Genotype x environment interaction via models of reaction norms for growth traits in Nelore cattle

The objective of this work was to evaluate the sensitivity of Nelore cattle to the environment by different models of reaction norms and to estimate the genetic progress in environmental gradient. The parameters weight gain from weaning to yearling (WG345) and adjusted weight at 205 days of age (W205) were determined. A standard animal model (AM), two reaction norm hierarchical models with residual variance homoscedasticity, and two with heterogeneity were used. The homoscedastic reaction norm hierarchical model with one step showed the best fit. The direct heritability coefficients from the low environment to the high one, in environmental gradient, were 0.03 to 0.63 and 0.13 to 0.62, respectively, for WG345 and W205. The correlations between the intercept and the slope of the reaction norm were: 0.93, for WG345 (direct); 0.95, for WG345 (maternal); 0.92, for W205 (direct); and 0.82, for W205 (maternal). The correlations indicate that animals with high genetic value tend to positively respond to better environments. The genetic trends showed gains for the direct effects, mainly in the best environments. There is genetic variation for sensitivity of animals, in different environments, a fact that allows of the selection of animals of more appropriate genotypes for the production in a particular environment.