Genetic trend of functional productive life in the population of black and white cattle in Serbia

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim ?f estimating genetic trend for a functional length of productive life (FLPL) in the population of Black and White cattle in Serbia. Research and bulls genetic evaluation for functional longevity were performed on a set of data provided by Agricultural Corporation Belgrade AD (PKB) which contained data on longevity and origin of 22109 cows out of which 26% records were right-censored. Functional length of productive life (FPLP) represents a time period from the first calving to culling or censoring corrected for milk production. Breeding values were estimated using Weibull method of proportional risks within survival analysis a genetic trend for FLPL was calculated using of a regression analysis. The cows included in the analysis were on average first calved in the age of 809 days and had an average share of 81.9% genes of Holstein Friesian breed. An average length of productive life was 1267 days (41.6 months). Distribution of bull standardised breeding values did not statistically significantly differ from normal distribution. An average standardised breeding value was 99. A slightly positive genetic trend was determined, that is, the length of functional productive life was by selection increased by 0.021 day at an annual level while a reliability of estimated breeding values showed a negative trend.