BODY WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS OF PURELINE AND CROSSLINE HEIFERS OF THE CANADIAN DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING PROJECT

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER ◽  
A. J. LEE ◽  
C. Y. LIN ◽  
G. L. ROY ◽  
...  

Data on body weights and dimensions from birth to 82 wk of age on 1216 heifers of the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project were analyzed using best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) procedures. The effects of station, year of birth, dam's parity, line of sire, line of dam, interaction between line of sire and line of dam and sires within sire line were estimated. Age at first calving was included in the model as a covariate for body weights and dimensions taken after 50 wk of age. All effects except sire were assumed to be fixed. The effect of station was significant (P < 0.01) for all traits studied. The effects of year of birth and dam's parity were significant (P < 0.05) for more than half of the traits studied. Line of sire, line of dam and their interaction effects were significant (P < 0.05) for most of the body weights and dimensions. The effect of line of dam was much greater than line of sire for all traits. The non-additive genetic effect from crossing lines H and A resulted in a 1.9–3.8% increase in body weights and up to 1.6% increase in body dimensions taken from birth to 82 wk of age. Key words: Body weights, dimensions, pureline, crossline, dairy cattle

Author(s):  
И.Н. ЯНЧУКОВ ◽  
А.Н. ЕРМИЛОВ ◽  
А.А. ЕРМИЛОВ

Для решения поставленных перед молочным скотоводством задач АО «Московское» по племенной работе» на базе своего обособленного подразделения образовало Сслекционно-репродуктивный центр (СРЦ) «Мосплемэлита» с целью воспроизводства племенного материала мирового класса, а также животных редкой генеалогической принадлежности в условиях нашей страны через использование метода трансплантации эмбрионов. Для его эффективного функционирования на аукционах в Европе были закуплены доноры и реципиенты, не вакцинированные против инфекционного ринотрахеита, вирусной диареи и ряда других болезней и имеющие высокие племенные оценки. Доноры осеменялись спермой выдающихся производителей (1—3 рейтинг в стране происхождения) и быков-улучшателей редкой генеалогической принадлежности. Часть доноров (n=17) после накопления от них установленного запаса эмбрионов отелились и закончили 1 лактацию. В среднем за 305 дней их удой составил 12062 кг, при содержании жира 4,35% и белка — 3,49%. Оценка типа телосложения оказалась равной 86,71 балла, что соответствует категории «отлично». Перерасчет молочной продуктивности коров-доноров по методике, принятой в США (за 365 дней полновозрастной лактации), показал, что в среднем продуктивность этих животных достигнет 18766 кг молока с содержанием жира 4,41% и белка 3,52%. Приведенные параметры значительно выше «Генетического базиса» США (12733 кг — 3,84% — 3,10%) и показателей, установленных «Планом селекционно-племенной работы с крупным рогатым скотом АО «Московское» по племенной работе» на период до 2025 года» для коров селекционной группы «матери быков» (за наивысшую лактацию 14000 кг, 4,40%, 3,40% и 85 баллов за тип телосложения). Воспроизведенные в условиях СРЦ «Мосплемэлита» бычки имели характеристики в том числе по геному (оценка ВИЖ им. Л.К. Эрнста) значительно выше (по продуктивности матерей на 15%, оценке отцов на 111% и геномной оценке пробандов на 61%) аналогичных параметров ремонтных животных, закупленных предприятием на аукционах в Европе в 2020 году по цене 20,0 тыс. евро и выше. Полученные результаты позволяют утверждать, что в условиях нашей страны вполне возможно воспроизводство конкурентоспособного племенного материала. To solve the tasks set for dairy cattle breeding, JSC "Moskovskoye" for breeding work"on the basis of its separate subdivision formed the Breeding and Reproductive Center (BRC) "Mosplemelita" in order to reproduce world-class breeding material, as well as animals of rare genealogical affiliation in our country through using the method of embryo transplantation. For its effective functioning, donors and recipients who had not been vaccinated against infectious rhinotracheitis, viral diarrhea and a number of other diseases and had high breeding scores were purchased at auctions in Europe. Donors were inseminated with sperm of outstanding producers (1—3 rating in the country of origin) and improver bulls of rare genealogical affiliation. Some donors (n=17), after accumulating an established stock of embryos from them, calved ansrcd completed 1 lactation. On average, for 305 days, their milk yield was 12062 kg, with a fat content of 4.35% and protein — 3.49%. The body type score was 86.71 points, which corresponds to the "excellent" category. Recalculation of the milk productivity of donor cows according to the method adopted in the USA (for 365 days of full-age lactation) showed that the average productivity of these animals will reach 18766 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.41% and a protein content of 3.52%. The above parameters are significantly higher than the "Genetic basis" of the United States (12,733 kg — 3.84% — 3.10%) and the indicators established by the "Plan for selection and breeding work with cattle of JSC" Moskovskoye "for breeding work" for the period up to 2025 "For cows of the selection group" mother of bulls "(for the highest lactation 14000 kg, 4.40%, 3.40% and 85 points for the body type). The gobies reproduced in the conditions of the Mosplemelita SEC had characteristics in terms of genome (assessment of the L.K. Ernst VIZH) significantly higher (in terms of maternal productivity by 15%, assessment of fathers by 111% and genomic assessment of probands by 61%) similar parameters of repair animals purchased by the company at auctions in Europe in 2020 at a price of 20.0 thousand euros and more. The results obtained make it possible to assert that in the conditions of our country it is quite possible to reproduce competitive breeding material.


