The relationships of phenotype, genotype and some environmental factors with birth weight in Jersey calves

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of parity, birth type, gender and birth season on birth weight in Jersey cattle and also investigated the relationships of phenotype and genotype with birth weight. Birth records of the Karakoy farm near Samsun, Turkey for the period from 1998 to 2005 were used as data for this study. Parity (P < 0.001), birth type (P < 0.001) and gender (P < 0.001) had a significant effect on birth weight, whereas season of calving and calving year (P > 0.05) were not significant. The birth weight mean of Jersey calves was 20.87 ± 1.79 kg. Total additive genotypic variance was 14.80, phenotypic variance was 38.95 and heritability of birth weight was 0.38. In planning a selection program to achieve ideal birth weight of Jersey calves, birth type, gender and parity need to be included, with the 4th or later parity been most influential.

Key words: Birth weight, estimate of parameter, Jersey, parity, season of birth.