scholarly journals Genetic relationship of functional longevity with female fertility and milk production traits in Czech Holsteins 

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 554-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zavadilová ◽  
V. Zink

The objectives of this study were to estimate heritabilities of and genetic correlations among longevity, milk production, and female fertility traits of Holstein cows. Fertility traits were days open, interval from parturition to first service, and days between the first and last insemination in the first and second lactation, respectively. Production traits were first lactation milk, fat, and protein yield. Functional longevity was defined as the number of days between the first calving and culling, i.e. the length of the productive life. The linear animal model included fixed effects of month-year of first calving, regression on age at first calving, regression on milk yield (only for longevity), and random effects of herd-year, animal, and residual. Heritability estimates for fertility traits ranged from 0.02 ± 0.009 to 0.06 ± 0.004. Heritability of longevity was 0.09. Heritability estimates for production traits ranged from 0.29 ± 0.009 (fat and protein yield) to 0.34 ± 0.009 (milk yield). Genetic correlations of longevity with fertility were moderate and favourable, ranging from –0.37 ± 0.068 to –0.44 ± 0.055, except the days between the first and last insemination in the second lactation. Genetic correlations of fertility with production traits were moderate to high and unfavourable, ranging from 0.48 ± 0.042 to 0.65 ± 0.034. Substantial herd-year correlations were found between fertility traits. Residual correlations were small except for those between production traits (> 0.85) and between days open and days between the first and last insemination (0.87). Month-year of first calving effects for longevity declined between 1994 and 2002, while those for production traits and for fertility increased slightly or remained stable during this period. Between 1991 and 2003, genetic trend for longevity declined and increased for production. Estimated genetic changes for fertility were unfavourable.

1982 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-465
Author(s):  
V. K. Taneja ◽  
S. B. Basu ◽  
D. S. Bhatnagar

SUMMARYThe genetic parameters of lifetime production traits and their relationship with milk yield in first, second and third lactations were estimated from information on 753 Tharparkar cows. The heritability estimates for milk yield in first, second and third lactations were 0·22 ± 0·10, 0·33 ± 0·14 and 0·49 ± 0·17 and for number of lactations completed, lifetime milk production, number of days in milk and herd life 0·58 ± 0·23, 0·51 ± 0·22, 0·54 ± 0·22 and 0·34 ± 0·20 respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among the four lifetime production traits were in the range of 0·83–1·0 and 0·84–0·85 respectively. The phenotypic correlations of milk yield in first, second and third lactations with lifetime production traits were significant and ranged between 0·15 and 0·56. The corresponding genetic correlations ranged between 0·26 and 0·83. For the first three lactations, the genetic correlations of lifetime traits with the third lactation were high and that between lifetime milk yield and yield in third lactation the highest (0·83 ± 0·17). The direct and correlated responses from single trait selection were also estimated.


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Zink ◽  
J. Lassen ◽  
M. Štípková

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.  


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. LEE ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER

The relationships between reproduction traits, body weight and milk yield were investigated using data from 1611 heifers and 733 cows from two lines of the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project. The data were analyzed separately for heifers and cows within lines using a mixed linear model containing fixed effects for station, year of birth, season of birth and random effect of sires. Heritability estimates and genetic correlations were estimated by a paternal half-sib analysis. Heritability estimates for heifer and cow reproduction traits ranged between 0 and 26% while those of body weights at calving and 112 d postpartum and milk yield ranged from 24 to 43%. Heifers with difficult calving had a higher incidence of retained placenta than those with normal calving. Phenotypic correlations between heifer reproduction traits and milk yield during first lactation were small. High milk production in cows was associated with longer calving interval. Phenotypic correlations between heifer's and cow's reproduction traits were small. Difficult calving in heifers impairs reproductive performance after calving resulting in greater number of days from calving to first and last breeding and leading to a longer calving interval. Key words: Reproduction traits, heifers, cows, milk yield, dairy cattle


2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. N. Kadarmideen ◽  
R. Thompson ◽  
G. Simm

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Silva da Cruz ◽  
Danilo Conrado Silva ◽  
Lysa Bernardes Minasi ◽  
Larissa Kamídia de Farias Teixeira ◽  
Flávia Melo Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Milk production phenotypes are the main focus of genetic selection in dairy herds, and although there are many genes identified as related to the biology of these traits in pure breeds, little is known about crossbreed animals. This study aimed to identify potential genes associated with the 305-day milk yield in 337 crossbreed Gir × Holstein (Girolando) animals. Milk production records were genotyped for 45,613 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This dataset was used for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the 305-day milk yield adjusted for the fixed effects of herd and year and linear and quadratic effects of age at calving (in days) and calving factor averaged per animal. Genes within the significant SNPs were retrieved from the Bos taurus ARS-UCD1.2 assembly (bosTau9) for gene ontology analysis. In summary, the GWAS identified 52 SNPs associated [p ≤ 10–4, false discovery rate (FDR) = 8.77%] with milk production, including NUB1 and SLC24A2, which were previously described as related to milk production traits in cattle. The results suggest that SNPs associated mainly with NUB1 and SLC24A2 could be useful to understand milk production in Girolando and used as predictive markers for selecting genetic predisposition for milk yield in Girolando.


