1Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
2Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Kerala, India
3Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
A total of 531 first lactation records of daughters of 28 sires, having 5 or more progeny were evaluated by 4 methods viz., least-squares (LS), best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), best linear unbiased prediction-sire model (BLUP-SM) and Animal Model. Heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations between the two traits were analysed using univariate and bivariate linear animal models. The h2 estimates for 305 days or less milk yield (305MY) and Fat based energy corrected milk yield (ECMY) were 0.24 and 0.37. The Animal Model was most stable, efficient and accurate method. There was a remarkable 97–100 percent level of similarity on comparison of ranks of the sires based on 305MY and ECMY by all methods. The genetic evaluation of Sahiwal bulls based on ECMY has the advantage of being a composite trait, and with high heritability and high genetic and phenotypic correlations (0.99) with 305MY can help in mitigating the nutritional insecurity of the country in the long run.
BLUP, energy corrected milk yield, genetic parameters, sahiwal cattle, sire evaluation
