Records of 128,700, 44,227, 90,383; 47,506; 42,619; 45,057; 17,666 and 27,181 animals were analyzed, for weight at weaning (WW), yearling weight (YW), navel score at weaning (NW), male navel score at weaning (MNW), female navel score at weaning (FNW), navel score at yearling (NY), male navel score at yearling (MNY) and female navel score at yearling (FNY), respectively, to estimate genetic parameters of navel visual scores and growth traits in Nelore cattle, using uni and bi-traits analysis. Heritability estimates obtained by uni-traits analysis for NW, MNW, FNW, NY, MNY, FNY, WW and YW traits were 0.14±0.01; 0.18±0.02; 0.15±0,01; 0.26±0,01; 0.32±0.03; 0.27±0.02; 0.29±0.01 and 0.27±0.02, respectively. Heritability estimates obtained by bi-traits analysis of NW, NY, WW and YW were 0.15; 0.27; 0.29 and 0.45. Genetic correlations between MNW and FNW, between MNY and FNY and between NW and NY, were positive and high, suggesting that these traits were determined by the same genes. Genetic correlation between navel score and growth traits were all positive and of low to moderate magnitude.
beef cattle; genetic parameter; navel score
