RESUMO: Objetivou-se verificar a presença das interações genótipos ambientes (IGA) para o peso ajustado aos 365 dias de idade (P365) na raça Tabapuã na região Nordeste do Brasil usando modelos de normas de reação (NR). O modelo normas de reação com variância residual homogênea e um passo proporcionou melhor ajuste aos dados pelos critérios de informação da deviance, deviance baseada na ordenada preditiva condicional e da deviance baseada nos fatores de Bayes. As estimativas de herdabilidade direta e materna, para o modelo animal, foram 0,17±0,04 e 0,07±0,03, respectivamente. As herdabilidades diretas para modelo normas de reação no ambiente de baixo e alto manejo foram de 0,21±0,06 e0,70±0,04, respectivamente. As correlações entre a inclinação e o intercepto da norma de reação foram de 0,68±0,10 e 0,96±0,06, para o efeito direto e materno, indicando que os animais com maiores valores genéticos respondem positivamente à melhoria do ambiente, especialmente para o efeito materno. As correlações de Spearman entre as classificações dos reprodutores variaram de 0,14 a 0,94 nos diferentes ambientes e modelos. Os valores genéticos da maioria dos animais apresentam-se robustos à variação ambiental, no entanto quando considera os reprodutores com maior número de filhos, verifica-se a presença de IGA.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to verify the presence of genotype-environment interactions (GEI) on the weight adjusted to 365 days of age (W365) for Tabapua cattle in the Northeast of Brazil, using reaction norm (RN) models. The reaction norm model with homogeneous residual variance and 1-step provided the best fit to the data by the criteria information of deviance, deviance based on the conditional predictive ordinate and deviance based on the Bayes factors. Direct and maternal heritability estimates for the animal model were 0.17±0.04 and 0.07±0.03, respectively. The direct heritability for model reaction norm in the low and high management environment were 0.21±0.06 and 0,70±0.04, respectively. The correlations between the slope and intercept of the reaction norm were 0.68±0.10 and 0.96±0.06 for the direct and maternal effect, indicating that the animals with high genetic values respond positively to environment improvements, especially for the maternal effect. The Spearman correlations between the sire classifications ranged from 0.14 to 0.94 in the different environments and models. Genetic values of most animals were robust to environmental variation, however, considering the sires with the highest number of progeny, there is the presence of GEI.

In the present study, alternative and traditional nonlinear models to describe growth curves of Morada Nova sheep reared in the state of Bahia, Brazil, were applied. The nonlinear models were: Schnute, Mitscherlich, Gompertz, Logistic, Meloun I Meloun II, III Meloun, Gamito and Meloun IV. The model adjustment was evaluated by using: Adjusted Coefficient of Determination (R²aj), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), Mean Squared Error of Prediction (MEP) and Coefficient of Determination of Prediction (R²p). The selection of the best model was based on cluster analysis, using the evaluators as variables. Six out of the nine tested models converged, while Meloun I and Meloun IV were equally effective in explaining animal growth, without significant influence of sex or type of parturition over the curve parameters. The models Meloun I and IV have the best adjustment and reveal a remarkable reduction of weight gain after 150 days of age, which indicates special attention should be given to feeding at this stage.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the history of the Tabapuã breed in Northeastern Brazil by determining its population structure and genetic progress. Pedigree information from animals born in the period between 1965 and 2006 and weight-adjusted data at 205 (W205), 365 (W365) and 550 (W550) days of age for bovines born between 1975 and 2006 were used. The (co)variance components and genetic value were estimated using the application MTDFREML. Also, the software ENDOG was used for pedigree analysis and parameter estimation based on the probabilities of gene origin, inbreeding and average generation interval. The heritability coefficients for direct genetic effects were 0.21±0.03, 0.26±0.04 and 0.36±0.05 for W205, W365 and W550, respectively. During the first 20 years studied, the observed effective size was small. The generation intervals by gametic pathway were: 7.7±3.4 (sire-son), 7.8±3.7 (sire-daughter), 6.9±3.3 (dam-son), 6.8 ± 3.1 (dam-daughter), and mean interval of 7.3±3.4 years. The studied population showed moderate heritability coefficients, whereas the genetic gains based on the studied traits may be higher than those estimated by genetic tendencies. Reduced generation interval, increased effective size and continuous mating control of relatives are important strategies for the genetic progress of the Tabapuã breed in the region.

The objective of this study was to characterize the population genetic structure of the Gir breed in the Northeast of Brazil. The data used in this study were taken from pedigree information of 8,897 Gir animals between 1957 and 2007, obtained from the Brazilian Zebu Breeders Association (ABCZ). The program ENDOG was used to estimate the parameters based on the probability gene origin. From the amount of the studied animals, 67.22%, 18.41% and 3.15% had complete pedigree only on the first, second and third parentage, respectively. The number of ancestors that contributed for the reference population was 2,755, of which only 171 explain the 50% genetic variability of the population. The actual number of founder herds was 168 and the effective number of founder herds was 22.3. The number of sire supplier herds was 22.16, 8.66 and 5.36 for fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, respectively. The average coefficient of relatedness was estimated at 0.22%; the highest individual coefficient was 1.49%. The little variability of the current population is a result of the small number of effective founders and ancestors indicating the population evolved from a narrow genetic base.

