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Prospects for genetic improvement of milk production traits of Sahiwal cattle in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

E.D. Ilatsia*
Affiliation:
KARI, Naivasha, Kenya
T. K. Muasya
Affiliation:
KARI, Naivasha, Kenya
W. B. Muhuyi
Affiliation:
KARI, Naivasha, Kenya
A. K. Kahi
Affiliation:
Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya
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Extract

The primary emphasis of the long-term Sahiwal cattle breeding programme is to increase milk yield by selecting cows based on their performance in first three lactations. It is therefore important to have knowledge on the extend of additive genetic variance and genetic parameters for these traits. Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates normally apply directly to the specific population and environment from which the data were collected. In the Sahiwal cattle in Kenya, very little is known about the genetic variation of milk production traits and their genetic relationships. Furthermore, genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for the Sahiwal cattle based on multivariate animal model are scarce. This paper presents estimates of variance components and genetic parameters for milk production traits using trivariate animal model.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2007

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References

Dahlin, A., Khan, U. N., Zafar, A. H., Saleem, M., Chaundhry, M. A. and Philipsson, J. 1998. Genetic and environmental causes of variation in milk production traits of Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan. Animal Science. 66: 307–318.Google Scholar
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