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ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR BODY WEIGHT FROM BIRTH TO 10 YEARS OLD IN NELLORE FEMALES
Two-trait analyzes were performed for body weight from birth to 10 years old in Nellore females using yearling weight (W550) as anchor trait. Heritability estimates for birth weight, weaning weight and W550 were 0.46±0.06, 0.10±0.04 and 0.30±0.05, respectively. Heritability estimates for weights from two to 10 years old had medium to high magnitude and varied at different points throughout the ages, from 0.29±0.10 to 0.56±0.16 for eight and 10 years of age, respectively. Genetic correlations between body weights and yearling weight (W550) were high and, as expected, higher when closer to W550. Based on heritability estimates, it is possible to infer that selection based on growth traits at any age can promote genetic gains in body weight even in mature age. Correlations estimates indicate that selection will lead to significant increases in weight from birth to mature ages.
Keywords:
beef cattle
correlation
growth traits
