R. Bras. Zootec.01/Jul/2001;30(4):1220-3.
Heritability of maternal and direct effects of growth traits in Guzera herds at Paraiba State, Brazil
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982001000500013
Weight data of 205 (205W), 365 (365W) and 550 (550W) days old of Guzerá herds raised on Paraíba State from 1975 to 1990 were analysed. Genetic and maternal effects were estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood method (REML). It was used an animal model with fixed effects of year-month-sex, farm and age of dam at calving (linear and quadratic). The general means for 205W, 365W and 550W were respectively 141.85 ± 28.67 kg, 199.08 ± 48.43 kg and 252.32 ± 64.90 kg. The heritability of direct genetic effect at 205W, 365 W and 550W days old were: 0.35 ± 0.08, 0.39 ± 0.11 and 0.46 ± 0.16, respectively. The heritability of maternal effect and correlations between direct genetic and maternal effects at 205W, 365W and 550W days old were: 0.26 ± 0.08, 0.28 ± 0.14 and 0.30 ± 0.25 and ¾0.68, -0.48 and ¾0.74, respectively. All effects were significant, except for the age of dam (linear). Direct genetic and maternal effects were antagonic.
Keywords: genetic parameters; growth; Guzera cattle