Phenotypic and genetic parameters of some production characteristics of anatolian buffaloes breed in Bitlis province

In this study, phenotypic and genetic parameters of important growth, reproduction and milk yield characteristics of Anatolian buffaloes were analyzed using the 2011-2019 period records of Anatolian buffaloes in the sub-project "Breeding of Anatolian Buffalo in the Hand of People" implemented by TOB-TAGEM in Bitlis province in Turkey. For male and female calves, least squares mean of birth weight (kg); sixth month live weight (kg); one year live weight (kg); daily live weight gain (g) between birth and sixth month; daily live weight gain (g) between birth and one year of age; sixth month survivability (%); one-year survival rate (%) were determine respectively as 31.31±0.078 and 30.35±0.072; 109.11±0.332 and 102.80±0.298; 187.905±0.528 and 174.58±0.448; 430.87±1.747 and 402.71±1.586; 428.34±1.399 and 395.43±1.194; 0.89±0.005 and 0.90±0.005; 0.76±0.007 and 0.78±0.007. Least squares mean of characteristics of lactation periods (day); total lactation milk yield (kg); 305 days lactation milk yield (kg); lactation average daily milk yield (g); calving interval (day); the service period (day) were determined respectively as 241.28±0.301, 1011.39±3.582; 1278.37±3.77; 4.19±0.012; 438.32±1.110; It was as 111.39±0.148. In the same order, heritabilities (h2) of characteristics of growth, milk and reproductive were estimated as 0.31, 0.21, 0.18, 0.20, 0.18, 0.21, 0.20; 0.16, 0.36, 0.34, 0.35 and 0.11, 0.23. Positive and negative directional genetic and environmental correlations between growth traits were calculated between 0 with 1 and -0.01 with -0.11, respectively. The positive and negative directional correlations of milk and reproductive characteristics within and between themselves have been estimated as -0.15 with 1.00 ve -0.13 with -0.19; 0.59 with 0.71; 0.19 with 0.26 ve -0.04 with -0.52, respectively. According to the phenotypic and genetic analysis results, it can be suggested that the selection studies initiated in 2011 for calf growth and milk yield in Anatolian buffaloes, including the project in Bitlis province, have caused the appearance of moderate levels of additive genetic variation in many of the growth, milk and reproductive characteristics by 2019. For this reason, if selection studies are continued systematically in this buffalo population after 2019, it can be said that there is an opportunity to increase the amount of genetic progress in terms of the characteristics focused on. Genetic and environmental correlations calculated between characteristics of growth, reproductive and milk yield have also shown that the genes controlling calf birth weight and milk yield usually have a positive pleiotropic effect on other growth and milk yield characteristics, and therefore an important part of these characteristics can be used as an early selection criterion.