Os objetivos neste estudo foram analisar modelos não-lineares para descrever o crescimento em ovinos da raça Morada Nova criados no estado da Bahia e, após a definição do modelo de melhor ajuste, calcular a taxa de crescimento absoluto e avaliar a influência de fatores ambientais (sexo e tipo de parto) sobre os parâmetros da curva. Utilizaram-se dados de pesagem de 40 ovinos, do nascimento aos 385 dias de idade. Os modelos não-lineares utilizados foram: Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logístico e Gompertz. Os modelos Von Bertalanffy, Brody e Richards foram os que apresentaram os melhores ajustes e são equivalentes para explicar o crescimento dos animais. A taxa de crescimento absoluto teve acentuado decréscimo na fase pós-desmama, o que indica a necessidade de se adotar um regime alimentar adequado para acompanhar as exigências de nutrientes dos animais nessa fase. Os efeitos ambientais (sexo e tipo de parto) influenciaram significativamente a taxa a maturidade (k), mas apenas o sexo do animal afetou o peso à maturidade (A). Os animais que nasceram de parto simples tiveram peso maior que o daqueles de parto duplo, e estes apresentaram ganho compensatório. Os machos tiveram maior crescimento que as fêmeas, que, por sua vez, apresentaram maior precocidade. A correlação estimada entre os parâmetros A e k foi negativa (-0,65) para o modelo Von Bertalanffy e (-0,71) para os modelos Brody e Richards, e isso indica que os animais mais precoces possuem menor probabilidade de atingir pesos elevados à idade adulta.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate non-linear models to describe Morada Nova sheep herds raised in the State of Bahia and, after defining the best suiting model, calculate the rate of absolute growth and evaluate the influence of environmental factors (sex and type of parturition) on the curve parameters. Weighting data from 40 sheep from birth up to 385 days of age were used. The non-linear models used were: Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logistic and Gompertz. Von Bertalanffy, Brody and Richards models presented the best adjustments and were equivalent to explain the growth of the analyzed animals. A remarkable drop in the absolute growth rate was observed after weaning, suggesting that a proper diet should be implemented to supply the nutritional demands of the animals at this stage. The environmental effects (sex and type of parturition) have significantly influenced the maturity rate (k), but only the sex of the lamb affected weight at maturity (A). Animals born from single parturition proved to be heavier than twins which, in turn, presented compensatory gain. The growth of males was higher than of females and the latter presented more precocity than males. Estimated correlation between parameters A and k was negative (-0.65) for the Von Bertalanffy model and for the Brody and Richards models (-0.71) indicating that the most precocious animals are less likely to reach elevated weights when adults.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar modelos não-lineares para descrever o crescimento em animais da raça Indubrasil no Estado do Sergipe. Após a definição do modelo de melhor ajuste, calculou-se a taxa de crescimento absoluto e avaliou-se a influência de fatores ambientais (sexo, fazenda, mês e ano de nascimento) sobre os parâmetros da curva. Utilizaram-se dados de, no mínimo, 8 pesagens, obtidas a intervalos de aproximadamente 90 dias, do nascimento aos 2 anos de idade de 1.201 bovinos, provenientes da Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Zebu (ABCZ). Os modelos não-lineares utilizados foram: Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logístico e Gompertz. O modelo Logístico apresentou melhor ajuste seguido dos modelos Gompertz e Von Bertalanffy. O peso assintótico (A) e a taxa de maturidade (K) estimada pelo modelo Logístico foram 427,87 kg e 0,0052, respectivamente. Constatou-se acentuado decréscimo da taxa de crescimento absoluto na fase pós-desmama, devendo ser adotado um regime alimentar adequado para acompanhar as exigências de nutrientes dos animais nessa fase. Os efeitos de ambiente influenciaram significativamente (P < 0,05) os parâmetros A e k . A correlação estimada entre os parâmetros A e k foi negativa (-0,62), indicando que os animais mais precoces possuem menor probabilidade de atingir pesos elevados à idade adulta.

The objective of this study was to analyze nonlinear models to describe growth of Indubrazil cattle raised in Sergipe State. After defining the best adjusted model, it was evaluated the influence of environmental effects (sex, farm, month and year of birth) over mature weight (A) and maturation rate (K). Data from 1,201 animals weighed in nearly 90-day intervals from birth up to two years of age were used, based on records from the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ). The models utilized were Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logistic and Gompertz. The Logistic model presented best adjustment followed by Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy models. The parameters A (weight at maturity) and k (maturation rate), obtained by the Logistic model were 427.87 and 0.0052, respectively. An accentuated decrease in the absolute growth rate was observed after weaning and nutritional strategies should be performed to avoid the low weight gain at this stage. Environmental factors affected significantly the parameters A and k. The correlation estimated between the parameter A and k was negative (-0.62), indicating that fast-growing young animals are less likely to reach higher weights when adults.