Original scientific paper
PHENOTYPIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LINEAR TYPE TRAITS AND LONGEVITY OF SIMMENTAL COWS
N. Raguž
; Poljoprivredni fakultet, Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Trg Svetog Trojstva 3, 31000 Osijek, Hrvatska
Vesna Gantner
; Poljoprivredni fakultet, Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Trg Svetog Trojstva 3, 31000 Osijek, Hrvatska
Sanja Jovanovac
; Poljoprivredni fakultet, Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku, Trg Svetog Trojstva 3, 31000 Osijek, Hrvatska
Abstract
The data of 4710 Simmental cows from the database of Croatian Livestock Centre were used for calculating the phenotypic correlations between linear type traits and longevity. Cows included in this research were culled from year 1998 to year 2007 and had scores for linear type traits. Longevity was defined as the number of days from first calving until culling. Average length of productive life was 44.7 months that is 3.2 lactations, and average length of true life was 70.4 months. Correlation coefficients between trunk conformation traits and longevity were in range of 0.03 to 0.18. The lowest correlation (P<0.05) was determined between rump side view and longevity, and the highest (P<0.01) between rump width and longevity. Very low correlation coefficients were determined between udder traits and longevity which were in range of 0.02 to 0.06. Statistically significant (P<0.01) correlations were obtained between longevity and suspensory ligament (0.05), udder depth (0.06) and teats thickness (0.06). By comparison with trunk conformation and udder traits, legs traits were in general in lower correlations with longevity. The highest statistically significant (P<0.01) positive correlations were determined between longevity and rear legs side view (0.05) that is longevity and heel depth (0.08). Negative and insignificant correlations were obtained between longevity and hock joint thickness (-0.02), i.e. between longevity and foot angle (-0.01).
Keywords
cattle; Simmental breed; phenotypic correlation; type traits, longevity
Hrčak ID:
26703
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2008.
Visits: 1.693 *