RESUMEN
Selection indices are used in genetic improvement programs, with the purpose of selectins simultaneous for several economically important traits. The objective of this study was to construct equations for selection indices in the Blanco-Orejinegro (BON) breed and to determine the index that would generate the greatest genetic progress. The information used included birth weight (BW), body weights adjusted to 120, 240, 480, and 720 days old (W120, W240, W240, 480 and W720, respectively), age at first calving (AFC) and interval between first and second calving (IBC) estimated breeding values. Two Smith and Hazel indices were calculated using variances (I1) and literature (I2), with a part two indices designed using information from experts and breeders (I3 and I4). All the indices favored the reduction of weight at birth. The I1 focused mainly on W120 and I2, I3 and I4 focused on 720. In general, the estimated indices obtained similar reliability and expected genetic differences I1 generated a decrease in direct BW. I2 generated the largest increases in BW and AFC. I3 and I4 generated positive changes in growth and reproductive traits, with I3 generating the greatest genetic gains in the population, especially for W240.
RESUMEN
Since 1940, efforts have been made to preserve the Blanco Orejinegro (BON) cattle breed by maintaining gene banks. Nine years ago, a BON genetic improvement program was implemented to increase genetic gain based on control of productivity and the use of performance tests, polygenic and genomic evaluations, and selection indices. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and trends for growth traits by using polygenic (PM) and genomic-polygenic (GPM) models. Productive information from the years 1980 to 2019 was used. The following data were used: 7,304 birth weight (BW) records, 1,281 records of body weight adjusted to 120 days (W120), 4,791 records of weight adjusted to 240 days (W240), 3,339 records of weight adjusted to 480 days (W480), and 1,364 records of weight adjusted to 720 days (W720). The relationship matrix included 13,612 pure animals belonging to the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research - AGROSAVIA and the Producer Network program. A total of 1,224 individuals were genotyped with chips of different densities and all were imputed up to 50,932 SNPs. Polygenic and genomic-polygenic models were used to estimate genetic parameters and correlations between the genetic values estimated by each model. A generalized additive model with smoothing was used to estimate trends of genetic values from 1980 to 2019. Heritabilities between 0.29 and 0.40, genetic correlations between 0.13 and 0.94, and phenotypic correlations between 0.23 and 0.72 were observed. Close-to-zero genetic growth was observed for BW and W120. Genetic trends for the other traits were positive, with higher growth in the last 7 years. The heritabilities observed in this population indicate that the traits measured would respond to selection. Greater genetic progress can be achieved in W240, W480, and W720 by continuing with genetic evaluations and developing performance tests and strategies to make genetic material readily available to producers.
RESUMEN
Objective: to estimate genetic parameters of weaning weight (WW) and weights at 12 (W12), 18 (W18), and 24 (W24) months of age, in buffalo populations of the Colombian tropical lowlands. Methods: both single-trait and multitrait animal models were used for (WW) and weights at various ages. The models included fixed effects for sex, parity, and contemporary groups (farm, season, and year), with the age of calves at weaning as a covariate. Random effects included direct and maternal genetics, permanent environment, and residual effects. Results: direct, maternal, and total heritabilities for WW were 0.45 ± 0.054, 0.28 ± 0.070 and 0.33. The genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects was -0.48 ± 0.089, suggesting there is a negative correlation between genes for growth and genes for maternity. Heritabilities for W12, W18, and W24 were 0.42, 0.42, and 0.41, respectively, showing high positive correlations among the three characteristics. Conclusion: estimated heritabilities suggest that selection for pre and post- weaning growth is feasible in this population.
Objetivo: estimar los parámetros genéticos para peso al destete (PD), y peso a los 12 (P12), 18 (P18) y 24 (P24) meses de edad, en poblaciones bufalinas en el trópico bajo colombiano. Métodos: los datos de PD fueron analizados en un modelo animal unicaracterístico. El modelo incluyó como efectos fijos: sexo, número de parto y grupo contemporáneo (finca, época y año de destete) y edad como covariable. Los efectos aleatorios fueron genético aditivo directo y materno, ambiente permanente materno y el error. Un modelo animal multicaracterístico fue utilizado para P12, P18 y P24 meses de edad. El modelo incluyó como efectos fijos: sexo y grupo contemporáneo y edad como covariable. Los efectos aleatorios fueron: genético aditivo directo y el error. Resultados: las heredabilidades directa, materna y total para PD fueron 0.45 ± 0.054, 0.28 ± 0.070 y 0.33. La correlación genética entre los efectos directo y materno fue -0.48 ± 0.089, indicando que puede haber antagonismo entre genes para crecimiento y genes para habilidad materna. Las heredabilidades para P12, P18 y P24 meses de edad fueron 0.42, 0.42 y 0.41, respectivamente, con correlaciones genéticas altas y positivas entre las tres características. Conclusión: las heredabilidades estimadas sugieren que la selección por crecimiento pre y posdestete es posible en esta población.
objetivo: estimar parâmetros genéticos para o peso ao desmame (PD), e peso aos 12 (P12), 18 (P18) e 24 (P24) meses de idade, de populações de búfalos no trópico baixo colombiano. Métodos: os dados de PD foram analisados em um modelo animal unicaracterístico. O modelo incluiu como efeitos fixos: o sexo, a ordem de parição e o grupo contemporâneo (fazenda, estação de desmame e ano de desmame) e a idade como covariável. Os efeitos aleatórios foram: genético aditivo direto e materno, de ambiente permanente materno e o residual. Um modelo animal multicaracterístico foi usado para P12, P18 e P24 meses de idade. O modelo incluiu como efeitos fixos: sexo e grupo contemporâneo e a idade como covariável. Os efeitos aleatórios foram: genético aditivo direto e residual. Resultados: as estimativas de herdabilidade direta, materna e total para PD foram 0.45 ± 0.054, 0.28 ± 0.070 e 0.33. A correlação genética entre os efeitos direto e materno foi -0.48 ± 0.089, indicando que pode haver antagonismo entre os genes para crescimento e os genes para habilidade materna. As herdabilidades para P12, P18 e P24 meses de idade foram 0.42, 0.42 e 0.41, respectivamente, com correlações genéticas altas e positivas entre as três características. Conclusões: as estimativas de herdabilidade sugerem que a seleção para crescimento ao desmame e pós- desmame é possível nesta população.
