Pre and post weaning weight gain in Nellore cattle raised in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Genetic parameters were estimated for average daily weight gain before (GPDND) and after (GPDPD) weaning of Nelore animals, born between 1978 and 2007, whose data came from the zootechnical archive of the ABCZ/EMBRAPAIMAPA agreement. The file contained 4,464 pieces of information. The data were analyzed by the derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood method (MTDFREML), using an animal model. The general model included direct additive genetics, maternal additive genetics and maternal maternal environmental genetics as random effects, contemporary group as fixed effects, and the age of the cow at calving as a variable (linear and quadratic effect). An average of 0.790 ± 0.13 GPDND and 0.430 ± 0.19 GPDPD kilos per day was observed. Direct heritabilities estimated in univariate analyzes were 0.31 ± 0.05 and 0.19 ± 0.03, respectively, for GPDND and GPDPD. The results demonstrate that the characteristics studied can be used as selection criteria in genetic improvement programs for the Nelore breed in the Pantanal, however for GPDPD the res.