scholarly journals Factors affecting milk yield and ewe’s lactation curves estimated with test-day models

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 483-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Oravcová ◽  
M. Margetín ◽  
D. Peškovičová ◽  
J. Daňo ◽  
M. Milerski ◽  
...  

Test-day records of purebred Tsigai, Improved Valachian and Lacaune ewes were analysed with a general linear model in order to investigate the effects of flock-test day, lactation number, days in milk, litter size and month of lambing. In total, 121 576 (Tsigai), 247 902 (Improved Valachian) and 2 196 (Lacaune) test-day records gathered over the period 1995–2005 were included in the analyses. Average daily milk yields were 0.604 ± 0.279 kg (Tsigai), 0.595 ± 0.243 kg (Improved Valachian) and 1.053 ± 0.475 kg (Lacaune). The significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01) effects of flock-test day, lactation number (except for Lacaune), days in milk, litter size (except for Lacaune) and month of lambing (either fixed effects or covariates) tested by Fisher’s tests were shown. The model explained about 50% of daily milk yield variability, with coefficients of determination as follows: 0.479 for Improved Valachian; 0.487 for Tsigai; 0.537 for Lacaune. Differences in estimated least-squares means were tested using multiple-range Scheffe’s tests. A lower daily milk yield was found for the first lactation, single litter and lactations starting in March in comparison with daily milk yield for the second and third lactations (except for Lacaune), multiple litter and lactations starting in January and February (except for Improved Valachian). Ali-Schaeffer regression adopted for sheep was used for the fitting of lactation curve according to breed.  

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 231-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Komprej ◽  
G. Gorjanc ◽  
D. Kon ◽  
M. Kovač

Lactation curves for daily milk yield, fat, and protein content in three dairy sheep breeds were estimated by the repeatability animal model using test-day records. A total of 38 983 records from 3068 ewes of Bovec, Improved Bovec, and Istrian Pramenka breeds, collected between the years 1994 and 2002, were analysed. The three-trait repeatability animal model included breed and lambing season as fixed. The stage of lactation within each breed was modelled by the modified Ali-Schaeffer’s lactation curve. Parity and litter size were used as covariates in quadratic and linear regression, respectively. Common flock environment, additive genetic effect, permanent environment over lactations as well as within lactation were treated as random. The average daily milk yield was 1090 g in Bovec, 1010 g in Improved Bovec, and 731 g in Istrian Pramenka breeds. Overall means for fat and protein content were 6.59 and 5.53% for Bovec, 6.22 and 5.33% for Improved Bovec, and 7.20 and 5.63% for Istrian Pramenka. Breed, lambing season, stage of lactation, parity, and litter size significantly (P < 0.001) affected all three observed milk traits, with the only exception of parity in fat and litter size in protein content. The shape of lactation curves for daily milk yield in Bovec and Improved Bovec breeds fitted well to the general lactation curve in dairy sheep. Daily milk yield was increasing in the first month of lactation and decreasing thereafter. In Istrian Pramenka, the shape of lactation curve was more or less atypical, with daily milk yield decreasing almost throughout the entire lactation. Lactation curves for fat and protein content were opposite to the lactation curves for daily milk yield in all three breeds.  


2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-337
Author(s):  
Ö. Koçak ◽  
B. Ekiz

Abstract. The objective of this study was to compare the goodness of fit of seven mathematical models (including the gamma function, the exponential model, the mixed log model, the inverse quadratic polynomial model and their various modifications) on daily milk yield records. The criteria used to compare models were mean R2, root mean squared errors (RMSE) and difference between actual and predicted lactation milk yields. The effect of lactation number on curve parameters was significant for models with three parameters. Third lactation cows had the highest intercept post-calving, greatest incline between calving and peak milk yield and greatest decline between peak milk yield and end of lactation. Latest peak production occurred in first lactation for all models, while third lactation cows had the earliest day of peak production. The R2 values ranged between 0.590 and 0.650 for first lactation, between 0.703 and 0.773 for second lactation and between 0.686 and 0.824 for third lactation, depending on the model fitted. The root mean squared error values of different models varied between 1.748 kg and 2.556 kg for first parity cows, between 2.133 kg and 3.284 kg for second parity cows and between 2.342 kg and 7.898 kg for third parity cows. Lactation milk yield deviations of Ali and Schaeffer, Wilmink and Guo and Swalve Models were close to zero for all lactations. Ali and Schaeffer Model had the highest R2 for all lactations and also yielded smallest RMSE and actual and predicted lactation milk yield differences. Wilmink and Guo and Swalve Models gave better fit than other three parameter models.


