Genetic parameter estimates indicate the possibility of genetic gain by selecting for reproductive traits of females from a commercial tilapia population (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the possibility of obtaining genetic gain by selecting breeders based on genetic parameter estimates for reproductive performance traits of female tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) from a commercial population. The study was conducted using a database containing information on reproductive traits collected from 2009 to 2021. During the breeding period, the animals were stocked in tanks in a 1:3 male: female ratio. Eggs were collected from the mouth of the females every five days, and the collected eggs were measured in 100 mL beakers to estimate the egg volume. To estimate the variance components and genetic parameters (heritability, correlation, and repeatability), a mixed animal model was used with the fixed effects of the production cycle and breeding tanks, in addition to the additive direct genetic and permanent environmental random effects. The heritability values were 0.26 ± 0.14, 0.18 ± 0.10, 0.15 ± 0.09, and 0.13 ± 0.08 for total egg volume, average egg volume, spawning frequency, and average spawning interval, respectively, with repeatability above 0.43 for all analyzed variables, demonstrating the ability of the evaluated breeds to maintain the same production level during the different cycles. The genetic correlations among the variables were high, with a correlation of −0.99 between the total egg volume and the average spawning interval. Thus, selecting for total egg volume, which had the highest heritability, would result in animals that produce a large volume of eggs and have short spawning intervals.