Abstract
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to determine the genetic variation in milk production, milk components, and reproductive traits in dairy buffaloes. A total of 9,318 lactation records from 3,061 cows were used to estimate the heritability of milk yield (MY), fat percentage (%F), protein percentage (%P), lactation length (LL), calving interval (CI), and age at first calving (AFC), as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations between these traits. Covariance components were estimated by Bayesian inference in a multitrait animal model using the GIBBS2F90 program. Contemporary groups and number of milkings (1 or 2) were included as fixed effects, age of dam at calving (linear and quadratic effects) as a covariate, and additive genetic, permanent environmental, and residual effects as random effects. The heritability estimates (± standard deviation) were 0.24 ± 0.02, 0.34 ± 0.05, 0.40 ± 0.05, 0.09 ± 0.01, 0.05 ± 0.01, and 0.16 ± 0.04 for MY, %F, %P, LL, CI, and AFC, respectively. The genetic correlations between MY and %F, %P, LL, CI, and AFC were -0.29, -0.18, 0.66, 0.08, and 0.24, respectively. Milk production and milk components showed sufficient genetic variation to obtain genetic gains through selection. The genetic correlations between MY and milk components were negative, and thus, undesirable because efforts to increase MY may decrease milk quality. Reproductive traits had little genetic influence, indicating that improvement of management would be sufficient to obtain better performance.
Highlights
The adaptability of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) to a variety of environmental conditions has led to substantial growth of the Brazilian herd
The high growth rate may be associated with the increase in consumer demand for buffalo products, mozzarella cheese, which is widely used in cooking because of its flavor and other organoleptic qualities
Contemporary groups for at first calving (AFC) were formed by herd, year of birth, and season of birth, whereas they were formed by herd, and year and season of calving for milk yield (MY), fat percentage, protein percentage, lactation length (LL), and calving interval (CI)
Summary
The adaptability of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) to a variety of environmental conditions has led to substantial growth of the Brazilian herd. The high growth rate may be associated with the increase in consumer demand for buffalo products, mozzarella cheese, which is widely used in cooking because of its flavor and other organoleptic qualities. According to Cassiano et al (2004), the importance of the study of reproductive traits in breeding programs lies in the relationship between these traits and rates of annual genetic gain. Understanding the production potential of animals is essential to improving production levels. These data permit livestock managers to make necessary adjustments in animal management, as well as estimate genetic parameters for milk production and reproduction traits, which are important in the development of appropriate breeding programs
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