Genetic Studies on Productive and Reproductive Traits of Crossbred Jersey (Jersey × Nondescript) Cattle

The southern Indian states depend mainly on crossbred cattle for milk production. For maintaining a high level of milk productivity of crossbred cattle and their further genetic improvement, it is necessary to know the genetic parameters and influence of various non-genetic and genetic factors on economic traits. Hence, in the present study, we estimated the heritability and influence of non-genetic factors on production and reproduction traits in crossbred Jersey cattle (Jersey × nondescript). The overall least- squares means (±standard error) of age at first calving (days), calving interval (days), services per conception, service period (days), dry period (days), lactation milk yield (liters), and lactation length (days) were 1057.83±21.25, 449.52±8.55, 2.55±0.11, 176.31±7.67, 130.27±6.73, 2265.24±63.44, and 318.61±5.62 respectively. Period of calving had a significant (p<0.05) effect on all economic traits studied except the dry period. Calving interval and service period were affected by the season of calving. The heritability estimates of age at first calving, calving interval, services per conception, service period, dry period, lactation milk yield, and lactation length were 0.289±0.06, 0.306±0.09, 0.123±0.18, 0.329±0.33, 0.381±0.48, 0.508±0.88, and 0.455±0.45 respectively. This information will be useful to disclose action plans to make scientific interventions on the production and reproduction of crossbred Jersey cattle to exploit its maximum genetic potential.

• The overall least-squares means and heritability for various economic traits were estimated.

• Period of calving had a significant effect on all traits except dry period.