dc.description.abstract |
Phenotypic and Genetic Parameters Estimation for Growth Traits of Holstein
Friesian x Boran Crossbred Dairy Cattle at Holetta Agricultural Research Center,
Ethiopia
Fikadu Wodajo1, 2
, Damitie Kebede1
and Mengistie Taye1
1Bahir Dar University, Colleges of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bahir Dar,
Ethiopia; 2
Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Agricultural Research
Center, Holetta, Ethiopia
This study was initiated to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters for growth traits of
Holstein Friesian x Boran crossbred dairy cattle at Holetta Agricultural Research Center
(HARC) dairy farm. A total of 14,062 crossbred dairy calves performance records of 22
year (1997-2018) were used for the study. A General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of
the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, version 9.0) was used to analyze the growth
performance data and to determine the significance of fixed effects (year of birth, season
of birth, dam parity (only for birth weight), sex of calf and calf genotype). The variance
components and genetic parameters for growth traits were estimated by Average
Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AI-REML) method, using the WOMBAT
software fitting animal model. Four analysis models were fitted to optimize the model for
each growth trait. The direct additive effect was included in all the models and it was the
only random effect at the first model. In the 2nd and 3rd model, additive maternal effect and
maternal permanent environmental effects, respectively, were fitted as 2nd random effect.
The 4th model included both permanent environmental and additive maternal effects. The
2
rd and 4
th models were omitted the direct-maternal covariance. The log-likelihood ratio
test was used for selecting the best fitted model. The overall least squares mean for birth
weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), six months weight (SMW) and yearling weight (YW)
were 28.5±0.11, 60.56±0.27, and 84.49±0.50 and 138.44±1.17 kg, respectively. The preweaning average daily weight gain (from birth to weaning) (PrWADG) and post-weaning
average daily weight gain (from weaning to yearling) (PoWADG) were 359.61±2.72 and
279.94±3.60 g/day, respectively. Genotype, season of birth, year of birth, parity of dam
and sex of calves were important sources of variation for most of the growth traits. Based
on the log-likelihood ratio test, the 4th model for BW, 2nd model for WW, SMW and
average daily weight gain from birth to weaning (PrWADG) and 1
st model for YW and
ix
average daily weight gain from weaning to yearling (PoWADG) traits were the best fitted.
The estimates of direct heritability with its standard error from the best model of HF x
Boran crossbred calves for growth traits were 0.15±0.04, 0.06±0.03, 0.07±0.04,
0.26±0.06, 0.05±0.03 and 0.28±0.05 for BW, WW, SMW, YW, PrWADG and PoWADG,
respectively. The total heritability (h2
t) value for BW, WW, SMW, YW, PrWADG and
PoWADG with best fitted model was 0.20, 0.12, 0.10, 0.26, 0.09 and 28, respectively.
Among the growth traits, the highest direct genetic correlation was observed between YW
and PoWADG (0.944±0.02) followed by WW and SMW (0.84±0.04). BW and WW
(0.07±0.11) and BW and PrWADG (0.10±0.12) had a relatively lower genetic correlation.
The genetic correlations among growth traits varied from 0.94±0.02 to 0.07±0.11 while
the values of phenotypic correlation ranged from 0.93±0.04 to -0.03±0.04. The genetic
trends were in progress up to weaning age but decline after weaning. The development of
integrated management packages for different genetic groups of crossbred cattle are
required to exploit the potentials of the dairy animals and the selection method of the herd
must be based on the both phenotypic and genetic evaluation (breeding value) results or
the selection criteria may need to revise).
Keywords: Crossbred dairy cattle, genetic parameter, genetic trend, growth |
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