Evaluation of genetic trend in milk production of buffalo cattle in Colombia

Assessing genetic trends in livestock is pivotal for comprehending how populations have evolved over time. This provides valuable insights into the direction and magnitude of genetic change, which is crucial for evaluating the outcomes of selection processes within herds. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic trend in milk production of buffalo cattle in Colombia. The study used the productive database of purebred Murrah Buffaloes recorded by the Colombian Buffalo Breeders Association (ACB), encompassing productive and genealogical records of 774 animals born between 2008 and 2017. A GAMS model was applied to assess genetic values, considering the birth year of the animal. The mean genetic value in the evaluated population was 45.42 ± 85.31 kg, with minimum and maximum values of -160.54 and 377.34 kg, respectively. When analyzing genetic values by year, the highest value was observed in 2014 (56.26 kg), while the lowest was recorded in 2017 (32.65 kg). The GAMS model estimated an intercept of 45.42 kg (p