Environmental effects and genetic parameters estimates for days to calving in Nelore cattle

Data from a Nelore population was used to evaluate environmental effects and to estimate genetic parameters for days to calving (DPP). The influence of contemporary group. age at breeding season, month of last calving and weaning weight of the calf at the end of the breeding season were evaluated with fixed models. The weaning weight of the calf at the end of the breeding season was the only effect that did not influence DPP. Two different contemporary group (CG) definitions were also evaluated. Herd, year and season of breeding, management groups (birth, weaning and breeding) and mating type (multiple sires. single sire or artificial insemination) defined the first CG and the second CG included the same variables and sex of the calf. Variance components were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood method fitting univariate animal models. including or not non-calvers cows (which were penalized by adding 21 days to the largest DPP record in their management group). Heritability estimates ranged between 0.01 and 0.11. Exclusion of the permanent environmental effect from the model overestimated additive genetic variance. The method of assigning penalties to non-calvers cows was unsuitable: it resulted in reduced additive genetic variance. The results suggest that DPP is strongly influenced by the environment.