Genetic parameters of milk yield and adjustment for age at calving in Nili-Ravi buffaloes |
M. S. Khan, G. E. Shook, A. A. Asghar, M. A. Chaudhary, R. E. Mcdowell |
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Abstract |
Data were from four institutional herds and four data collection centers involved in a progeny testing program for Nili-Ravi buffaloes in Pakistan. The REML with a single trait animal model, employed on 2,353 lactations, from 901 daughters of 66 sires, gave a heritability estimate of 0.18 for milk yield with repeatability (between lactations) of 0.43. Estimated milk yield was highest at 65 months of age for the first parity and 81 months for later parities. Correction factors for age at calving, standardized to 60 months in the second and later parities, were developed. |
Keywords:
Buffaloes; Genetic Parameters; Milk Yield; Calving Age; Animal Model |
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