Genetic parameters of lifetime performance traits in Holstein cows

SUMMARY: Heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations among lifetime yields of milk, fat and protein, herdlife, productive life and number of lactations initiated in the herd were estimated from records of 44,933 progeny of 427 young and 119 proven Holstein sires in 1949 herds using a multivariate Reml technique to fit a sire model with relationships among young sires. Proven sires were fitted as fixed effects. Heritabilities of lifetime traits ranged from 0.005 to 0.030, suggesting little scope for direct selection for lifetime performance traits. Productive life had highest genetic correlation with lifetime fat yield (0.934), but correlations with lifetime milk and protein yields were smaller and similar (0.773 and 0.772). The number of lactations also had highest genetic correlation with lifetime fat yield. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Genetische Parameter von Lebensleistungsmerkmalen bei Holsteinkühen Heritabilit?tswerte, genetische und ph?notypische Korrelationen zwischen Lebensleistungsmerkmalen für Milch, Fett und Protein, Lebensdauer, produktive Zeit und Zahl Laktationen wurden won 44933 Nachkommen von 427 jungen und 119 nachkommenschaftsgeprüften Holsteinstieren in 1949 Herden mittels einer multivariablen REML-Technik gesch?tzt, die auf einem Vatertiermodell mit Verwandtschaft zwischen den jungen Stieren beruhte. Geprüfte Stiere wurden als fixe Effekte im Modell berücksichtigt. Heritabilit?tswerte dieser Merkmale rangieren von 0.005 bis 0.03, so da? wenig Aussichten für Erfolg direkter Selektion auf Lebensleistungsmerkmale besteht. Die L?nge des produktiven Lebens hatte die h?chste genetische Korrelation mit Lebensfettmenge (0.934), aber die Korrelationen mit Milch- und Protein-Lebensleistung waren kleiner und ?hnlich (0.773 und 0.772). Die Zahl der Laktationen hatte die h?chste genetische Korrelation mit der Lebensfettmenge.     

Effect of mastitis during the first lactation on production and reproduction performance of Holstein cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of postpartum mastitis between first calving and subsequent conception on production and reproduction performance as well as culling of Holstein cows. A data set of 9,183 first lactation cows was used. Results showed that the first cumulative 100?days' milk production and the milk yield standardized to 305?days were affected by the interval from calving to first mastitis (P??0.05). Calving year, calving difficulty score, and cumulative first 60?days milk production had significant impacts on mastitis risk (P?相似文献   

Relationships between age at first calving and first lactation milk yield, and lifetime productivity and longevity in dairy cows

Lifetime records of 442 Holstein cows on one farm in North Queensland, Australia, were analysed to evaluate the effects of age at first calving (AFC) and first lactation milk yield on parities per lifetime, longevity, milk yield in subsequent lactations, lifetime milk production and the longevity index (LI), that is the proportion of a cow's life spent in active milk production. The mean daily yield in the first lactation was a reliable indicator of milk yield in subsequent lactations, estimated lifetime production, longevity and LI. The afc had no effect on lifetime days in milk. Neither the AFC nor the milk yield in the first lactation significantly affected the number of parities per lifetime. For the majority of cows, which produced less than 30 l/day in the first lactation, there was a significant positive relationship between longevity and AFC. However, none of the cows that produced more than 30 l/day in the first lactation survived for more than two lactations. The optimal AFC was thus two to two-and-a-half years, as these cows had the highest first lactation yield, estimated lifetime production and LI. The optimal mean daily yield in the first lactation was 20 to 30 l/day, as these cows lived longer and had a higher LI and lifetime production.     

丙酸钙对泌乳早期奶牛泌乳性能和代谢产物的影响

选用32头经产奶牛,根据泌乳期、上个泌乳期305 d产奶量和预产期,采用随机区组设计分为4组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理1、2、3组分别在基础日粮基础上添加丙酸钙100、200、300 g/d.结果显示,日粮添加丙酸钙对奶牛的采食量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳糖率和乳干物质率无显著影响,200、300 g/d组产奶量和饲料转化效率显著高于对照组(P<0.05).200、300 g/d组血浆葡萄糖和胰岛素浓度显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而血浆游离脂肪酸和β-羟丁酸浓度显著低于对照组(P<0.05);200、300 g/d组尿酮浓度显著低于对照组和100 g/d组(P<0.05).试验结果表明,丙酸钙适宜添加量为200 g/d.     

