Avaliação genética da curva de lactação de cabras saanen utilizando modelos de regressão aleatória

Abstract

The aim of this study was to perform a genetic-quantitative evaluation of the lactation curve up to 305 days of Saanen goats, fitting different random regression models to the best fit on the fixed and random trajectories of this curve and thus estimate the (co) variances and genetic parameters associated to this period. 11,018test-day milk yieldof 950 goats belonging to herds supported by the Dairy Goats Breeding Program (Capragene®) were used. The fixed effects used in the analysis were contemporary group, sex of offspring, type of milking and management. 18 models with different orderswere evaluated, to verify the simultaneous best fit of the regressions for the fixed and random trajectories (direct additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects). Ordinary orthogonal polynomials and Legendre polynomials, of second order were used to fit the fixed regression. Ordinary polynomials, orthogonal Legendre polynomials and B-spline functions, ranging from second to fourth order, were used for fit the random regressions. The model with orthogonal Legendre polynomials of second order to the fixed part and the b-spline function of fourth order for the random part was the most suitable for the fitting of the data analyzed. In fixed path, this model estimated peak lactation between 52-61 days, with an average of 2.378 kg of milk / day. The curve began with an average yield of 2.298 kg / day, ending 305 days with an average yield of 0.758 kg / day. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.294 ± 0.135 to 0.794 ± 0.075. Greater genetic variability was estimated for the intermediate test-day yields in the trajectory of the lactation curve, between 79 and 180 days, with higher heritability estimates. Genetic correlations among the test-day yields ranged from 0.551 ± 0.125 and 0.998 ± 0.001, with higher values between milk yield in the next and subsequent days, and becoming smaller as the distanceamong the test-day yield increase. The estimated genetic variability indicates that it is possible to modify the lactation curve of Saanen goats of the study population. The selection should be performed between 79 and 180 days of lactation, after the peak of lactation, however where the greatest heritabilities were observed period. The selection on this point will change the curve as a whole on the basis of correlated genetic responses.