Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as características do comportamento materno-filial em animais da raça Guzerá (Bos indicus) e a influência desse comportamento nas perdas do rebanho. Utilizaram-se 73 fêmeas (multíparas e primíparas) e seus respectivos bezerros para avaliação das seguintes características comportamentais: tempo de contato entre vaca e bezerro (CPCC), idade da vaca ao parto, características do teto, vigor do bezerro ao nascimento, necessidade de assistência humana (HA) e mortalidade até o desmame. A massa média dos bezerros ao nascimento foi de 29,12 kg. O vigor ao nascimento foi observado em 61,64% dos bezerros; no entanto, 27,4% dos bezerros necessitaram de HA. O vigor dos bezerros foi influenciado pelo CPCC, e bezerros sem vigor necessitaram de maior tempo com suas mães. Bezerros com baixo peso ao nascer precisaram de HA, mas bezerros de vacas com tetas de tamanho intermediário não. A ausência de vigor ao nascimento aumentou a taxa de mortalidade. As características idade da vaca e vigor dos bezerros ao nascimento influenciam tanto a necessidade de assistência humana aos bezerros, nas primeiras horas de vida, como as perdas no rebanho.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the characteristics of the maternal-offspring behavior of Guzerat bovines (Bos indicus) and the influence of this behavior on herd losses. A total of 73 gestating cows (multiparous and primiparous) and their respective calves were evaluated for the following behavioral traits: contact period between cow and calf (CPCC), cow age at calving, teat conditions, calf vigor at birth, need for human assistance (HA), and calf mortality until weaning. The mean weight of calves at birth was 29.12 kg. Vigor at birth was observed in 61.64% of calves; however, 27.4% of the calves required human assistance. Calf vigor was influenced by the CPCC, and calves without vigor needed more time with their mothers. Calves with low weight at birth required HA, whereas calves from cows with intermediate-sized teats did not. The absence of vigor at birth increased the mortality rate. The traits age of cows and vigor of calves at birth influence both the need for human assistance to calves in their first hours of life and herd losses.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters and genetic trends and perform principal component analysis for the following traits: body weight adjusted at 210 days of age (W210), one year (W365), and yearling or 450 days of age (W450); weight gain from birth to weaning or 210 days of age (WGBW), from weaning to 365 days of age (WGW365), and from one year to yearling (WGY); and scrotal circumference adjusted at 365 (SC365) and 450 (SC450) days of age of Guzera beef cattle. Variance components were estimated under a two-trait animal model using the restricted maximum likelihood method. The fixed effects included in the model were birth season, contemporary group, and covariable age of dam at calving as linear and quadratic effects. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.10 (WGY) to 0.41 (W450 and SC450). The studied traits could be used as selection criteria because of their sufficient additive genetic variability to respond to the selection process. However, lower selection efficiency is expected for WGBW and WGY. Genetic trends studied were significant for all traits, except WGY. The W365 and W450 traits belonged to the “Genetic Merit Total” index and responded to selection with favorable genetic gain per year. The traits that were not included in the selection index showed favorable positive genetic correlations attributed to the indirect selection processes. The principal component analysis identified two groups of traits. The first group related to body weight and weight gain and the second related to the scrotal circumference, indicating that selection could be applied to one group of traits within each observed group. The genetic gains were attributed in the same direction for the other traits belonging to the groups. Thus, we recommend selecting animals for W365 based on first group, and SC365 based on second.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to develop a bio-economic model for the estimation of economic values of economically important traits in a full-cycle beef cattle production system. The bio-economic model calculated economic values by simulating the impact of changes in the profit of the system consisting of a 1% increase in each trait of the breeding objective, while the other traits were kept constant. The bio-economic model was effective in estimating the sources of revenues and expenses of the production system. The estimated economic values were, in the order of importance for the full-cycle system, R$ 3.69 for male slaughter weight, R$ 3.63 for male weaning weight, R$ 3.58 for weaning rate, R$ 3.40 for female slaughter weight, R$ 2.30 for female weaning weight, and R$ 0.13 for mature cow weight. The results showed that all traits evaluated in the full-cycle system had positive economic impact, indicating that selection would increase profitability maximizing the expected response for the traits of the breeding goal.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para características relacionadas à resistência a endoparasitas em ovinos Santa Inês, para uma possível inclusão em programas de melhoramento genético de ovinos, bem como avaliar o padrão genético aditivo dos animais por meio de análises de agrupamento dos valores genéticos, para verificar se há subgrupos dentro da população que possam ser utilizados como candidatos à seleção para resistência a endoparasitas. As características estudadas foram: score Famacha, contagem de ovos fecais (FEC), volume globular (PCV), proteína plasmática total (TPP), escore de condição corporal (BCS) e peso corporal (BW). As estimativas de herdabilidade variaram de 0,17 (0,05) para TPP a 0,31 (0,07) para BCS. As análises de agrupamento com base nos valores genéticos identificaram quatro grupos. Famacha e BCS podem ser recomendados como critérios de seleção de resistência a endoparasitas hematófagos, uma vez que podem responder à seleção e são facilmente medidos. Os animais do grupo 1 apresentam grande potencial como candidatos para seleção em razão do seu padrão genético aditivo, ao se levar em consideração peso corporal e resistência ao endoparasita devido aos maiores valores genéticos para BW, BCS, PCV e TPP e aos menores valores genéticos para Famacha e FEC.