Genetic and non- genetic analysis for body weight traits of calves in a herd of Friesian cattle in Egypt.
Abstract: A total of 1482 Friesian calves maintained at Sakha Farm, belonging to Animal Production Research Institute, Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, during the period from 1979 to 1994 were used to study some non-genetic factors affecting body weight of the calves at birth weight (BW), 4 (BW4), 8 (BW8), 12(BW12) and 16 weeks of age (BWW). Phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated and studied.
Least squares analysis showed significant effects of sire within strain of sire, sex, parity and year of calving (P<0.05, P<0.01 or P<0.001) for all studied traits.
Strain of sire had significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01) effect on BW, BW4, BW8. The effect of season of birth was found to be significant (P<0.001) on the studied traits except BW, while the interaction between strain of sire and season of birth were not significant different from zero.
Heritability estimates were 0.21 ± 0.08, 0.35 ± 0.09, 0.38 ± 0.09, 0.39 ± 0.09 and 0.30 ± 0.09 for BW, BW4, BW8, BW12 and BWW, respectively. All genetic and phenotypic correlations among different traits were positive. It is recommended that genetic improvement in weight traits could be achieved through selection program.
Keywords: Dairy cattle, Genetic and non-genetic factors, Heritability, Phenotypic and genetic correlation, Calves’ body weight.
Publication year 2001
Pages 99-109
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
Country Egypt
City المنوفية
serial title Minufiya Journal Agricultura Research
Volume 26 . 1
Department Cattle Breeding Research Department
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal husbandry
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Calves. Cows. Dairy cattle. Egypt. Genetics. Herds. Heritability.
Publication Type Journal
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