2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Madad ◽  
N. Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh ◽  
A. A. Shadparvar ◽  
D. Kianzad

Abstract. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield and milk percentages of fat and protein in Iranian buffaloes. A total of 9,278 test-day production records obtained from 1,501 first lactation buffaloes on 414 herds in Iran between 1993 and 2009 were used for the analysis. Genetic parameters for productive traits were estimated using random regression test-day models. Regression curves were modeled using Legendre polynomials (LPs). Heritability estimates were low to moderate for milk production traits and ranged from 0.09 to 0.33 for milk yield, 0.01 to 0.27 for milk protein percentage and 0.03 to 0.24 for milk fat percentage, respectively. Genetic correlations ranged from −0.24 to 1 for milk yield between different days in milk over the lactation. Genetic correlations of milk yield at different days in milk were often higher than permanent environmental correlations. Genetic correlations for milk protein percentage ranged from −0.89 to 1 between different days in milk. Also, genetic correlations for milk percentage of fat ranged from −0.60 to 1 between different days in milk. The highest estimates of genetic and permanent environmental correlations for milk traits were observed at adjacent test-days. Ignoring heritability estimates for milk yield and milk protein percentage in the first and final days of lactation, these estimates were higher in the 120 days of lactation. Test-day milk yield heritability estimates were moderate in the course of the lactation, suggesting that this trait could be applied as selection criteria in Iranian milking buffaloes.


1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. N. Khan ◽  
A. Dahlin ◽  
A. H. Zafar ◽  
M. Saleem ◽  
M. A. Chaudhry ◽  
...  

AbstractThe influence of genetic and environmental factors on body weight and reproduction and their relationship to milk production traits, were studied in data of about 4700 Sahiwal cows from Pakistan. (Co)variance components were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure based on the expectation maximization algorithm applying an animal model. Mean weights of females were: at birth, 21·6 kg; at 1 year, 130 kg; and at 2 years, 222 kg. Records of age at calving, cow weight post partum and calving interval were studied in the first three parities, with parities considered as different traits. For primiparous cows the average values of these traits were: 44·1 months, 319 kg and 465 days, respectively. Mean stillbirth rate was 5·3%. Heritabilities ranged for body weight traits from 0·08 to 0·21, for age at calving from 0·10 to 0·13 and for calving interval from 0·03 to 0·07. Genetic correlations of age at first calving with calving interval and 305-day milk yield were low. The genetic correlation between 305-day milk yield and calving interval was positive (unfavourable) in first parity (0·68) but negative in the third (-0·47). Cows with a high genetic value for 305-day milk yield were heavier at first calving than were low-yielding cows (rg 0·57). The genetic change in reproductive traits over the period studied was close to zero, whereas a marked deterioration was found in phenotypic performance. It is concluded that improved feeding and management, along with some selection against poor reproduction in cows, are important for improvement of reproductive performance.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Di Croce ◽  
A. M. Saxton ◽  
D. Casanova ◽  
F. N. Schrick

