Estimate of some genetic parameters of growth in Guzerat breed in Mexico.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate some genetic parameters of traits growth in Guzerat breed. Data from 905 calves were used, which were in test of control of development pondered, and registered in the Mexican Association of Zebu Breeders. The calves were weighed at 90 ± 10 days from birth until 18 months of age. They were weaned approximately at the eight month of age. The variables studied were birth weight (BW), weaning weight adjusted to 205 days (WWA), one year weight (W365), and weight to 550 days (W550), and evaluated with an animal model through the set of programs MTDFREML considering as fixed effects the contemporary group (year and season birth and sex), ranch, and age of the cow (lineal and quadratic, covariable). The genetic effects were animal, sire, and cow. The general means for BW, WWA, W365, and W550 were 30.7, 174.8, 251.6, and 332.5 kg, respectively. The heritability for BW, WWA, W365, and W550 were 0.23, 0.53, 0.41, and 0.52, respectively. We concluded that effects genetic are important in the WWA, W365, and W550 characteristics.