Genetic analysis of reproductive performance of Frieswal cattle at Military Farm, Ambala.

Jagdeep Kumar,Sushil Kumar,Y P Singh,Pradeep Kumar,Rajbir Singh,Ravinder Kumar

doi:10.14202/vetworld.2015.1032-1037

Abstract

Aim:This study was carried out to investigate the genetic analysis of reproductive performance of Frieswal cattle at Military Farm, Ambala.Materials and Methods:A total number of 3005 lactation records of 1147 Frieswal cows over a period of 15 years extending from 1993 to 2007 were used to study at Military Dairy Farm, Ambala. The study period was divided into 5 period of 3 years each. The average performances of reproduction traits, effect of genetic and non-genetic factors were analyzed, and estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters of reproduction traits was undertaken.Results:The age at first calving (AFC) differed significantly across the periods of calving. The AFC was lowest during the third period (1999-2001) and longest in the first period (1993-95). The effect of season and period of calving, lactation order and regression of AFC on dry period, calving interval and service period was highly significant. The effect of sire was non-significant. The heritability estimates were low for almost all the traits under study. The service period had a high genetic correlation with dry period and calving interval. The dry period also found to have a low genetic correlation with calving interval in Frieswal cows. Service period had a high phenotypic correlation with dry period and very high with a calving interval. The phenotypic correlation between the dry period and calving interval was recognized high.Conclusions:Low heritability estimate for the reproduction traits indicates that there is a very little additive genetic variance in these traits, and individual selection will not be helpful for improving them. Improvement may be brought through better feeding and management of cows by reducing the environmental variability.

Highlights

In the last four decades, Indian dairy sector has undergone a major shift, mainly due to the synthesis of high yielding crossbred strains, which are playing a very good role for increasing milk production of the country
The at first calving (AFC) was lowest during the third period (1999-2001) and longest in the first period (1993-95)
The climate of Ambala district can be classified as subtropical monsoon, mild and dry winter, hot summer and sub-humid which is mainly dry with very hot summer and cold winter except during monsoon season when moist air of oceanic origin penetrate into the district

Summary

Introduction

In the last four decades, Indian dairy sector has undergone a major shift, mainly due to the synthesis of high yielding crossbred strains, which are playing a very good role for increasing milk production of the country. Milk production in the country has increased over 5-fold (from mere 121.8 million tons in 2010-2011 to 127.9 million tons in 2011-2012) [1]. Beside of this impressive growth in milk production and highest milk producer of the world, there is a shortage of milk due to increasing more affluent population of urban. The total milk production (i.e. 127.9 million tons) of India is contributed by 77 million lactating animals

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