidences that sires selected using D160 would produce progeny that achieve a specified market weight at an earlier age and would be more uniform, since this criterion is calculated as a harmonic mean function.
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