The objectives of this study were to evaluate reproductive traits (age at first calving and calving interval) and to obtain heritability estimates for birth weight in a crossbred (Murrah and Mediterranean breeds) Buffalo population in Rondonia State, Brazil. Data recorded between 1979 and 2001 were analyzed by SAS®. Variance components and heritability estimates were obtained by using the DFREML program. Age at first calving (1,291 ± 235 days) was significantly influenced by the contemporary group of dam. Calving interval (451 ± 139 days) was significantly influenced by the fixed effects of contemporary group of dam, weight of dam at previous calving, linear and quadratic components of age of dam at previous calving and the random effect of dam. Birth weight (34.25 ± 5.02 kg) was influenced by the fixed effects of sex, contemporary group of calf, weight of dam at calving and by the random effect of dam. Heritability estimate for birth weight was high (0.60 ± 0.12), suggesting genetic gains may be obtained by selection for birth weight in this Buffalo population.
age at first calving; Bubalus bubalis; calving interval; heritability; reproductive performance
