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Genetic parameters for type classification of Nelore cattle on central performance tests at pasture in Brazil

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize Nelore cattle on central performance tests in pasture, ranked by the visual classification method EPMURAS (structure, precocity, muscle, navel, breed, posture, and sexual characteristics), and to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between these parameters, including visual as well as production traits (initial and final weight on test, weight gain, and weight corrected for 550 days). The information used in the study was obtained on 21,032 Nelore bulls which were participants in the central performance test at pasture of the Brazilian Association for Zebu Breeders (ABCZ). Heritabilities obtained were from 0.19 to 0.50. Phenotypic correlations were positive from 0.70 to 0.97 between the weight traits, from 0.65 to 0.74 between visual characteristics, and from 0.29 to 0.47 between visual characteristics and weight traits. The genetic correlations were positive ranging from 0.80 to 0.98 between the characteristics of structure, precocity and musculature, from 0.13 to 0.64 between the growth characteristics, and from 0.41 to 0.97 between visual scores and weight gains. Heritability and genetic correlations indicate that the use of visual scores, along with the selection for growth characteristics, can bring positive results in selection of beef cattle for rearing on pasture.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to ABCZ for data, CAPES for scholarships and INCT-Pecuária/CNPq/FAPEMIG for further funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, Federal District, 70910-900, Brazil

    Paulo Ricardo Martins Lima

  2. EMBRAPA Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, PqEB, Final W5 Norte, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil

    Samuel Rezende Paiva

  3. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Jaime Araujo Cobuci, José Braccini Neto & Concepta McManus

  4. Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Zebu, ABCZ, Praça Vicentino R. da Cunha, 110, Parque Fernando Costa, 38022-330, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Carlos Henrique Cavallari Machado

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  1. Paulo Ricardo Martins Lima
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  2. Samuel Rezende Paiva
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  3. Jaime Araujo Cobuci
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  4. José Braccini Neto
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  5. Carlos Henrique Cavallari Machado
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  6. Concepta McManus
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Concepta McManus.

Additional information

This study was supported by INCT Pecuária CNPq/FAPEMIG and CAPES.

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Lima, P.R.M., Paiva, S.R., Cobuci, J.A. et al. Genetic parameters for type classification of Nelore cattle on central performance tests at pasture in Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 45, 1627–1634 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-013-0408-1

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