Quantitative genetic analysis of Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedaris) under pastoral management in central desert of Iran

A Camel Research Station was established in 1990 at the central desert land of Iran named Kavir-e-loot, to evaluate productivity performance of one humped camel. The data consisted of birth weights (BW), three (W3), six (W6), nine (W9) months and yearling (W12) body weight of animals and the pedigree was registered during a period of 14 years since 1991 to 2004. The body weight traits of birth, three, six, nine months and yearling of camel calves were genetically analyzed using multiple trait animal models. The results showed low to moderate heritability for all of the studied traits. The lowest and highest value were for three 0.13 ±0.14 and six months 0.330.17, respectively. The genetic correlation between six months and yearling body weight was 0.47 0.38 which is lower than between six to nine months body weight, 0.79 0.37. The variances of common maternal effects for body weights were moderate For summer weights three, six, and nine months body weights, and high for winter, birth and yearling weight. The genetic parameter estimates indicated that the six months weight can be used as a selection tool for genetic improvement of growth traits considering its higher heritability and positive genetic correlations with succeeding growth traits.