Phenotypic and Genetic Correlations of Growth Traits in Bali Cattle Breeding Population

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate phenotypic and genetic correlations of growth traits as selection criteria in Bali cattle test center populations at Pulukan Breeding Center Denpasar, Bali. In total 160 records were obtained from calves which born between 2013 until 2016. Data collected were birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), mature weight (MW) and pedigree. Data were then standardized to weaning weight at 205 days (WW205), yearling weight at 365 days (YW365) and mature weight at 730 days (MW730). The data obtained were then analyzed using univariate and bivariate animal models with Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) method. Heritability values (h2) were 0.43 ± 0.12, 0.22 ± 0.12, 0.39 ± 0.15, 0.63 ± 0.18 for BW, WW205, YW365 and MW730 respectively. Phenotypic correlations among variables were vary from low to medium; which were 0.16 for BW - WW205, 0.11 for BW - YW365, 0.34 for BW - MW730, 0.61 for WW205 - YW365, 0.25 for WW205 - MW730 and 0.31 for YW365 x MW730. However, the genetic correlation among growth traits were considerably high: BW - WW205 0.53, BW - YW365 0.76, BW - MW730 0.47, WW205 - YW365 0.70, WW205 - MW730 0.48, YW365 - MW730 0.64. Heritability of Bali cattle growth traits are categorized as moderate to high, thus selection on these traits are potential to obtain genetic improvement in the population. Phenotypic correlations among traits were considerably low, whereas the genetic correlations spanned between medium to high. These findings implied that other than genetic, improving the farm environment and management could also affect the growth performance of Bali cattle.