It was evaluated alternatives for analysis of performance records and ranking of Charolais x Zebu crossbred bulls. Data of weight at six ages and average daily weight gain in eight periods of 883 21/32 Charolais + 11/32 Nellore bulls in performance tests were used. The direct additive genetic values were predicted in single trait analysis using animal models with classificatory fixed effects of contemporary groups and age of dam at calving and age of animal at weighing as linear covariable, depending on the trait. As random effects, it was considered the direct additive genetic effect, the permanent maternal environmental and residual effects for all traits. Phenotypic values adjusted for fixed effects included in the model of each trait were also obtained. The Spearman correlation between predicted direct additive genetic values and adjusted phenotypic values ranged from 0.43 to 0.95, depending on the trait and year of birth of the animals. The accuracies of genetic values increased according to the number of animals with utilized data and they were always higher to those estimated for the adjusted phenotypic values. The magnitude of change in ranking the bulls depends on the considered trait. The estimates of correlations of predicted genetic values with the real genetic values of the analyzed traits of growth are higher than those among the adjusted phenotypic values and the real genetic values.
crossbred bulls; least square; mixed models; selection
