Jonas Carlos Campos Pereira

Genetic association among scrotal circumference and female reproductive traits in Nellore

The objectives of this work were to estimate of genetic parameters for scrotal circumference (SC) at 12 (SC12, n = 652) and 18 (SC18, n = 607) months of age, age at first calving (AFC, n = 1,582), first (FCD, n = 1,582) and second (SCD, n = 644) calving dates and first calving interval (FCI, n = 644) in Nellore cattle. Parameters were estimated using REML methodology, with animal models and considering the relations among 15,648 animals. Heritability estimates from univariate analyses were .24±.10, .31±.10, .01±.03, .11±.05, .07±.08 and .10±.10, respectively, for SC12, SC18, AFC, FCD, SCD and FCI. These values were close to the estimates from bivariate analyses, except for the analysis including both SC (heritability estimates of .61 and .68, respectively, for SC12 and SC18). Genetic correlation estimates between SC12 and, respectively, AFC, FCD, SCD and FCI were ¾1.00, -.08, -.71, and -.37. In the same order, genetic correlation between SC18 and female reproductive traits were ¾1.00, .21, -.35 and -.44. The selection for SC12 would be more effective than selection for SC18 when trying to improve the reproductive traits of the females.

Estimativa de parâmetros genéticos, fenotípicos e ambientes para as produções de leite no dia do controle e em 305 dias de lactação de vacas da raça Gir

Data from 32,779 monthly milk production, from 3,605 lactations until 305 days (PL305), from 2,082 Gir cows, sired by 281 bulls, calving from 1987 to 1999, in 11 herds, were used to verify the viability of using daily milk production control (PLDC) to perform genetic evaluations within Gir breed. Bivariate analysis on PLDC1 to PLDC10 and PL305 were performed utilizing the restricted maximum likelihood method within an animal model, which included the three first lactations as replicate measures of the same dams unit. Animals were grouped according to the criterion of contemporaneous group of herd-year-season, and according to calving-age and to the interval calving-first control in PLDC1. The observed averages (kg) and the respective standard deviations for PLDC1 at PLDC10 and PL305 were: 11.97±4.64; 11.93±4.68; 10.98±4.40; 10.18±4.12; 9.66±3.88; 9.20±3.69; 8.63±3,51; 8.08±3.33; 7.59±3.27; 7.22±3.15 and 2746.17±1299.90. The average lactation length was 273.72±48.95 days. Heritability estimates for PLDC based on bivariate analysis ranged from 0.24 to 0.14, decreasing from the first to the tenth control; the heritability estimate for PL305 was 0.19. Estimates of the genetic correlations between PLDC and PL305 varied from 0.85 to 1.00. The estimates of the genetic correlations between PLDC1 to PLDC9 with PLDC6 to PLDC10 were greater than 0.80, except the correlations between PLDC9 with PLDC1, PLDC10 with PLDC1, PLDC2, PLDC3 and PLDC6. The estimates of the phenotypic correlations resulting in intermediate value between genetic and environmental correlations (smaller). The results of genetic trend indicate that indirect selection for PLDC2 to PLDC4 was more efficient than direct selection for PL305.

Lactation curves of four genetic groups of Holstein-Zebu crossbred cows

Lactation curves were fitted from 1,340 lactations of F1 Holstein-Gyr, Holstein-Guzerat, Holstein-Nellore and Holstein-Undefined Zebu crossbred cows from two farms with milk controls carried out every 14 days. Nutritional management was based on pastures in the summer, and corn silage and sugar cane with urea during winter and concentrated rations in the milking, according to the production. Incomplet Gamma function was used for estimating parameters of curves, production during lactation peak and of the time from the beginning of lactation to the peak, of persistence and total milk production. Within each genetic group, curves were adjusted for the several lactation orders. Adjusted coefficients of determination were higher than 90% for most of the curves; therefore Incomplete Gamma function adequately fitted lactation curves of F1 Holstein-Zebu cows. Curves showed initial production followed by upward phase until lactation peak and downward phase subsequent to the peak. For fifth or higher orders of Holstein-Nellore, the curve was linear and downward from the beginning. The differences among curves of the first order and others were evident for all genetic groups. Differences among initial production and production during lactation peak were not expressive, with the following means for all lactation orders: mean 2.3 kg for Holstein-Gir; 2.6 kg for Holstein-Guzerat; 1.2 kg for Holstein-Nellore and 3.5 kg for Holstein-Undefined Zebu, showing a discreet lactation peak. The mean from the beginning of lactation to the peak was 23.3 days ranging from 15.8 for Holstein-Nellore group to 32.6 days for Holstein-Undefinied Zebu. Persistence of lactation tended to decrease and initial productions, during the peak and total production increased according to lactation order. In general, Holstein-Undefinied Zebu cows show higher total production and persistence compared to the others.

Environmental and genetic effects on the lactation curves of four genetic groups of crossbred Holstein-Zebu cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of genetic group and environmental factors, including farm of origin, season of calving and lactation number, on the individual lactation curves of 1,010 Holstein-Gyr, Guzerat-Holstein, Holstein-Nellore, and Holstein-Zebu F1 cows on the experimental farms of the Agricultural Research Company in Minas Gerais (Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria de Minas Gerais, EPAMIG). Least squares analysis and the incomplete gamma function were used to investigate differences in early milk yield, peak milk yield, time from onset to the lactation peak, persistency, total milk yield and lactation duration. The highest early yields were observed for Holstein-Gyr and Holstein-Zebu, and the lowest were observed for Holstein-Nellore cows. Early yield increased with lactation number, and the lactations that began in the late rainy and early dry seasons had the highest early yield. The time between lactation onset and the lactation peak was longer for primiparous Holstein-Gyr and Holstein-Guzerat cows. The lowest yields at the lactation peak were observed for the first lactation number. The highest values of persistency were observed for the first lactation number in Holstein-Guzerat cows. Total production from Holstein-Gyr and Holstein-Zebu cows were higher by approximately 14% and 29% compared with Holstein-Guzerat and Holstein-Nellore cows, respectively. The highest total yields were observed in lactations beginning in the dry season. Total yield increased with lactation number. The shortest lactation periods were observed in lactations beginning late in the rainy season. The incomplete gamma function was used to fit the individual curves from the genetic groups evaluated. The total yield differences were linked to early yields and yields at the peak of lactation.

Parâmetros genéticos do peso desde o nascimento até 730 dias de idade na raça Indubrasil

The objective of this work was to determine the genetic parameters for weight from birth to 730 days of age in Indubrasil breed. Weight data set (82,481) of 20,890 animals from birth to 730 days of age were used. The genetic parameters were determined by random regression. A posteriori distributions of the parameters of interest were obtained by the Gibbs sampler. Legendre or segmented polynomials were used to model the average growth trajectory. The direct additive genetic effect and direct permanent environmental effect were fit by Legendre polynomials. A linear-linear segmented polynomial, with a knot at 251 days of age, fitted the average growth trajectory. Quadratic and quintic Legendre polynomials fitted the direct additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, respectively. Three age classes were enough to model the residual heteroscedasticity. In the most part of the considered interval, the a posteriori means of heritability increased, with values between 0.10 and 0.45; the proportion of permanent environmental variance was constant in relation to the phenotypic variance and close to 0.48; and the genetic correlations of weight at different ages were high, over 0.60. There is genetic variability for weight in Indubrasil breed, and the selection can improve this traits mean.