Author(s):  
N. Kostomakhin ◽  
M. Petrova ◽  
Yu. Chernigov ◽  
O. Kurchenkova

Breeding work aimed at improving the body type of cattle is of a big importance for improving the efficiency of dairy cattle breeding, since harmoniously built animals are characterized by high milk productivity, long-term economic use and are in significant demand on the market of breeding products. Linear evaluation of the body type of dairy cattle has become very popular and is widely used to assess the appearance of animals in many countries with highly developed cattle breeding (USA, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, etc.). Many researchers use a linear evaluation method for evaluating the body type of cows of different origins obtained both by crossbreeding with improving breeds, and for evaluating sires on the quality of offspring. In the Omsk region scientific research on the use of linear evaluation of the body type of daughters of sires has been carried out in order to further assess their breeding qualities. The purpose of the research was to study the conformation features of first-calf heifers have been obtained from different sires evaluated using the method of linear evaluation of body type. The experimental part of the work has been carried out in breeding farms in the Omsk region: JSC “Razdolnoe” of the Russian-Polyansky district and JSC “Azovskoye” of the Azov district. It has been established that the sire directly determines the conformation features of the daughters, which in turn affects their milk productivity, health and ease of calving.


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-221
Author(s):  
A. J. Lee ◽  
A. J. McAllister ◽  
C. Y. Lin ◽  
T. R. Batra

Direct comparisons of industry Holsteins to project Holsteins and to crossbred C lines in the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project were made at Ottawa. The industry Holstein group was composed of the eight Holstein young bulls in AI units awaiting proof in 1984, which had the highest pedigree indexes for protein yield. They were mated to both Holstein and crossbred C line females at Ottawa. Project Holstein and C line bulls were mated to females of their respective lines. Matings within the crossbred C line resulted in greater calving ease and fewer retained placentae (P < 0.05) than matings of Holsteins to either Holstein or C line females. Crossbred C line cattle were smaller and produced less milk, fat and protein in the first 24 wk of first lactation than Holsteins. Project and industry Holstein progeny were equivalent in early first lactation, milk fat and protein yield, but progeny of industry bulls were larger at all ages. Selection for protein yield over 14 yr in a 300 milking cow population produced young bulls of comparable genetic merit for production traits to that of intensely pedigree selected industry bulls. Key words: Holstein, selection, crossbred, yield, heifer


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. K. Kulak ◽  
J. C. M. Dekkers ◽  
A. J. McAllister ◽  
A. J. Lee

