Genetic parameters among lactational performance traits in Murrah buffaloes

The data pertinent to lactational performance traits on Murrah buffaloes calved during period 1987 to 2002, progeny of 52 sires maintained at Buffalo Research Centre, LLR University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar were considered. The estimates of heritability were obtained low to moderate for almost all lactational performance traits. All the first lactation traits viz., AC1, SP, CI, MY, LL, PY, DAPY and MY/LL had moderate to high positive genetic correlations among themselves except PY with CI and DAPY with AC1, which is negative. Age at calving (AC2) had moderate positive genetic correlation with second lactational performance traits like SP, MY, LL, PY, MY/LL and MY/CI and had negative correlations with DAPY and DP. Moreover, third lactational traits like milk yield, LL, PY, DAPY, MY/LL and MY/CI had high positive genetic correlations among themselves. However, age at calving during fourth lactation had positive genetic correlations with all the traits except CI, DAPY and DP which had negative genetic correlations with it. It is inferred that information on sip performance and other relatives coupled with better husbandry practices would be required to bring desirable improvement in these lactational performance traits.