1962 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-168
Author(s):  
Aarne Mäkelä

Comparisons are made between different methods to find the peak production (maximum daily milk yield) and methods to design the average lactation curve at the ascending phase in dairy cows. It was noted that in order to determine the height and location of the maximal producing capacity of a cow in a known lactation period, it is preferable to choose the peak production as a mean of three subsequent best days. It was also noted that the usual methods for drawing the average lactation curves do not give a true picture of the height and location of the peak. The author suggests a method for determining the average lactation curve at the ascending phase by using the averages of both milk productions and times involved in reaching the peak and known fractions (e.g. 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 5/4) of it. In this lactation curve the peak production is the mean of the peaks of individual cows, and the time involved in reaching it is the mean of the durations of the ascending phases of the individual cows.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 426-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Komprej ◽  
G. Gorjanc ◽  
D. Kon ◽  
M. Kovač

The estimation of covariance components for daily milk yield, fat and protein content was performed in three Slovenian dairy sheep breeds (Bovec, Improved Bovec, and Istrian Pramenka). In the period 1994–2002, 38 983 test-day records of 3 068 ewes were collected according to ICAR regulations (method A4). All the available relationships between animals were considered. For that reason, information on 3 534 animals was included. Test-day records were analysed by a multiple-trait repeatability animal model. In its fixed part, the model contained breed and season of lambing as classes. Days after lambing, parity, and litter size were treated as covariates. Days after lambing were modelled with modified Ali-Schaeffer’s lactation curve, parity with quadratic, and litter size with linear regression. The random part of the model consisted of flock-test month effect, additive genetic effect, permanent environment effect over lactations, and permanent environment effect within lactation. Covariance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML). The estimated heritabilities were 0.11 for daily milk yield, 0.08 for fat content, and 0.10 for protein content. A relatively high variance ratio for all milk traits was explained by the flock-test month effect (from 0.27 for daily milk yield to 0.57 for protein content), while ratios explained by both permanent environment effects were lower (up to 0.13). Additive genetic correlations between daily milk yield and fat content, and daily milk yield and protein content were negative and similar (–0.36 and –0.37). A high and positive (0.67) additive genetic correlation between fat and protein content was found. Correlations for environmental effects showed a pattern similar to additive genetic correlations. Genetic parameters estimated in Slovenian dairy sheep showed that genetic progress in milk traits could be achieved using test-day milk records.


2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasios I Gelasakis ◽  
Georgios Arsenos ◽  
Georgios E Valergakis ◽  
Georgios Banos

The objective of the study was twofold: (i) to quantify the differences in daily milk yield (DMY) and total milk yield (TMY) between lame and non-lame dairy ewes and (ii) to determine the shape of lactation curves around the lameness incident. The overall study was a prospective study of lameness for the surveyed sheep population, with a nested study including the selection of matching controls for each lame ewe separately. Two intensively reared flocks of purebred Chios ewes and a total of 283 ewes were used. Data, including gait assessment and DMY records, were collected on a weekly basis during on-farm visits across the milking period. A general linear model was developed for the calculation of lactation curves of lame and non-lame ewes, whereas one-way ANOVA was used for the comparisons between lame ewes and their controls. Lameness incidence was 12·4 and 16·8% on Farms A and B, respectively. Average DMY in lame ewes was significantly lower (213·8 g, P < 0·001) compared with the rest of the flock, where DMY averaged 1·340 g. The highest DMY reduction in lame ewes was observed during the week 16 of the milking period (P < 0·001), whereas the reduction of DMY, for lame ewes, remained significant at P < 0·001 level from week 8 to week 28 of milking. Comparisons between lame and controls revealed that at the week of lameness diagnosis a significant DMY reduction (P ≤ 0·001) was observed in lame ewes (about 32·5%), which was maximised 1 week later (35·8%, P ≤ 0·001) and continued for several weeks after recovery, resulting in 19·3% lower TMY for lame ewes for the first 210 d of the milking period (P < 0·01). Moreover, at flock level, TMY for non-lame and lame ewes, as calculated by the general linear model, was 318·9 and 268·0 kg, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate evidence of significant financial losses in dairy sheep due to lameness which, however, need to be accurately estimated in further, more detailed, analyses.


