Estimates of genetic parameters of economic traits in murrah buffaloes

Data from 1991 to 2017, pertaining to early performance traits was collected from 659 Murrah buffaloes, sired by 188 bulls, maintained at Directorate of Livestock Farms, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab. Least squares means and effect on non-genetic factors were evaluated for economic traits. Moderate heritability estimates of 0.217 ± 0.00, 0.231 ± 0.00, 0.260 ± 0.046 were calculated for first calving interval (FCI), First 305 day milk yield (F305MY) and first peak yield (FPY) respectively and low heritability values of 0.015± 0.025 and 0.043 ± 0.03 were estimated for age at first calving (AFC) and first lactation length (FLL) respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlation of AFC was found to be positive with FLL and FCI and negative with F305MY and FPY. Although the production efficiency traits like F305MY, FLL and FPY had high positive genetic and phenotypic correlation among themselves.