Estimation of Variance Components for Birth and Weaning Weights in Holstein-Friesian Calves by using WOMBAT software

Authors : İbrahim AYTEKİN, Şükrü DOĞAN, Ömer ODACI, Göksel GÖKCAN

Pages : 88-93

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Publication Date : 2019-08-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The aim of this study was to determine the variance components for birth and weaning weights in Holstein calves. In this purpose, a total of 675 calf birth weight and 295 weaning weight records of Holstein calves raised at Kuzucu Dairy Cattle Farm in Ereğli, Konya Province were used for estimation of phenotypic and genetic parameters for calf birth weight and weaning weight. Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated by WOMBAT programusing a Single Trait Animal Model insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(STAM);. The model constitutes of additive direct effect, maternal genetic effect insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(only for Model II); and errors as random effects, birth type, sex of calf, season of birth, year of birth and age of dam as fixed effects. Least square mean of calf birth weight was determined as 34.992 ± 0.572 kg. The direct heritability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ha2); of calf birth weight was calculated as 0.180±0.109 in Model I and the direct heritability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ha2); and maternal heritability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(hm2); of calf birth weight were calculated as 0.154±0.096 and 0.141±0.106 in Model II, respectively. The effect of calving season, birth type, sex and age of dam on birth weight of calf were significant insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P 0.05);. As for calf weaning weight, least square mean was determined as 74.250 ± 1.775 kg. For calf weaning weight, the direct heritability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ha2); in Model I was calculated as 0.104± 0.126 and the direct heritability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ha2); and maternal heritability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(hm2); in Model II were calculated as 0.104± 0.127 and 0.00002±0.341, respectively. The effect of calving year insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P 0.05); Furtermore, estimated breeding values insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EBVs); estimated by BLUP insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Best Linear Unbiased Prediction); for calves, sires and dams were found to be in general with the range of -3.245 to 2.577, -2.607 to 2.631 and -1.714 to 1.747 for birth weight and -2.969 to 2.274, -2.650 to 2.376 and -1.456 to 1.301 for weaning weight, respectively.
Keywords : Birth weight, Weaning weight, Heritability, Breeding value, Wombat, Calf, Holstein