Comparison of different indices for breeding value evaluation in Surti buffaloes

Abstract

The data on 445 Surti buffaloes maintained at the Livestock Research Station, Vallabhnagar, from 1976 to 2003 were analysed to predict the breeding value on the basis of 305 days milk yield (305 MY) of females in combination with other female relatives, Le. its dams and paternal half~ sisters. [nclusion of dam's records was not useful while addition of paternal half~sisters records improve little to the accuracy of prediction of breeding value over individual information. The accuracy of indices based on combined information did not increase significantly over indices based on individual information (BV I and BV) Although, the index BV, had low accuracy as compared to BVs but it has [ow standard error, coefficient of variation and showed normal distribution. The rank correlation of BV] with BVs was also high and signJficant. Due to early applicability of the index BV, over BVs' the index BVt was adjudged as an ideal index for evaluation of Surti buffaloes.