Jorge Luís Ferreira

Interação genótipo-ambiente para características sob efeito maternal na raça Nelore nos estados do Maranhão, Mato Grosso e Pará

This study was carried out to analyze genotype-environment interaction for maternal effect traits weights of Nellore cattle from Maranhao (MA), Mato Grosso (MT) and Para (PA) States. It was used records of 37,032 animals provided by Genetic Improvement Program of Nellore (PMGRN-ANCP) collected between the years 1993 to 2010. The means and standard deviations for W120 to MA, MT and PA were 123.43 ± 17.06, 133.91 ± 19.62 and 130.07 ± 16.03kg and to W210 for the same States were 181.83 ± 34.15, 28.52 ± 194.73 and 189.76 ± 23.45kg, respectively. Genetic correlations estimative between the expected progeny difference for same sire were 0.42 (MA-MT), 0.38 (MA-PA) and 0.70 (MT-PA) for P120; 0.49 (MA-MT), 0.13 (MA-PA) and 0.40 (MT-PA) for P210. Lower genetic correlations in both traits were observed between Maranhao and Para states, which presented greats environmental distinctions. These results showed genotype-environment interaction and reaffirm the current preoccupation with these interaction which can be effect the genetic evaluation of animals raised in this states.

Tendência genética para características relacionadas à velocidade de crescimento em bovinos Nelore da região norte do Brasil

The objective was to estimate the (co) variance, genetic parameters and trends for the characteristics, days to gain 160 kg (D160) in the pre-weaning phase, and days to gain 240 kg (D240) in the post-weaning phase, in Nellore cattle, grown in Northern Brazil. Records analyzed were of animals raised on pasture in northern Brazil, provided by the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders - ABCZ, and collected from 1997 to 2007. Contemporary groups (herd, year, birth season and gender) were used as a fixed effects model, and age at calving as a covariant. Estimates of (co) variance were obtained using the MTDFREML software. The averages observed for D160 and D240 were 235 ± 46 days and 578 ± 171 days respectively. Estimates of heritability for D160, due to the additive genetic and maternal effect, were 0.27 ± 0.03 and 0.35 ± 0.04, respectively. For D240, the heritability for the additive genetic effect was 0.28 ± 0.03. This indicates that selection for any of the characteristics will result in genetic progress. Potential genetic gains due to the additive genetic effect, were 1.02 and 3.17 days per year for D160 and D240 respectively. This corresponds to 0.43 and 0.55% of the average of days to gain 160 kg (pre-weaning) and 240 kg (post-weaning) respectively. Although weight is currently used as the selection criteria, the genetic trends for D160 and D240 indicated the existence of genetic progress when using these characteristics as the selection criteria.

Impacto da heterogeneidade de variância residual na avaliação genética de rebanho Nelore no Bioma Amazônia

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of heterogeneity of residual variance on genetic evaluation of cattle raised on pasture from Amazonia Bioma, Brazil. Adjusted weights at weaning weight (205 days of age) were sorted in three phenotypic classes: low (less than average weight), medium (between the average and the average plus one standard deviation) and high (greater than average plus one standard deviation). There was increased of genetic additive direct and residual variances to the extent that increased phenotypic classes. The heritabilities for low, medium and high phenotypic classes were 0.27, 0.33 and 0.26, respectively. These estimates suggest that mass selection could result in genetic gain on breeding program that use weaning weight as a selection criteria. Genetic correlations between the low and medium, low and high, and medium and high phenotypic classes were 0.82, 0.35 and 0.72, respectively. The estimate of correlation of the breeding values of sire shown effect of the heterogeneity of phenotypic variance on the prediction of animals breeding values. There was a major variability for the breeding values of sires at high phenotype class. Thus, we suggested the identification and selection of sires with the highest breeding values for weaning weight, according with environment in which these animals are being raised.

Relative contribution of effects included in contemporary groups for adjusted and actual 120-day and 210-day weights in Nelore cattle in Brazil

The objective of this research was to estimate the relative magnitude of effects included in contemporary groups (CG) and their interactions with adjusted and actual 120 d and 210 d weights in 72,731 male and female Nelore calves born from 1985 to 2005 in 40 herds from PMGRN (Genetic Improvement Program of Nelore). Ten models with different CG structures were compared. The analyses were done using the general linear models (GLM) procedure run in SAS software. All of the effects included in the CG for each model were significant (p < 0.001) for the four traits analyzed. Inclusion of semester or trimester of birth as part of a CG was more appropriate than its use as an independent effect in the model because it accounted for interactions with the other effects in the CG. Calf sex (CS) and dam age at calving (DAC) had similar effects across the models, which suggested independence from other effects in these models. The corresponding age deviation effect had a larger impact on actual weight at 120 d than any other effect in all of the models tested. The use of actual weights in models with no CS effect in CG provides an alternative that would allow better genetic connectedness among CGs and greater accuracy in genetic evaluations.