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Phenotypic and genetic parameters for milk yield in traditional Nublang cattle (Bos indicus) of Bhutan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2015

Jigme Dorji ,
Dhendup  and
Iona M. MacLeod
Jigme Dorji*
Affiliation:
National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan
Dhendup
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock, National Nublang Breeding Farm, Tashiyangphu, Bhutan
Iona M. MacLeod
Affiliation:
Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
*
Correspondence to: J. Dorji, National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan. email: jigmedorjik@gmail.com
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Summary

The Nublang is a unique dual-purpose breed of Bos indicus cattle found in Bhutan. They have been crossed with Mithun (Bos frontalis) and Bos taurus breeds in an effort to improve milk production leading to a decline in the population of purebred Nublang. An alternative to crossbreeding would be the genetic improvement of milk yield within purebred Nublang, thus allowing conservation and sustainable utilization of the pure breed. It is important to measure the genetic variability (heritability) of milk yield to assess the potential for genetic improvement within Nublang. Therefore this study estimated phenotypic and genetic parameters of milk yield using 2 052 test day milk yields from 66 cows recorded from 1997 to 2013 in the National Nublang Farm, Tashiyangphu. The average daily milk yield (DMY) was 2.12 ± 0.7 litres (N 2 052, range: 0.3–5.0 L, CV: 34 percent). Parity, month in milk and year all had a significant effect on DMY (P < 0.05). The average lactation milk yield (LMY) was 519.2 ± 151 L (N: 261, range: 115–881.7, CV: 29.1 percent) and average lactation length was 239 days. LMY was significantly influenced by parity (P < 0.05) and season of calving. The heritability of DMY and LMY was 0.22 ± 0.16 and 0.13 ± 0.20, respectively. The repeatability estimates were 0.45 ± 0.05 and 0.49 ± 0.08 for DMY and LMY, respectively. Overall the heritability and repeatability estimates of milk yields indicate potential for genetic improvement of milk yield in Nublang cattle through selection. However, it is recommended that a larger dataset is generated to enable more precise estimates of genetic parameters.

Résumé

La race Nublang est une race unique de bovins Bos indicus, à double aptitude, élevée au Bhoutan. Elle a été croisée avec le gayal (Bos frontalis), ainsi qu'avec des races de Bos taurus, dans le but d'améliorer la production laitière, ce qui a mené à une réduction de la population d'individus purs de race Nublang. Une alternative au croisement pourrait être l'amélioration génétique de la production laitière au sein du cheptel de pure race Nublang, ce qui permettrait la conservation et l'utilisation durable de la race dans sa pureté. Il s'avère important de mesurer la variabilité génétique (l'héritabilité) de la production laitière afin d’évaluer le potentiel d'amélioration génétique au sein de la race Nublang. Ainsi, cette étude a estimé des paramètres phénotypiques et génétiques de la production laitière à partir des données de 2 052 contrôles laitiers journaliers effectués sur 66 vaches de 1997 à 2013 à la Ferme Nationale Nublang, à Tashiyangphu. La production moyenne quotidienne de lait (PMQL) a été de 2.12 ± 0.7 litres (n = 2 052, intervalle: 0.3–5.0l, coefficient de variation: 34 pour cent). L'ordre de mise bas, le mois de lactation et l'année ont tous eu un effet significatif (P < 0.05) sur la PMQL. La production moyenne de lait par lactation (PMLL) a été de 519.2 ± 151 litres (n = 261, intervalle: 115–881.7 l, coefficient de variation: 29,1 pour cent) et la durée moyenne de la lactation a été de 239 jours. La PMLL a été significativement affectée par l'ordre de mise bas (P < 0.05) et par la saison de naissance des veaux. L'héritabilité de la PMQL et de la PMLL a été de 0.22 ± 0.16 et 0.13 ± 0.20, respectivement. La répétabilité estimée a été de 0.45 ± 0.05 et 0.49 ± 0.08 pour la PMQL et la PMLL, respectivement. Dans l'ensemble, l'héritabilité et la répétabilité estimées pour les productions de lait suggèrent un potentiel d'amélioration génétique de la production laitière des bovins Nublang au travers de la sélection. Cependant, il est recommandé de générer un plus grand ensemble de données, afin d'obtenir des estimations plus précises des paramètres génétiques.

Resumen

La raza Nublang es una raza singular de ganado bovino Bos indicus de aptitud doble, que se halla en Bhután. Ha sido cruzada con gayal (Bos frontalis) así como con razas de Bos taurus, en un intento por mejorar la producción de leche, lo que ha llevado a una reducción de la población de ejemplares puros de Nublang. Una alternativa al cruzamiento sería la mejora genética de la producción lechera dentro de la cabaña de pura raza Nublang, permitiendo así la conservación y la utilización sostenible de la raza en pureza. Resulta importante medir la variabilidad genética (la heredabilidad) de la producción lechera para evaluar el potencial de mejora genética dentro de la raza Nublang. Así, este estudio estimó parámetros fenotípicos y genéticos de la producción lechera a partir de los datos de 2 052 controles lecheros diarios de 66 vacas, registrados entre 1997 y 2013 en la Granja Nacional Nublang, en Tashiyangphu. La producción media diaria de leche (PMDL) fue de 2.12 ± 0.7 litros (n = 2 052, intervalo: 0.3–5.0 l, coeficiente de variación: 34 por ciento). El número de parto, el mes de lactación y el año tuvieron todos un efecto significativo (P < 0.05) sobre la PMDL. La producción media de leche por lactación (PMLL) fue de 519.2 ± 151 litros (n = 261, intervalo: 115–881.7 l, coeficiente de variación: 29,1 por ciento) y la duración media de la lactación fue de 239 días. La PMLL se vio significativamente afectada por el número de parto (P<0.05) y por la estación en que nacían las crías. La heredabilidad de la PMDL y la PMLL fue de 0.22 ± 0.16 y 0.13 ± 0.20, respectivamente. La repetibilidad estimada fue de 0.45 ± 0.05 y 0.49 ± 0.08 para la PMDL y la PMLL, respectivamente. En general, la heredabilidad y la repetibilidad estimadas para las producciones de leche dejan entrever un potencial de mejora genética de la producción lechera del ganado Nublang a través de la selección. No obstante, se recomienda generar un mayor conjunto de datos, que permita obtener unas estimaciones más precisas de los parámetros genéticos.

Keywords

breed conservationgenetic improvementheritabilityrepeatabilityconservation de racesamélioration génétiquehéritabilitérépétabilitéconservación de razasmejora genéticaheredabilidadrepetibilidad
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 57 , December 2015 , pp. 25 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2015 

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