scholarly journals Genetic parameters for female fertility and milk production traits in first-parity Czech Holstein cows

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Zink ◽  
J. Lassen ◽  
M. Štípková
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Milk Production Traits ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Genetic Potential ◽  
Fertility Traits

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for female fertility and production traits in first-parity Czech Holstein cows and to quantify the effect of using this information on the accuracy of a selection index in seven different scenarios. In order to estimate genetic (co)variance components, the DMU software running an AI-REML algorithm was used. The analyses were made using a series of bivariate animal models. The pedigree included 164 125 animals and it was set up using a pruned animal model design. The present study included the following female fertility traits for the first lactations: calving to the first insemination (CF), days open (DO), calving from the first to the last insemination (FL), and milk production traits: milk production (MLK), kg of fat (FAT), and kg of protein (PROT). The heritability for all the investigated fertility traits was low and close to 0. Moderate heritabilities for production traits ranging from 0.20 (MLK) to 0.23 (PROT) were estimated. The strongest unfavourable correlation was found between PROT and DO (0.49). Other estimated correlations between fertility traits and production traits were moderate, ranging from 0.26 to 0.41. The results of this study evidence that cows with the poorest genetic potential for reproductive performance are those having high genetic potential for milk production and milk components. The results also show that the number of days from calving to new pregnancy depends on the production level. Seven investigated scenarios using selection index theory show a clear trend for increasing accuracy when more fertility traits were added as well as when higher numbers of daughters with information on reproduction traits per sire were available.  

Linear and threshold model genetic parameters for disease, fertility and milk production in dairy cattle

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. N. Kadarmideen ◽  
R. Thompson ◽  
G. Simm
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Threshold Model ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Milk Production Traits ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Fertility Traits

AbstractThis study provides estimates of genetic parameters for various diseases, fertility and 305-day milk production traits in dairy cattle using data from a UK national milk recording scheme. The data set consisted of 63891 multiple lactation records on diseases (mastitis, lameness, milk fever, ketosis and tetany), fertility traits (calving interval, conception to first service, number of services for a conception, and number of days to first service), dystocia and 305-day milk, fat and protein yield. All traits were analysed by multi-trait repeatability linear animal models (LM). Binary diseases and fertility traits were further analysed by threshold sire models (TM). Both LM and TM analyses were based on the generalized linear mixed model framework. The LM included herd-year-season of calving (HYS), age at calving and parity as fixed effects and genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects as random. The TM analyses included the same effects as for LM, but HYS effects were treated as random to avoid convergence problems when HYS sub-classes had 0 or 100% incidence. Because HYS effects were treated as random, herd effects were fitted as fixed effects to account for effect of herds in the data. The LM estimates of heritability ranged from 0•389 to 0•399 for 305-day milk production traits, 0•010 to 0•029 for fertility traits and 0•004 to 0•038 for diseases. The LM estimates of repeatability ranged from 0•556 to 0•586 for 305-day milk production traits, 0•029 to 0•086 for fertility traits and 0•004 to 0•100 for diseases. The TM estimates of heritabilities and repeatabilities were greater than LM estimates for binary traits and were in the range 0•012 to 0•126 and 0•013 to 0•168, respectively. Genetic correlations between milk production traits and fertility and diseases were all unfavorable: they ranged from 0•07 to 0•37 for milk production and diseases, 0•31 to 0•54 for milk production and poor fertility and 0•06 to 0•41 for diseases and poor fertility. These results show that future selection programmes should include disease and fertility for genetic improvement of health and reproduction and for sustained economic growth in the dairy cattle industry.

Use of productive data to predict length of productive life in Iranian Holstein cattle

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 126-126
Author(s):  
A. Abdolmohammadi ◽  
M. Moradi Shahrebabak ◽  
S. R. M. Ashtiani
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Holstein Cattle ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Milk Production Traits ◽  
Direct Evaluation ◽  
Productive Life ◽  
Selection Of

Improvement of longevity by direct selection of sires based on theirs daughters’ longevity measures is impractical because of a low heritability and generation intervals prolonged by waiting until all cows complete their productive life. As an alternative to direct evaluation of sires for longevity is indirect prediction from genetically correlated production traits measures in the first lactation. The objectives this study were 1) to estimate genetic parameters of longevity and production traits 2) to examine relationships between longevity and first lactation milk production traits and 3) to determine selection index for sires’ longevity based on production traits.

Factors influencing milk osteopontin concentration based on measurements from Danish Holstein cows

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Brian Christensen ◽  
Elias D. Zachariae ◽  
Nina A. Poulsen ◽  
Albert J. Buitenhuis ◽  
Lotte B. Larsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Bovine Milk ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Milk Production Traits ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Significant Interest ◽  
Variation Explained

Abstract Our objective was to determine the content of the bioactive protein osteopontin (OPN) in bovine milk and identify factors influencing its concentration. OPN is expressed in many tissues and body fluids, with by far the highest concentrations in milk. OPN plays a role in immunological and developmental processes and it has been associated with several milk production traits and lactation persistency in cows. In the present study, we report the development of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measurement of OPN in bovine milk. The method was used to determine the concentration of OPN in milk from 661 individual Danish Holstein cows. The median OPN level was determined to 21.9 mg/l with a pronounced level of individual variation ranging from 0.4 mg/l to 67.8 mg/l. Breeding for increased OPN in cow's milk is of significant interest, however, the heritability of OPN in milk was found to be relatively low, with an estimated value of 0.19 in the current dataset. The variation explained by the herd was also found to be low suggesting that OPN levels are not affected by farm management or feeding. Interestingly, the concentration of OPN was found to increase with days in milk and to decrease with parity.

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