a b s t r a c tReproductive traits as number of piglets born (NPB) and weaned (NWP) are directly related to the economic efficiency of swine production systems. Pig breeding programs seek to increase the number of weaned piglets per sow per year, and the NPB is among the factors that directly and indirectly influence the NWP. Thus, multi-trait evaluations are essential to estimate heritabilities and mainly genetic correlations between these traits over different farrowing orders. In general, Gaussian linear mixed models have been used to genetic evaluation of litter traits; however since these traits are characterized as count variables, Poisson models are also indicated. Some studies were carried out using Poisson mixed models in the area of Animal Breeding and Genetics, but they do not point out for a multi-trait scenario, as it should be for litter size at birth and weaning. Toward this orientation, we aimed to apply a multi-trait Poisson mixed model (MPM) for the genetic evaluation of the number of born and weaned piglets under a Bayesian framework. It was aimed also to compare the proposed model with the traditional multi-trait Gaussian model (MGM) by using posterior based goodness-of-fit measures. Two-trait analyses for NPB and NWP were performed separately by each considered farrowing order (first, second and third) using MPM and MGM fitted to data from a commercial Landrace population. Based on DIC (Deviance Information Criterion) and PMP (Posterior Model Probability) values, the MGM outperformed the MPM, but the genetic parameter and breeding values provided by both models were consistent and similar over the three first farrowing orders. Bayesian generalized a multi-trait mixed model approach is feasible for genetic evaluations in the animal breeding context and can be an alternative method for genetic evaluations assuming non-Normal phenotypes.

The objective of this study was to obtain estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for egg mass of meat quails and also to propose an optimal age for selection of birds through the egg mass. The data used in this study came from 3,503 female meat quails (UFV1: 1.811 quails; UFV2: 1.692 quails) of the Poultry Breeding Program from Universidade Federal de Viçosa. The traits examined were egg mass in partial periods until 77, 112, 147 and 182 days, and egg mass in the total period of 407 days by the use of single and bi-trait animal models. For the genetic group UFV1, the heritability values for the periods were high: 0.58, 0.59, 0.57, 0.59 and 0.24 (until 77, 112, 147,182 and 407 days, respectively). The values of genetic correlations were medium, ranging from 0.51 (77 and 407 days) to 0.61 (112 and 407, 147 and 407 days). For the genetic group UFV2, the estimates of heritability were of low magnitude: 0.05, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.11 (until 77, 112, 147, 182, and 407 days, respectively). The values for genetic correlation ranged from 0.61 (112 and 407 days) to 0.93 (77 and 407 days). For the genetic group UFV1, the second partial period (112 days) for selection of meat quails using the egg mass trait is recommended, due to a higher value of heritability and a higher value of genetic correlation with the total and relative efficiency close to the unity in this period. In the genetic group UFV2, the first partial period (77 days) is indicated, since it had a higher estimation of genetic correlation and a higher relative efficiency. The choice of these partial periods reduces the generation interval, increasing the intensity of selection and an increase in genetic gain per unit of time

RESUMO Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, estimar parâmetros genéticos para características do crescimento de animais da raça Nelore Mocho. Foram utilizados pesos corporais (Kg) ajustados aos 205 (P205), 365 (P365) e 550 (P550) dias. Adotou-se modelo multicaraterísticas ajustado para o efeito fixo dos grupos de contemporâneos, idade da vaca ao parto (covariável) e, para os efeitos aleatórios genético direto, genético materno, ambiente permanente materno e residual. As variâncias genéticas diretas (98,80, 276,38 e 547,52 Kg2) e maternas (61,77, 64,63 e 79,85 Kg2), elevaram-se com o avanço das idades. Observou-se redução das variâncias de ambiente permanente materno de P205 para P365 e aumento para P550. As herdabilidades diretas, e seus erros padrão, para P205, P365 e P550 foram respectivamente de 0,21 ± 0,01; 0,38 ± 0,00 e 0,39 ± 0,00. As herdabilidades maternas foram maiores no início da vida dos animais (0,13 ± 0,01, 0,08 ± 0,00 e 0,05 ± 0,00). As correlações genéticas diretas foram superiores a 0,94. As correlações fenotípicas apresentaram valores de moderados a altos (0,50 a 0,87). As correlações genéticas maternas e de ambiente permanente materno foram superiores a 0,91. Ganhos genéticos são esperados, ao se usarem as características do crescimento como critérios de seleção. A existência de variabilidade genética permite a seleção em idades menores, possibilitando a redução do intervalo de gerações e aumento do ganho genético.

RESUMO Objetivou-se no presente trabalho determinar herdabilidades de características de desempenho produtivo e reprodutivo de diferentes grupos genéticos de matrizes de codornas de corte, estimando os parâmetros genéticos por nascimento, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 77, 112 birth, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 77, 112