Estimates of genetic parameters for birth weight of Jakhrana goat

Abstract

Estimates of co(variance) components and genetic parameters were obtained for birth weight in Jakhrana goat maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, over a period of 5 years (2005 to 2009). Records of 498 kids from 140 does sired by 29 bucks were used in the study. Analyses were carried out by REML fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Four different animal models were fitted for birth weight. Direct heritability estimates were inflated substantially for the trait when maternal effects were ignored. Direct heritability estimates for birth weight ranged from 0.40 to 0.61 depended on models used. Maternal heritability for this trait was 0.10, whereas, the estimates of the fraction of variance due to maternal permanent environmental effects was 0.11. Results suggest that the maternal effects (i.e. both maternal additive and/or permanent environmental maternal effect) were also important for birth weight. These results indicate that there is ample scope of genetic progress through selection for this trait.