Estimation of Genetic Parameters of Lactation Traits in Hariana Cattle

Abstract

The present investigation was planned to estimate the genetic parameters of lactation traits in Hariana cattle. The data of 834 animals with total of 3368 observation on different repeatable traits are Total Lactation Milk Yield TLMY (Pail) in Kg (TLMY), Total standard lactation milk yield in pail (300 DMY), Lactation length in days (LL), Service period (SP), Dry period (DP) in days and Lactation completed (LC).were collected from the history sheet registers and herd inventory register over a period of 55 years (1965-2020) for Hariana cattle maintained at State Livestock and Agriculture Farm, Babugarh, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Finally, processed sub data set on 834 hariana cattle were subjected to least square analysis, SPSS statics 20.0 software and genetic parameters (Heritability and Repeatability) estimation along with breeding value of Hariana cattle using repeatable Animal model with Wombat Software. It was revealed that Period of Calving (POC) and Season of Calving (SOC) had highly significant effect ( P<0.01) on all considered traits under study. The overall least square mean for TLMY, 300 DMY, LL, SP), DP and LC were 1066.13 ± 9.38 kg, 1005.223 ± 7.65 kg, 320.94 ± 1.96 days, 189.65 ± 2.50 days, 149.22 ± 1.42 days, and 3.36 ± 0.05 days respectively. The heritability TLMY, 300DMY, LL, SP, DP, and LC were 0.20±0.05, 0.25±0.05, 0.09±0.04, 0.11±0.04, 0.09±0.03, and 0.10±0.03 respectively. The estimates of heritability were low for DP (0.09 ± 0.03), LL (0.09 ± 0.04) SP (0.11 ± 0.04), LC (0.10± 0.03) and TLMY (0.20±0.05), moderate for 300DMY (0.25±0.05). A lower range (h2 <0.20) of heritability for different repeatable traits indicated that non-genetic factors affected those traits more than genetic factors did. However moderate range (0.20 <h2 <0.0.40) of heritability for 300 DMY indicated that this trait comparatively more genetic diversity than other studied traits. Repeatability for TLMY, 300DMY, LL, SP, DP, and LC were 0.45± 0.02, 0.46± 0.02, 0.28± 0.02, 0.26± 0.02, 0.18±0.01, and 0.27± 0.02 respectively. The estimates of repeatability were low for DP (0.18 ± .01), moderate for SP (0.26 ± 0.02), LL (0.28 ± 0.02), LC (0.27 ± 0.02) and high for TLMY (0.45 ± 0.02) and 300 DMY (0.46 ± 0.02). Moderate to high repeatability estimates for different traits; suggest that data from first parity may be used for early prediction of estimated breeding value and selection. Early selection would retain good producers, which would be advantageous for improving the herd's overall performance. Culling of inferior animals (cows) done on the basis of the Breeding value which may provide opportunity for intensive selection and care of superior animals at farm leading to improvement in the herd average.