INHERITANCE OF LINEAR TYPE TRAITS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH BEHAVIOURAL AND PERFORMANCE TRAITS IN CROSSBRED CATTLE
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Date
2022
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Publisher
ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
Karan Fries is a prominent milch breed of India. In order to bring about genetic
improvement in indigenous cross breeds of cattle, we must adopt a holistic and balanced
approach to selection as well as to breeding strategies. Including linear type traits for dairy
cattle selection in our indigenous cross-breed cattle is scanty. Therefore, the present study
was taken up with the objective to determine inheritance in cross-breed cattle such as Karan
Fries on the basis of linear type traits. Other objectives were to estimate genetic parameters of
behavioral, functional, and linear type traits, and their association with production
performance in Karan Fries cattle. Using multi-trait selection procedure.
Data was collected on adult Karan Fries (N=134), from our Institute herd and was
analysed by using both Least Square Maximum Likelihood (LSMLMW) and Bayesian
methods, considering either a fixed effect or a mixed animal model for the present study.
Parity, season, period of calving, and stage of lactation were taken as non-genetic factors, and
age at first calving as coverable Sire or animal was considered a random variable. The leastsquares
means of objective linear type traits viz., Stature was 131.43±0.96 cm, Body length
145.20±1.13 cm, Chest girth 181.97±1.25 cm, Body depth 209.98±1.90 cm, Rump angle
12.89±0.47 cm, Rump width 19.75±0.27 cm, Udder depth 25.61±0.54 cm, teat length
5.20±0.17 cm, and Rear udder height 22.27±0.49 cm. On the other hand, least square mean
scores of subjective linear type traits. Angularity 38.89±0.55-degree, (1-9 scale) viz. The rear
leg side view was 6.73±0.19, Rear leg rear view was 5.82±0.23 score, Foot angle 6.65±0.24,
Fore udder attachment 6.17±0.3, Central ligament 5.16±0.29, Front teat placement 3.95±0.27,
and Rear teat placement was 5.35±0.25. It was observed that Parity has a significant (p˂0.05/
p< 0.01) effect on Stature, Chest girth, Body length as well as Rear udder height, while
Season of calving had a significant (p˂0.05) effect on Rump angle and Rear udder height. For
Stage of Lactation Rear udder height, Angularity and Front teat placement come out to be
Significant at (p˂0.01) in Karan Fries cattle.
Most of the linear type traits, milking temperament, and milking speed were found to
be low to moderately heritable (ranging from 0.40±0.03 to 0.25±0 04, while days open was
having low heritability (0.20±0.25) Among linear type traits, stature, body length, and chest
girth were having high positive genetic correlation (ranging from 0.74±0.03 to (0.63±0.017)
with total milk yield. Rear leg rear view, Central ligament was having a negative phenotypic
correlation with total milk yield (-0.018± 0.081 and -0.050±0.099) respectively.
Twelve Karan Fries sires from the present data set were selected for evaluation and
ranking. Sires with three or more progenies were considered for estimation of breeding values
in the present study. Sires were ranked based on estimates of breeding value on the basis of
multiple traits (stature, body length, chest girth, body depth, Angularity first lactation 305
days milk yield, and total milk yield) Association of ranking of sites based on multiple traits
were estimated by Spearman's Rank Correlation. Correlation between rankings of sizes was
checked, for multiple traits viz., stature, body length, chest girth, body depth, Angularity, first
lactation 305 day’s milk yield, and total milk yield and significance was tested using a 1-test.
Top-ranked sires were recommended for further breeding.
Our study showed that Karan Fries cows may be selected on the basis of a few
important linear type traits (stature, body length, chest girth, body depth, and angularity)
having a positive genetic correlation with production performance. The present study may be
continued to include a larger data set for validation and better accuracy of results for the
selection of Karen Fries cattle.