Canonical correlation analysis for studying the association of breeding efficiency and expected producing ability with growth and reproductive traits of Murrah buffaloes

摘要

Data collected for 441 Murrah buffaloes, maintained at the Livestock Farm, NDRI, Karnal (India) during 1972-95 were used. Canonical correlation analysis was used to study the simultaneous relationship among criterion variables (Y-set) including breeding efficiency (BE) and expected producing ability (EPA) of milk yield, and predictor variables (X-set) comprising of growth and reproductive traits of Murrah buffaloes. There was a canonical correlation (P<0.01) between the 2 variates. Estimation of canonical weights and canonical loadings revealed that the body weights at 6 and 24 months of age and age at first calving were important with respect to BE while the body weights at 12 and 18 months, first calving interval and first service period were important for EPA of milk yield. The redundancy coefficient indicated that 47.80% of the total variability in the BE and EPA was explained by growth and reproductive variables.