The objective was to show the productive indexes of cattle herds raised on pasture in
the North of the country, estimating the genetic parameters that influence the
productive traits of Nellore cattle. Cattle ranching is an activity that represents a high
economic potential for national trade, requiring greater standardization of
commercialized carcasses. Animal breeding programs are needed to meet production
systems and productive demands such as body weight. The use of selection
associated with heritability data and genetic correlations allows directing the producer
to meet the needs of the animals, contributing to their phenotypic expression such as
precocity, greater weight at slaughter and environmental adaptability. Selection for the
growth of Nellore herds after weaning is a criterion widely used in farms in the North of
the Brazil, however one must be aware of the factors that can compromise the
performance and productivity of herds. Promoting the selection of earlier animals with
the appropriate use of mating methods, and attention to the maternal effect is
important, because it influences costs and time for production, improving the finishing
of animals.
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