Estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters for age at first calving and calving interval in Kuri Cattle in Niger
The aim of the study was to analyse the genetic parameters of age at first calving and calving interval in the Kuri cattle breed, using data from 292 cows from 15 bulls born at the Sayam research station in Niger and monitored over the period 1994 to 2011. Genetic parameters were determined by the mother-daughter regression method and by the variance component method using a father mixed-effects model based on restricted maximum likelihood. The effects of season and year of calving were significant (p < 0.05) on the two reproductive parameters studied.