Impaired fertility is the primary reason for culling in the United States (26.5% of all disposals) and fertility rates have steadily declined during the past 30 years. The objectives of this study were 1) estimate genetic parameters and evaluate genetic correlations for fertility traits based on data from milk recording programs, and 2) evaluate genetic fertility trends in Holstein cattle in Argentina. Data representing 3 282 843 lactations and 1 622 088 animals (cows and bulls from 1936 to 2007) were used for the analysis and obtained from official records maintained by the Argentinean Holstein Association (ACHA). Lactations were standardized to 305 DIM for milk, protein, and fat. Days open (DO), calving interval (CI), age to first calving (AFC), and daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) were selected for genetic parameter estimation. Daughter pregnancy rate was calculated as described by (Kuhn et al. 2004 J. Dairy Sci. 87, 2277–2284). Animal models by lactation for each fertility trait included contemporary group (dairy herd and calving year), calving month, animal effect, milk production as a covariate, and error term. Multiple-trait derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML) was used to estimate covariance components. Solutions for fixed effects, breeding values, and sampling variances (accuracies) were obtained for each trait. The fertility index ($F = –0.28 × AFC ± 4.9 × CI) was calculated using the economic rates as reported by (Gonzalez-Recio et al. 2004 J. Dairy Sci. 87, 3053–3061). First lactation/parities were utilised for estimating correlations among BLUPs for DO, CI, DPR, AFC, and $F. In general, moderate and high genetic correlations were observed (from 0.238 to 0.999; P < 0.001). Days open and calving interval showed high negative associations with DPR (–0.999, –0.648) and $F (–0.612, Q0.981). Results from the correlation analysis suggest that CI and $F are qualified indicators of fertility in lactating dairy Holstein and relate well with all the other traits. The index, $F, benefits by including AFC as a measure of initial reproductive efficiency followed by the inclusion of CI which measures success of inseminations. Genetic trend for AFC showed a decrease of 2.76 days per year between 1970 and 2000 for sires. Similarly, trends for CI resulted in decreases of 0.45 days per year between 1970 and 2000 for sires. During the same period, DPR increased by 0.02 percent per year in sires. Using current dollars values, $F increased 2.99 dollars per year for sires. Results indicate progress in the genetic trend for fertility traits in the Holstein population of Argentina, with higher improvement in sires compared with dams. Trends visually showed faster improvement after 1980, possibly due to extensive importation of US and Canadian bulls and semen (72% of bulls born after 1986) and selection for productive life introduced in 1993. Supported by Asociacion Criadores de Holando Argentino (ACHA).


2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanghua He ◽  
Qin Chu ◽  
Peipei Ma ◽  
Yachun Wang ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
...  

CD4+T cells play a key role in the immune response of pathogen-induced mastitis in dairy cattle. Mammary gland factor STAT5b is involved in the regulation of CD4+T cell differentiation during inflammatory response and milk production. Little is known about the genetic variation effects of bovineCD4andSTAT5bgenes on somatic cell score (SCS) and milk production traits in dairy cattle. The aim of the study was to investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of bovineCD4andSTAT5bin Chinese Holsteins and to analyse their association with estimated breeding values (EBVs) for SCS and milk production traits. In the present study, SNPs ofCD4(NC_007303 g.13598C>T) andSTAT5b(NC_007317 g.31562 T>C) were identified and genotyped in Chinese Holstein population. The results showed that both SNPs were significantly associated with the EBVs for milk yield and protein yield in Chinese Holstein cows, and the SNP inCD4was associated with the EBV for SCS (P<0·01). The additive effect ofCD4SNP on protein yield was significant (P<0·05), and the dominant effect ofSTAT5bSNP was significant on milk yield and protein yield (P<0·01). Cows with combination genotype C7 (CCTT:CD4g.13598C>T andSTAT5bg.31562 T>C) had the highest SCS EBV but lower milk yield, while cows with C2 (TTTC) produced more milk, fat and protein than the other eight combination genotypes. These results suggested that the SNPs inCD4andSTAT5bmay be potential genetic markers for SCS and milk/protein yields selecting and warrant further functional research.


2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-285
Author(s):  
D. Bömkes ◽  
H. Hamann ◽  
O. Distl

Abstract. Title of the paper: Influence of systematic environmental effects on milk performance traits in German Improved Fawn The objectives of this study were to analyse the influence of fixed effects on milk traits of German Improved Fawn. The analysis was based on 27,778 test day records of 1,848 German Improved Fawn with 3,574 lactation records. The milk records were sampled between 1988 and 2002 from 229 flocks in Lower Saxony, Saxony and Baden-Wuerttemberg. The average daily milk yield was 2.87 ± 1.20 kg with a fat content of 3.08 ± 0.54% and a protein content of 3.38 ± 0.95%. Somatic cell count (SCC) was transformed into somatic cell score (SCS). Mean SCS was 5.49 ± 1.93. The average lactation length was 234.1 ± 76.4 days. The analysis of variance showed a significant influence of lactation number, stage of lactation, year of lambing and month of lambing on all analysed milk production traits. Milk yield was highest in the fourth lactation number and fat as well as protein content in the 7th to 13th lactation number. Litter size had a significant influence on milk and fat yield and on fat and protein content. The region significantly influenced protein yield and fat and protein content of German Improved Fawn but had no effect on milk and protein yield and SCS. Animals from Baden-Wuerttemberg reached the highest milk protein content but the lowest milk fat content.


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