Analysis of longevity performance in the different bull lines of Busha cattle in Croatia

Longevity is a complex trait ; the longevity performance of the sire is a measurement of the time he produces in a herd and is determined by various factors such as fertility, health, and workability. The sire fulfilling an active working life in the herd increases the average herd production and efficiency by reducing input costs. Busha is a native breed of cattle reared in an extensive system and classified as an endangered population - maintained. From the establishment of the Herd Book, breeding systematization defined 24 lines of bulls (LB). The aim was to analyze the herd life of different bull lines of the Busha cattle breed in Croatia. The data on 83 breeding sires born in 1995-2022 with at least one offspring were obtained from the Veterinary Information System of the Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate for Veterinary Administration. Herd life was defined as the total number of days from the calving date of first offspring to the last (culling) date of the bull. Testing of differences in the number of days spent in the herd between different lines was carried out considering as a minimum criterion 4 breeding bulls for each line. The difference in the days spent in the herd between the lines was carried out with one-way ANOVA at p