Selection of Black Bengal bucks based on progeny performance

The present study was aimed for selection of Black Bengal bucks based on progeny performance by using accumulated data of the nucleus breeding flock of Black Bengal goats of the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The traits considered were birth weight, weight at every 3-months interval up to 12 months, semen parameters and milk yield of progeny produced from 15 bucks. Data on 2013 progeny of 15 Black Bengal bucks were analyzed where all the dams were managed in same environment. Heritability estimates obtained for birth weight, 3, 6, 9 and 12-month weights of progeny were 0.38±0.07, 0.41±0.09, 0.55±0.11, 0.51±0.11 and 0.48±0.21, respectively. The high heritability estimates of body weights indicated that there is a good opportunity for genetic improvement of this trait in a selection scheme. Heritability estimates obtained for semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm livability and normal sperm were 0.078, 0.018, 0.015, 0.066 and 0.035, respectively. The heritability estimates for milk yield in the present study was 0.33±0.14. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between body weights at different ages were 0.27 to 0.47 and 0.35 to 0.51 respectively. Among semen characteristics, phenotypic correlations ranged from moderately negative (-0.37) to moderately positive (0.46), whereas, genetic correlations ranged from slightly negative (-0.15) to moderately positive (0.45). Then breeding values for all the animals were estimated. Among 15, first 3 top bucks number 81, 54 and 83 for birth weight; buck number 81, 83 and 54 for body weight after twelve months of age and buck number 73, 50 and 54 for milk yield were ranked on the basis of their predicted breeding values. From this study, these top ranking bucks can be selected and conserved by means of preservation of frozen semen for long term sustainable development and that will also give opportunity for gene banking.