Factors affecting birth weights of the Boran cattle in Tanzania

Birth weights of 1,030 Boran calves born between 1961 and 1979 at Malya Livestock Research Center in Tanzania were analysed to obtain means and study factors affecting this trait over the years under study and to estimate correction factors for effect of season and sex of calf. Also determined were...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mpiri, D.B., Mpiri, M.T, Robison, O.W.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 1987
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/66826
Description
Summary:Birth weights of 1,030 Boran calves born between 1961 and 1979 at Malya Livestock Research Center in Tanzania were analysed to obtain means and study factors affecting this trait over the years under study and to estimate correction factors for effect of season and sex of calf. Also determined were heritability estimates from sire and dam components of variance. Last squares mean birth weights for Period I (1963-1969) and Period II (1970-1979) were 26.0± .5 and 25.4±7 respectively. Heritability estimates used on paternal half sibs were 0.33±0.12 and 0.18± 0.13, for periods I and II respectively. Year, season, sire, dam and sex effects were highly significant (P