Genetic parameters of growth, reproductive, and productive characteristics in Anatolian buffaloes

Abstract

It was aimed to investigate the genetic parameters in growth, fertility, and productivity of Anatolian buffaloes maintained at private farms of Yozgat. A total of 1139 buffalo cows and their calves were used in the study. The weights at birth, weaning, 6th and 12th months of age, and daily live weight gains (DLWG) of buffalo calves born from 2015 to 2019 were recorded. Calving interval (CI) and service period (SP), lactation milk yield (LMY), milk yield per day of lactation period (MYPDLP), milk yield per day of calving interval (MYPDCI), peak yield (PY), a day at peak yield (DPY) and persistency (P) were the traits examined. An animal model was used to estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters by using Wombat software. The village, year, season, sex, age of dam, and age at calving were considered as fixed and animals were taken as random effects. The heritabilities were 0.28 ± 0.08, 0.45 ± 0.29, 0.56 ± 0.10, 0.76 ± 0.18, 0.32 ± 0.28, 0.54 ± 0.10, 0.69 ± 0.17, and 0.24 ± 0.19, respectively in above mentioned growth traits. Reproductive traits had heritabilities as low as 0.11. The heritabilities of production traits were about 0.25 overwhelmingly. The heritabilities and correlations indicated that the weight at twelve months and lactation milk yield could be used for selection in growth and production traits. Environmental factors such as feeding and management should be corrected for improving fertility.