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Genetic Evaluation of Native Cattle for Birth Weight

G. K. Deb
Scientific Officer
Animal Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka -1341.

M. A. I. Talukder
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Data on 449 calves for birth weight from breeding records maintained at Cattle Research Farm, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka for a period of 14 years were analyzed in the present study. The birth weight of native cattle originated from Pabna type/variety was 19. 57±0.14kg. Male calves were 6.98% heavier at birth than that of the females. Other than seasonal variation, sex of calves, parity of dam, birth year and generations had significant (p<0.01) effect on calf birth weight. The REML estimated half sib heritability of birth weight was 0.367#0.024. the trend in genetic gain for birth weight over the last 14 years was not in expected tract. Selection of breeding individuals on the basis of phenotypic performances rather than genetic merit may result irregular genetic gain of birth. therefore, it may be concluded that BLUP based genetic evaluation of breeding animals in selection programme has to be followed more effectively.

Keywords: Genetic trend, Pabna cattle, Birth weight, Cattle, Livestock

Location: Cattle Research Farm, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka

Start Date: 00-00-1992

End Date: 00-00-2005

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Cattle

Objectives:

To estimate variance components and heritability, and genetic trends thereof in birth weight using the available records on birth weight of calves born at BLRI research herd.

Methodology:

A total of 449 birth weight records accumulated over the last 14 years (1992 to 2005) were included in the present study. Seasons of the year were defined as winter (October-January), summer (February-May) and rainy (June-September). The recorded data were within 10 parities of cows belonging to five generation. Semi-intensive management system is being practiced in the herd over the years and parities. In this system, animals are kept on the naturally grown grasses for 4 to 5 hours a day and a mixture of concentrate feeds supplied twice daily (morning and afternoon). Green grass or silage depending on their availability was fed to the animals in different period of a year. In the absence of green grass or silage, urea-molasses treated straw was used as basal feed. Management practices were more or less similar throughout the rearing period. No extra prenatal care and management were applied to animals in the herd. Variance components and heritability of birth weight was estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML), The data were analyzed under a single trait animal model. The effect of sex, season and year of birth, parity and generation were included in the analytical model as fixed effects, and that of animal as random effects. The general animal model used to describe birth weight was Y= (Xß+Zu+e) Where, Y is the vector of observations, X and Z are known incidence matrices, B is a vector of fixed effects, u is a vector of random animal effects associated with the additive genetic merit of animal and e is random residual error term. Breeding value was estimated on REML estimated variance components using best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), approach by PEST program. Genetic gain was calculated by averaging of breeding values for animals born in a particular year (Henderson, 1973). The genetic trend was estimated as regression of all the mean breeding values on year of birth.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Livestock Research, Vol: 13 (1 & 2), PP: 39-45, 2006, ISSN: 1022-3851

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Achievement/Findings:

The trend in genetic gain for birth weight over the last 14 years was not in expected tract. Selection of breeding individuals on the basis of phenotypic performances rather than genetic merit may result irregular genetic gain of birth. Therefore, it may be concluded that BLUP based genetic evaluation of breeding animals in selection programme has to be followed more effectively

Knowledge Management: Journal