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters for traits related to resistance to endoparasites in Santa Inês sheep, for a possible inclusion in sheep breeding programs, as well as to evaluate the additive genetic pattern of the animals using cluster analyzes, in order to assess whether there are groups within the population that can be used as candidates for selection for resistance to endoparasites. The studied traits were: Famacha score, fecal egg counts (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein (TPP), body condition score (BCS), and body weight (BW). Heritability estimates ranged from 0.17 (0.05) for TPP to 0.31 (0.07) for BCS. The cluster analyzes based on the breeding values identified four clusters. Famacha and BCS can be recommended as selection criteria for resistance to hematophagous endoparasites because they can respond to selection and are easy to be measured. Animals from cluster 1 have great potential as candidates for selection because of their additive genetic pattern, taking into account body weight and endoparasite resistance due to higher breeding values for BW, BCS, PCV, and TPP and lower breeding values for Famacha and FEC.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os parâmetros genéticos para características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de aves, bem como explorar o perfil dos valores genéticos desta população, com uso de análises de agrupamento. Foram utilizados dados de 1.846 aves para estimar os parâmetros genéticos de características de produção e qualidade por meio do modelo animal multicaracterística, e foram realizadas análises de agrupamento. As estimativas de herdabilidade variaram de 0,08± 0,03 para o pH da carne medido 24 horas após o abate a 0,85± 0,09 para o peso corporal. As correlações genéticas entre as características de produção foram altas e positivas. Já as correlações genéticas entre as características de qualidade da carne foram baixas e não foram informativas devido aos altos erros-padrão (mesmas magnitudes que as das correlações genéticas). As correlações genéticas entre as características de produção e de qualidade da carne foram negativas, exceto entre as características de produção e o teor de luminosidade da carne. Com base nos valores genéticos (VGs), a população avaliada pode ser dividida em quatro grupos por meio da análise de agrupamento, e um dos grupos é mais adequado para seleção, uma vez que as aves apresentaram VGs acima e em torno da média da população, respectivamente, para as características de produção e de qualidade da carne. Assim, é possível obter ganhos genéticos para características relacionadas à produção sem diminuir a qualidade da carne.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters for bird carcass and meat quality traits, as well as to explore the genetic patterns of the breeding values of this population using cluster analyses. Data from 1,846 birds were used to estimate the genetic parameters of production and quality traits using the multiple-trait animal model, and cluster analyses were performed. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.08± 0.03 for meat pH measured 24 hours after slaughter to 0.85± 0.09 for body weight. The genetic correlations between production traits were high and positive. The genetic correlations between meat quality traits were low and were not informative due to the high standard errors (same magnitudes as those of the genetic correlations). The genetic correlations between meat production and quality traits were negative, except between production traits and meat lightness intensity. Based on breeding values (EBVs), the evaluated population can be divided into four groups through cluster analyses, and one group is suitable for selection because the birds presented EBVs above and around the average of the population, respectively, for production and quality traits. Therefore, it is possible to obtain genetic gains for production-related traits without decreasing meat quality.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se neste estudo explorar o padrão das curvas de lactação genéticas de bovinos da raça Guzerá, empregando análises de agrupamento. Os 34.193 registros mensais de produção de leite foram provenientes de 5.274 vacas da raça Guzerá, participantes do teste de progênie. As análises foram realizadas com um modelo de regressão aleatória com polinômios de Legendre, composto pelos efeitos aleatórios genético aditivo, de ambiente permanente e o residual, e a curva média de lactação da população. Análise de agrupamento hierárquico e não hierárquico foram realizados com base nos VG para a produção acumulada até os 305 dias, pico e persistência da lactação, e períodos parciais da lactação. As estimativas de herdabilidade para produção de leite no dia do controle variaram entre 0,24 a 0,52. A análise de agrupamento identificou os animais da população que pertencem a diferentes grupos de acordo com o nível de produção de leite e persistência da lactação.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to explore the pattern of genetic lactation curves of Guzerá cattle using cluster analysis. Test-day milk yields of 5,274 first-lactation Guzerá cows were recorded in a progeny test. A total of 34,193 monthly records were analyzed with a random regression animal model using Legendre polynomials to fit additive genetic and permanent environmental random effects and mean trends. Hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses were performed based on the EBVs for monthly test-day milk yield, peak yield, lactation persistency, and partial cumulative and 305-day yields. The heritability estimates for test-day milk yields ranged from 0.24 to 0.52. Cluster analysis identified animals in the population that belong to different groups according to milk production level and lactation persistency.

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations of body weight at 6 weeks of age (BW6), as well as final carcass yield, and moisture, protein, fat and ash contents, using data from 3,422 F2 chickens originated from reciprocal cross between a broiler and a layer line. Variance components were estimated by the REML method, using animal models for evaluating random additive genetic and fixed contemporary group (sex, hatch and genetic group) effects. The heritability estimates (h²) for BW6, carcass yield and percentage of carcass moisture were 0.31 ± 0.07, 0.20 ± 0.05 and 0.33 ± 0.07, respectively. The h² for the percentages of protein, fat and ash on a dry matter basis were 0.48 ± 0.09, 0.55 ± 0.10 and 0.36 ± 0.08, respectively. BW6 had a positive genetic correlation with fat percentage in the carcass, but a negative one with protein and ash contents. Carcass yield, thus, appears to have only low genetic association with carcass composition traits. The genetic correlations observed between traits, measured on a dry matter basis, indicated that selection for carcass protein content may favor higher ash content and a lower percentage of carcass fat.