Genetic Parameters for Growth Traits in Ongole Grade Cattle

Abstract

Body weight is an economically important trait of Ongole Grade (OG) cattle which should be genetically improved. To improve the body weight of OG cattle, their genetic parameters ought to be estimated inclusive heritability, breeding values and genetic correlations between traits. This research was aimed to evaluate genetic parameters of traits related to growth of OG cattle in Tanjung Sari district, one of OG breeding center in Lampung Selatan regency. (Co)variance components for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and yearling weight (YW) were estimated on 104 OG cattle born between 2014 and 2019 and generated from 39 dams and 9 sires. Univariate and bivariate models were employed in WOMBAT software. This study resulted that heritability for BW, WW, and YW were estimated as 0.22 ± 0.05, 0.55 ± 0.19, and 0.43 ± 0.18, respectively. Genetic as well as phenotypic correlations between subsequent BW, WW and YW were positive: 0.35 ± 0.12 and 0.40 ± 0.24 for BW-WW, 0.47 ± 0.15 and 0.42 ± 0.10 for BW-YW, and 0.46 ± 0.11 and 0.81 ± 0.14 for WW-YW, respectively. The results of this study indicated that heritability estimates were in moderate to high category and all correlations between traits were positive suggesting that growth traits in OG cattle can be improved concurrently in a breeding program.