Author(s):  
Božidarka . ◽  
Marković . ◽  
M Marković ◽  
Dušica . ◽  
Radonjić . ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to analyze effect of genetic and environmental factors on milk production traits of indigenous Balkan goat breed. The average milk yield of 150.43 kg in lactation that lasted 211.09 days was significantly influenced by flock and lactation, while average daily milk yield (0.724 kg) was additional significantly affected by stage of lactation (PÂ0.001). Variability of milk components content (fat, protein and solid nonfat – SNF) was under significant effect of flock and stage of lactation, interaction of these two factors and random effect of animal (PÂ0.001), while strain and lactation did not have significant effect on these traits (P>0.05). Goats of AA genotype of alpha S1 casein had significantly higher fat, protein and SNF content than AF and FF genotype. These results provide important data that could be used as baseline for design of breeding program for improvement of production traits of Balkan goat breed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ploumi ◽  
S Belibasaki ◽  
G Triantaphyllidis

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 8-17
Author(s):  
MA Jalil ◽  
S Akther ◽  
MP Choudhury ◽  
MA Habib

The study was undertaken to evaluate the genetic progress of Black Bengal Goat (BBG) by estimating genetic parameters viz. heritability and breeding values for economically important productive and reproductive traits (birth weight, weight at 3, 6, 9 & 12 months, daily milk yield, lactation length, total milk yield and litter size of BBG goat population). Variance and co-variance components were analyzed applying Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) approach by VCE 4.2.5 computer package. The heritability (h2) of birth weight was estimated as 0.2, which was low. The heritability estimates for 3-month weight (0.40), 6-month weight (0.50), 9-month weight (0.37) and 12-month weight (0.36) were found medium. Estimated h2 of daily milk yield, total milk yield and lactation length in this study were from 0.55 to 0.82.  h2 of litter size was 0.09. The maximum estimated breeding value (EBV) was found for 6 month body weight (12.94 kg), however, for daily milk yield, the value was 1.513 kg. The results found in this study revealed that genetic improvement of BBG for most of the traits is possible by selection and breeding. Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 20(1-2): 8-17, Jan-Dec 2013


2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Gootwine ◽  
G. E. Pollott

AbstractThis study investigated the factors affecting milk production and lactation curve parameters from the complete lactations of Awassi dairy sheep. The animals were kept in a single flock under intensive management and milked twice daily starting at lambing. Lambs were removed from the ewes at birth into an artificial rearing unit. The results of the analyses of 3740 complete lactations showed a mean litter size of 1·28 lambs born per ewe lambing and average total milk yield of 506 l from lactations 214 days in length and with an average lambing interval of 330 days. Mean lactation number was 3·71 and ewes conceived on average in the 6th month of the lactation. The lactations peaked on day 45 at a yield of 3·44 l. The maximum milk secretion potential of the ewes was 3·9 l/day, with milk yield increasing at 62 g/day mid way between lambing and peak yield and declining at 16·5 g/day mid way between peak and the end of lactation. Age at first lambing, lactation number, litter size, month of lambing and month of conception during the lactation had significant effects (P < 0·05) on some or all of the lactation parameters investigated. Relatively high milk yield was obtained in lactations starting in the January to March period. The monthly effect on milk production was explained by significant (P < 0·05) heat load and photoperiod effects. High milk production was found to have a significant (P < 0·05) adverse effect on reproductive performance. Conception followed a significant (P < 0·05) short term variation in milk production.


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