Relationships between lactational incidence of displaced abomasum and milk production traits in German Holstein cows

The objective of this study was to analyse the heritabilitiy of the lactational incidence of displaced abomasum (DA) and the relationships of DA with milk production traits in German Holstein cows. Data were recorded between February 1999 and January 2000 in cooperation with five veterinary practitioners. Their veterinary practices were located in the northern part of Lower Saxony. The investigation included 160 dairy farms under the official milk-recording scheme with 9,315 cows. The lactational incidence of the left abomasal displacement amounted to 1.21%, and of the right abomasal displacement to 0.41%, respectively. The linear heritability estimates for the lactational incidences of left and right DA were h(2) = 0.05 +/- 0.012 and h(2) = 0.004 +/- 0.005, respectively. Using the Dempster-Lerner-transformation the corresponding heritabilities were h(2) = 0.53 and 0.09, respectively. Milk losses for the lactation when DA was diagnosed were significant and reached 1016 kg milk, 41 kg fat, 36 kg protein and 0.07% protein. Fat content significantly increased by 0.18%. The analysis could not show significant differences between cows diagnosed with DA and cows not diagnosed with DA in the 305-day milk production traits of the lactation preceding the diagnosis of DA. There was also no indication for an unequal distribution of breeding values for milk performance traits between cows with and without DA. The additive genetic correlations between 305-day milk performance and left DA were low. The results indicated that cows with a high milk production and superior breeding values for milk performance were not exposed to an increased risk for DA.     

复方中草药添加剂对荷斯坦奶牛免疫和泌乳性能的影响

试验旨在研究自制的复方中草药添加剂对泌乳奶牛免疫机能与泌乳性能的影响。试验采用4×4拉丁方设计。选择4头胎次、泌乳天数、体重均相近的健康荷斯坦奶牛,分为4组,其中A组为对照组,饲喂基础饲粮,B、C、D组分别在基础饲粮中添加30、50和80 g/d复方中草药。试验分4期进行,每期28 d(预试期7 d,正试期14 d,排空期7 d)。结果显示:1)添加复方中草药显著增加了白细胞数、嗜中性细胞百分比及血小板数(P<0.05);但对血液生化指标无显著影响(P>0.05)。2)添加复方中草药显著降低了丙二醛(MDA)含量(P<0.05);与对照组相比,添加30 g/d复方中草药显著增加了血清免疫球蛋白M(IgM)及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力(P<0.05)。3)复方中草药添加剂可以增加血清生长激素(GH)和催乳素(PRL)含量,且添加30 g/d时显著增加(P<0.05)。4)与对照组相比,日粮添加30、50和80 g/d可以使产奶量分别增加10.18%、6.79%和5.19%,但是对产奶量、乳成分及体细胞数的影响均不显著(P>0.05)。试验结果表明,复方中草药添加剂可以调节奶牛机体免疫性能和提高抗氧化能力,且每头牛添加30 g/d时效果最佳。但其对奶牛泌乳性能无显著影响。     

丙酸镁对泌乳早期奶牛体况、泌乳性能和代谢参数的影响

选用36头经产奶牛,根据泌乳期、上一泌乳期305 d产奶量和预产期,采用随机区组设计分为4组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理1,2和3组分别在基础日粮基础上添加丙酸镁50,100和150 g/d,研究丙酸镁对泌乳早期奶牛采食量、泌乳性能、血液代谢参数和尿酮浓度的影响。结果表明,添加丙酸镁对奶牛的采食量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳糖率和乳干物质率无显著影响,添加丙酸镁100和150 g/d对产乳量、饲料转化效率、体况及代谢参数有改善,该二处理组产奶量、饲料转化效率、体况评分、能量平衡、血浆葡萄糖和胰岛素浓度均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而血浆游离脂肪酸和β-羟丁酸浓度显著低于对照组(P<0.05),尿酮浓度(除100 g/d组产后7 d测定值与50 g/d组无显著差异外)显著低于对照组和50 g/d组(P<0.05)。根据试验结果,丙酸镁适宜添加量为100 g/d。     

Carbon kinetics of milk formation in Holstein cows in late lactation

Carbon transfer to milk in Holstein cows in late lactation was measured by introducing changes in the natural stable carbon isotope composition of the feed. Six Holstein cows in mid-lactation were placed on a diet naturally low in 13C (-25.0% vs Pee Dee belemnite [PDB] an international carbon isotope standard), based on alfalfa-barley, and six others were placed on a diet naturally enriched in 13C (-11.5% vs PDB), based on corn. After a 7-wk equilibration period on these diets, three cows were switched from alfalfa-barley to corn, and three were switched from corn to alfalfa-barley. The three other cows in each group served as controls. 13C/12C ratios were measured in daily morning milk samples during the week before and for 6 wk after the changes in diet. After the diets had been switched, milk isotope ratios rapidly approached the isotopic composition of the new diet, indicating rapid transfer of dietary carbon into milk. The data were consistent with a model whereby milk was synthesized from a single precursor pool that responded rapidly to dietary perturbation. The milk precursor pool had a half-life of approximately .9 d and had a mass of approximately 7 kg of carbon, which was renewed daily by the entry of 5 kg of digestible dietary carbon.     

