Genotype-environment interaction on the weights at 205 and 365 days of age in Nellore cattle in different regions of Brazil

Abstract

Data of weaning weight (205BW) and at year (365BW) of Nellore cattle from 29 farms in several Brazilian states of three distinct regions: North, Southeast and Midwest, all participants of the program of Nellore breeding (Nellore Brazil), were used to assess the presence of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) as well as estimate direct heritability (205BW and 365BW) and maternal (205BW) by restricted maximum likelihood method with the aid of MTDFREML. The statistical model used included fixed effects of contemporary group, age of dam (covariate) and random direct genetic effects (205BW and 365BW) and maternal (205BW). The estimated genetic correlation for 205BW and 365BW in each of the regions, North (R1), Southeast (R2) and Midwest (R3), were respectively: 0.85±0.11, 0.96±0.07 and 0.95±0.07 for R1/R2, R1/R3 and R2/R3, the evaluation of weaning weight, 0.72±0.09, 0.83±0.07 and 0.85±0.08, for R1/R2, R1/R3 and R2/R3, in the evaluation year. These results indicate that, at weaning (205BW), the effect of GEI was not observed, but in the weight at year (P365), the combination involving North/Southeast effect was verified of the GEI.