Impacto da heterogeneidade de variância residual na avaliação genética de rebanho Nelore no Bioma Amazônia

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da heterogeneidade de variância residual sobre a avaliação genética de bovinos da raça Nelore criados a pasto, provenientes do Bioma Amazônia, Brasil. Foram utilizados pesos ajustados aos 205 dias de idade, os quais foram classificados em três classes de desvio-padrão fenotípico: baixo, médio e alto. Houve aumento da variância genética aditiva direta e residual à medida que aumentaram as classes de desvio-padrão fenotípico. As herdabilidades para as classes de desvio-padrão fenotípico baixo, médio e alto foram 0,27; 0,33 e 0,26, respectivamente. As estimativas de correlações genéticas entre as classes de desvio-padrão fenotípico de baixo-médio, baixo-alta, e médio-alto foram 0,82; 0,35 e 0,72, respectivamente. As estimativas de correlação dos valores genéticos dos touros denotaram indicio de possível efeito da interação genótipo-ambiente. Houve uma grande variabilidade para os valores genéticos dos touros na classe de alto desvio-padrão fenótipo. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of heterogeneity of residual variance on genetic evaluation of cattle raised on pasture from Amazônia Bioma, Brazil. Adjusted weights at weaning weight (205 days of age) were sorted in three phenotypic classes: low (less than average weight), medium (between the average and the average plus one standard deviation) and high (greater than average plus one standard deviation). There was increased of genetic additive direct and residual variances to the extent that increased phenotypic classes. The heritabilities for low, medium and high phenotypic classes were 0.27, 0.33 and 0.26, respectively. These estimates suggest that mass selection could result in genetic gain on breeding program that use weaning weight as a selection criteria. Genetic correlations between the low and medium, low and high, and medium and high phenotypic classes were 0.82, 0.35 and 0.72, respectively. The estimate of correlation of the breeding values of sire shown effect of the heterogeneity of phenotypic variance on the prediction of animals breeding values. There was a major variability for the breeding values of sires at high phenotype class. Thus, we suggested the identification and selection of sires with the highest breeding values for weaning weight, according with environment in which these animals are being raised.