Background:

The breeding of water buffaloes for milk production reaches 41 years in the Cuban livestock panorama.

Objective.

An analysis of dairy behavior was carried out in different herds in the country and compared with that of the Los Naranjos enterprise, the behavior of the Most Probable Productive Ability (HPMP) was analyzed and genetic components were estimated for different dairy traits of the buffaloes belonging to that particular company.

Methods:

A total of 24 907 lactations from different herds in the country and 6 498 from the Los Naranjos company that occurred between 2013 to 2020, were studied using multicharacter linear models with random effects of father and the female that produces the record, models to estimate some environmental factors. and genetics that affect milk production at 100 days (L100); 200 days (L200), total milk (Ltot) and the duration of lactation (Dlac).

Results:

The females that gave birth in 2020 produced -62,1 kg and -96,2 kg of L200 and Ltot respectively compared to those that gave birth in 2013, even though Dlac increased by 15 days in the same period. A wide variability was manifested in the most probable productive ability (HPMP), but the evolution of this indicator depending on the year of birth of the buffaloes was practically null, indicating the little selection pressure exerted in the breeding of this species. Repeatability estimates (() were between 0,372 to 0,397 for L100; L200 and Ltot, magnitudes practically twice as high in the Los Naranjos company compared to the rest of the country. Heritability estimates (h2) were between ≈0,217±0,01 and 0,166±0,02 for L100; L200 and Ltot respectively with genetic correlations greater than 0,961. From the expected differences in the progenies (DEP), it was found that the daughters of the best 20 sires reached an EPD of +37,6±12.9 kg in L200 and +42,5±15,7 kg for Ltot.

Conclusions:

The indicators under study did not present a favorable evolution, however, possibilities for selection and improvement work are evident.