Breeding Index Modeling for Airshire Dairy Cattle With Application of Exterior Parametres

Abstract

The article presents results of selection efficiency of potential parents in Ayrshire breed using IAYR multiple-factor selection index, which includes productivity traits such as milk yield, fat and protein yield and integrated exterior parametres: UDC udder index and FLC leg index. As an original data array, a sample was generated with parameters for milk productivity and exterior characteristics of 574 Ayrshire first-calf heifers, which are daughters of 21 bulls from the leading breeding farm of Leningrad region. Calculation of phenotypic and genetic correlations was carried out in the course of the study, which revealed the greatest paratypical relationship between milk yield and fat yield rp = 0.912 at p <0.001, and the highest genetic relationship was noted between milk yield and protein yield rg = 0.960 at p <0.001. A high value of heritability coefficient for milk yield was established, which amounted to h2 = 0.506, which is connected with usage of imported servicing bulls with high genetic potential for herd reproduction. To determine the values of index weight coefficients, the variance and covariance components of variability of the studied parametres were calculated. Economic components of the parametres included in the developed equation are formed. As a result of selection modeling with an intensity of 10% according to the constructed equation of the productive-exterior index IAYR, a significant and reliable advantage in milk production by 1899 kg of milk was established in comparison with other animals, in terms of fat yield - by 64.7 kg and protein yield - by 51.7 kg.