Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part G (2024)

Author(s): Garima Choudhary, U Pannu and GC Gahlot

Abstract: This research was aimed to investigate the production traits and their genetic parameters in Tharparkar cattle of northwestern India. Heritability, phenotypic, and genetic parameters were estimated for productive traits of first parity. This study revealed the average First lactation milk yield (FLMY), First lactation Length (FLL), First Dry period (FDP) and lactation milk yield per day of first lactation length (LMY/FLL) were 1832.99 kg, 283.65 days, 148.14 days and 6.18 kg/day respectively. The heritability estimates for productive traits of the first lactation were 0.401, 0.33, 0.04 and 0.19 for FLMY, FLL, FDP and LMY/FLL, respectively. First lactation milk yield had significant, high and positive genetic correlation with all traits. The genetic correlation of FLMY with FLL was very high (0.77), positive and Significant. The genetic correlations of FLL with FDP and lactation milk yield per day of first lactation length (LMY/FLL) were negative. Phenotypic correlation of FLMY were positive with all traits, with an exception of FDP. FDP had negative phenotypic correlation with all traits. The heritability estimates of FLMY and FLL were medium which revealed that these traits had more additive genetic variance which might be utilized by individual selection and it could be achieved owing to sire selection. Selection for high milk yield will be associated with genetic improvement in lactation length also.