Analysis of Milk and Biometric Traits of Brown Swiss Cattle in High Arid Climate

The aim of the research was to estimate the genetic parameters for milk and conformation traits in Brown Swiss cattle breed. The data comprised 2,059 daily milk yield records of 404 Brown Swiss cattle that calved between 2001 and 2015. The total number of sires, dams and animal record extracted from the pedigree file were 98, 356 and 809 respectively. Heritability estimates was 0.22 for milk yield while body type traits ranged from 0.10 in central ligament through 0.48 in chest width. Repeatability estimates were low to high between milk yield and conformational traits. Overall the heritabilities of all traits were moderate to high except body condition score and chest ligament, these indicated that most traits in this herd can be improved by selective breeding.