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare alternative measures of individual cow lifetime profitability and to determine what lifetime traits are significantly related to profitability of dairy cattle. Profitability measures considered were: 1) lifetime milk revenue minus lifetime feed costs (MMF); 2) lifetime profit (LP); 3) discounted lifetime profit (DLP); 4) annualized DLP per year of total life (ADLPLTL); 5) annualized DLP per year of productive life (ADLPLPL); 6) DLP adjusted for opportunity cost of postponed replacement (DLPOC), and 7) economic efficiency (EF). Data for this study consisted of 1112 lifetime performance records of Holstein cows from the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project, which was implemented by Agriculture Canada in 1972. Correlations were highest among MMF, LP, and DLP. EF had slightly lower correlations with MMF, LP, and DLP, but higher with ADLPLTL and ADLPLPL. ADLPLPL and DLPOC had low correlations with all other measures. DLPOC was recommended as the best because it considered the opportunity costs of postponed replacement.For DLPOC, average milk revenue per lactation was found to be the most important income trait, followed by length of productive life. Days dry (average over completed lactations) had the greatest negative impact on profitability. Age at first calving and average number of veterinary treatments for reproductive diseases over lactations were both negative contributions to profit. Lifetime traits accounted for 65% of variation in DLPOC. Key words: Dairy cow, profitability, lifetime traits


Author(s):  
N.I. Erokhina ◽  
L.A. Zernaeva

In the dairy cattle breeding of the Russian Federation, there are unresolved problems associated with the reproduction of the herd, which significantly affect the economic component of this subsector of animal husbandry. One of the factors causing impaired reproductive function in animals is the lack of copper in the body. The presented materials indicate the importance of the prevention of copper deficiency in animals and further research in the field of the biological effect of this microelement on reproductive function.


1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER ◽  
A. J. LEE ◽  
J. P. CHESNAIS ◽  
J. P. F. DARISSE ◽  
...  

Ages at first heat and first conception, age and weight at first calving, number of services per conception, and incidence of difficult calving and retained placenta were obtained from 853 heifers of the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding project of the Research Branch of Agriculture Canada. Among these, 483 heifers were from Agriculture Canada Research Branch Holstein cows and by Research Branch, Canadian and U.S. Holstein sires (H line). The other heifers were from Research Branch Ayrshire cows and by Research Branch, Canadian, U.S. and Finnish Ayrshire as well as Brown Swiss and Norwegian Red sires (A line). The data were analyzed by least squares analysis of variance using a model containing fixed effects of station, year of birth, season of birth, line, sire groups within line, and sires within sire group within line. The effects of station and line were significant for most of the heifer reproduction traits studied while the effect of year of birth was only significant for age at first conception and weight at first calving. H line heifers on the average showed first heat 27 days earlier, were 11 days younger at first conception, were 13 days younger at first calving, were 33 kg heavier at first calving, had 30% more difficult calving and 9% fewer retained placenta than the A line heifers. Differences among the sire groups within the H line were small and nonsignificant while within the A line they were significant for age at first heat and weight at first calving. Key words: Heifer reproduction traits, dairy cattle


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 807-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER

Heritabilities, phenotypic and genetic correlations among udder measurements (front teat length, front teat diameter, rear teat length, rear teat diameter, teat distance, udder height), milking speed, and milk yield were estimated for a Holstein line (H) and an Ayrshire-based line (A). Data from 1159 first lactation heifers in the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project were used. A subset of these data from 385 cows measured for the above traits plus California Mastitis Test (CMT) Score were analyzed to estimate relationships among udder measurements, milking speed, milk yield, and CMT score. Front teats were on the average 0.7 cm longer than rear teats. Heritability estimates of udder measurements, milking speed, and milk yield were moderate and ranged from 24% to 57% for the H line, 22% to 61% for the A line and 16% to 51% for the subset of data, except for teat distance in the H line which had a heritability of 5%. Heritability of CMT score was zero. Udders that were closer to the ground tended to have longer and wider teats. High-producing cows milked faster, had lower CMT score, and had udders closer to the ground than low producing cows. Genetic correlations of udder measurements with milking speed and milk yield were small and nonsignificant except for front teat diameter and teat distance which were negatively correlated with milk yield in H line heifers. Key words: Udder measurements, milking speed, milk yield, CMT score, dairy cattle


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