Genetic Parameters of Temperament in Cattle: The genetics of behavior

This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between temperament and visual score characteristics. Bayesian statistics were used, with three-characteristic analyses under a linear-threshold animal model to obtain genetic parameters and estimate genetic correlation coefficients. The following characteristics were evaluated: conformation (CS), precocity (PS), musculature (MS), temperament score (ET), and exit speed (VS), evaluated at one year of age, in addition to weaning weight (PD) as an “anchor” characteristic. For the CS, PS, and MS characteristics, the highest scores indicated the best expressions of the characteristics. For ET, the highest scores indicated animals with the worst temperament, and for VS, the highest values indicated animals with the best temperament. Data from Nelore animals were used, with 125,760 animals in the kinship matrix, born between 1984 and 2010, belonging to Agropecuária Jacarezinho Ltda.