<p>El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar parámetros genéticos para características de crecimiento y la tendencia de sus valores genéticos en una población de la raza bovina criolla sanmartinero, localizada en el departamento del Meta, Colombia. Se utilizó un modelo animal con efectos directos, maternos y de ambiente permanente y se analizaron las características peso al nacimiento (PN), peso al destete (PD) (ajustado a 240 d.), peso a los 16 meses (P16m), ganancia diaria de peso al destete (GPD) y ganancia diaria de peso desde el destete a los 16 meses (GP16m). Se analizaron 2.812 registros productivos de animales y se encontraron valores de heredabilidad directa moderados, variando desde 0,16 hasta 0,37 para GP16m y GPD respectivamente. Los valores de heredabilidad directa siempre fueron mayores que los de heredabilidad materna y los efectos de ambiente permanente variaron entre 0,024 ± 0,033 para PN hasta 0,067 ± 0,041 para P16m; los valores de repetibilidad fueron superiores para las características de PD (0,41) y GPD (0,37). Los valores genéticos anuales promedio para los efectos directos presentaron en general valores positivos, lo que muestra una tendencia creciente aunque con una alta variación a través de los años; por su parte, los valores genéticos maternos anuales promedio presentaron valores cercanos a cero, aunque en general su tendencia también fue creciente. A pesar de tratarse de un núcleo de conservación, donde no se ha dado selección para estas características, se encontró una tendencia genética que indica un cambio genético positivo.  </p><p> </p><p><strong>Genetic parameters and trends for growth traits in creole cattle sanmartinero in the eastern savannas in Colombia</strong>  </p><p>The aim of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters for growth traits and the tendency of their genetic values in a population of Bovine Creole cattle Sanmartinero, located in Meta, Colombia. Was used an animal model with direct and maternal effects as well as a permanent environmental effects and were analyzed birth weight, weaning weight, (adjusted at 240 d), weight at 16 months, weaning daily gain, and daily gain at 16 months. Were analyzed a total of 2812 productive records from animals and were found direct heritability moderate values, ranging between from 0.16 to 0.3 for GP16m and GP respectively. The direct heritability values always were higher than the maternal heritability values and the permanent environmental effects ranged between 0.024 ± 0.033 for PN until 0.067 ± 0.041 for P16m, but the repeatability values were higher for PD (0.41) and GPD (0.37) traits. With reference to the tendency of average yearly genetic values for direct effects, always displayed positive values and a increase tendency however a high variation between the years were found, conversely to the genetic maternal values than displayed generally values near to zero, but their tendency also was to increase. Is noteworthy than in spite of to be a conservation herd, than do not has been used for selection programs for those traits, was found a genetic tendency that suggest a positive genetic change. </p>

Analyses of the genetic diversity of indigenous cattle are essential for implementing conservation programs, promoting their sustainable use and maintaining productive advantages offered by these breeds in local conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of six Colombian cattle breeds: Blanco Orejinegro (BON), Costeño con Cuernos (CCC), Romosinuano (ROM), Sanmartinero (SAM), Casanareño (CAS), and Hartón del Valle (HDV). Two additional breed groups were included for comparison: Zebu (CEB) and a crossbreed of Colombian cattle breeds × Zebu. Genetic diversity within breeds was analyzed using expected heterozygosity (He), inbreeding coefficient (f), and runs of homozygosity (ROH). Population structure was assessed using model-based clustering (ADMIXTURE) and principal components analysis (PCA). Zebu cattle showed the lowest genetic diversity (He = 0.240). Breeds with the highest genetic diversity level were HDV and BON (He = 0.350 and 0.340, respectively). Inbreeding was lower for Colombian cattle breeds ranging between 0.005 and 0.045. Overall, the largest average genetic distance was found among the group of Colombian cattle breeds and Zebu, while the smallest was found between ROM and CCC. Model-based clustering revealed some level of admixture among HDV and CAS cattle which is consistent with their recent history. The results of the present study provide a useful insight on the genetic structure of Colombian cattle breeds.