Genetic parameters of dairy traits in the Alpine and Saanen goat breeds

Genetic parameters for milk, fat and protein yields, and fat and protein contents, were estimated for the Alpine and Saanen goat breeds using an animal model. Edited data included first lactations of 33 431 Alpine and 20 700 Saanen goats kidding in 1996 and 1997. Heritability values ranged from 0.32 to 0.40 for yields and from 0.50 to 0.60 for solid contents. The main feature observed on genetic correlations was a low genetic opposition between milk yield and fat content (about - 0.17) with a high genetic association between fat yields and fat contents (up to +0.56). Although the differences between genetic parameters of both breeds were rather low, the estimates suggest a higher potential for genetic progress in protein content and protein yield in the Alpine breed, and a higher potential for joint genetic progress in milk yield and fat content in the Saanen breed