Genetic parameters for milk fatty acids, milk yield and quality traits of a Holstein cattle population reared under tropical conditions

Summary Information about genetic parameters is essential for selection decisions and genetic evaluation. These estimates are population specific; however, there are few studies with dairy cattle populations reared under tropical and sub‐tropical conditions. Thus, the aim was to obtain estimates of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of animal breeding and genetics (1986) 2016-10, Vol.133 (5), p.384-395
Main Authors: Petrini, J., Iung, L.H.S., Rodriguez, M.A.P., Salvian, M., Pértille, F., Rovadoscki, G.A., Cassoli, L.D., Coutinho, L.L., Machado, P.F., Wiggans, G.R., Mourão, G.B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cattle
Cattle - classification
Cattle - genetics
Cattle - physiology
Climate
Correlation
dairy cattle
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids - analysis
Female
genomics
Genotype
heritability
Milk
Milk - chemistry
Milk - economics
Pedigree
Polymorphism
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Population genetics
single nucleotide polymorphism
somatic cell score
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Summary Information about genetic parameters is essential for selection decisions and genetic evaluation. These estimates are population specific; however, there are few studies with dairy cattle populations reared under tropical and sub‐tropical conditions. Thus, the aim was to obtain estimates of heritability and genetic correlations for milk yield and quality traits using pedigree and genomic information from a Holstein population maintained in a tropical environment. Phenotypic records (n = 36 457) of 4203 cows as well as the genotypes for 57 368 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 755 of these cows were used. Covariance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method under a mixed animal model, considering a pedigree‐based relationship matrix or a combined pedigree‐genomic matrix. High heritabilities (around 0.30) were estimated for lactose and protein content in milk whereas moderate values (between 0.19 and 0.26) were obtained for percentages of fat, saturated fatty acids and palmitic acid in milk. Genetic correlations ranging from −0.38 to −0.13 were determined between milk yield and composition traits. The smaller estimates compared to other similar studies can be due to poor environmental conditions, which may reduce genetic variability. These results highlight the importance in using genetic parameters estimated in the population under evaluation for selection decisions.
ISSN:0931-2668
1439-0388
DOI:10.1111/jbg.12205