Abstract

ARANGO, J.  and  ECHEVERRI, J.J.. Association of genetic breeding value of the bull with production traits in dairy cows in Colombia. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2014, vol.63, n.242, pp.227-237. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922014000200001.

Actually, in Colombia there is not a genetic improvement program to estimate breeding values in dairy cattle. The objective of this research was to determine the association of EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) of Holstein and Jersey bulls with the phenotypic performance (milk and health traits) measured directly in their daughters in Colombia. To calculate the variance components, genetic parameters and EBV, the restricted maximum likelihood method (RMLM) using a derivative-free algorithm with the MTDFREML software, was used. The association of milk traits with the bulls EBVs was performed using a mixed model. Heritabilities for milk yield, protein percentage, fat and somatic cell score were 0.19±0.0, 0.37±0.04, 0.37±0.04 and 0.34±0.05, respectively for Holstein animals. For the Jersey were 0.20±0.0; 0.64±0.0, 0.55±0.0 and 0.14±0.26 respectively. The EBV of Holstein bulls were highly significant (p<0.01) on milk production, milk protein and milk fat content. The EBV was also found associated with somatic cell count. Similar results were found in Jersey bulls. The results showed that despite the low reliabilities estimated in Colombia assessments, the productivities are enhanced with the use of foreign genetic.

Keywords : Predicted transmitting ability.

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