Impact of selection based on mature equivalent body weight of buffalo bulls and cows on calf body weight at different ages in Thanh-Chuong district, Nghe-An province, Vietnam

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to assess the impact of buffalo bull and cow selection on calf body weight at different ages from birth to age 12 mth. In total, 916 buffaloes (18 bulls, 370 cows, and 528 calves) were used from 334 households in Thanh-Chuong district, Nghe-An province, Vietnam. Calves were weighed at birth and the weight of growing calves was estimated based on technical measurements of chest girth and body length. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model. The results indicated that selection of buffalo bulls and cows based on mature equivalent weight (MEW) strongly influenced calf weight from birth to age 12 mth. Buffalo bull selection influenced calf weight by from 20.27% to 53.94%, and weight variation of calves accounted for 12.00% to 22.24%. When buffalo bulls and cows were simultaneously selected, calf weight variation was highest (from 40.86% to 75.49%). When the MEW of buffalo bulls increased by 100 kg, the body weight of calves from birth to age 12 mth increased by 4.02–32.87 kg. When the MEW of buffalo cows increased by 100 kg, the body weight from birth to age 12 mth of calves increased by 1.97–26.71 kg. When the MEW of both buffalo bulls and cows increased by 100 kg, the body weight of calves from birth to age 12 mth increased by 5.39–48.76 kg. Selection of the bull increased calf weight more than the cow selection and the combined selection of the bull and cow increased calf weight the most for the different ages considered.