Heritability and genetic correlations between rumination time and production traits in Holstein dairy cows during different lactation phases

So far, rumination has been used as a proxy for monitoring dairy cow health at farm level. However, investigating its genetic aspects as well as its correlation with other important productive traits may turn this management tool into a new informative selection criterion. However, scientific evidences on genetic correlation among rumination time (RT) and milk production and milk composition are still scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of RT across three lactation phases and its genetic correlation with milk production, milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC). Results of our study showed that heritability for RT was 0.34 and was constant across lactation. The mean genetic correlations between RT and milk production and composition traits were 0.07 (milk production), ?0.07 (protein yield), ?0.31 (fat yield), and ?0.32 (fat/protein ratio). The mean genetic correlation between RT and the SCC was 0.05.     

荷斯坦奶牛外貌性状的主成分分析

随机选取荷斯坦奶牛180头,其中1-3胎各60头,进行奶牛外貌性状体高(x1)、胸宽(x2)、体深(x3)、尻角度(x4)、尻宽(x5)、后肢侧视(x6)、蹄角度(x7)的主成分分析。结果显示,主成分F1~F6的贡献率分别为30.68%、15.67%、14.24%、12.11%、11.18%和9.50%,累计贡献率达93.46%;F1的信息量表达式为F1=0.510 9x1+0.294 6x2+0.448 8x3-0.195 4x4+0.524 3x5-0.012 5x6+0.370 9x7,余类推;F1可视为体躯容积因子,F3、F4可视为耐用因子。主成分(外貌性状的线性组合)可在尽量保持遗传信息的基础上简化复杂的外貌性状间的相关关系。     

宁夏地区荷斯坦奶牛头胎产奶量的通径分析与多元线性回归分析

为了从奶牛的初期性状中找到影响头胎305 d产奶量的主要因素,保证早期选种的准确性,加速奶牛育种工作,预测奶牛305 d产奶量,对宁夏地区2004—2013年9年之间出生的10 527头中国荷斯坦奶牛的94 743条测定日记录进行分析,并对头胎初产日龄(x_1),日产奶(x_2),乳脂率(x_3),蛋白率(x_4),体细胞评分(x_5),乳糖率(x_6),高峰奶(x_7),高峰日(x_8)和头胎305 d产奶量(y)进行通径分析。通过逐步回归的方法将x6剔除出回归方程。结果显示:宁夏地区奶牛305 d产奶量的回归方程为,y=-1 392.56+0.17x_1+87.87x_2-75.09x_3+245.14x_4-35.95x_5+175.10x_7+5.99x_8;各自变量对回归方程估测可靠度R~2总贡献分析,x_7对R~2的总贡献率为0.52,居各自变量之首。回归方程的建立为准确预测奶牛营养需要、实施奶牛的精细化饲养提供了依据。     

Reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows in Iran

The objectives of the present study were to describe the current reproductive parameters of Holstein dairy cows in Iran and to determine factors which have a significant effect on reproductive performance with emphasis on high-producing dairy cows. Five large Holstein dairy herds from the major milk production areas of Iran were selected for this study. Reproduction data including parity of dam, calving date, days to first service, days open, number of services, dry period, and occurrence of diseases for cows that calved from 2004 to 2007 were collected from the herds' databases. To determine the effects of year and season of calving, disease status, level of milk production, and parity of dam on reproductive parameters, the proc-mixed procedure in SAS software was used. Overall, data about 8,204 lactation were collected for the study. Results showed that mean (±SD) days open, calving interval, and days to first service for study herds were 134 (±89), 403 (±86), and 67 (±38) days, respectively. Conception rates at the first service and the overall service-conception rate were 41.6% and 41%, respectively. The level of milk production and diseases had significant negative effects on days open and service per conception (P < 0.05); statistical analysis showed that for every 100-kg increase in milk yield, days open will increase by about 0.3 days. However, no significant effect of level of productivity was observed on days to first service. The results of this study indicate that high milk production is a risk factor for decreasing fertility in Iran, like many other parts of the world.     

复合益生菌对泌乳中后期奶牛生产性能和瘤胃发酵参数的影响

选用48头产奶量、泌乳天数和胎次相近的泌乳中后期奶牛进行配对设计,分为4组,即对照组(复合益生菌0g/d)、试验1组(复合益生菌10g/d)、试验2组(复合益生菌20g/d)和试验3组(复合益生菌30g/d),试验期60d,其中预饲期7d。结果表明:与对照组相比,复合益生菌能够提高泌乳中后期奶牛的产奶量,同时能够显著提高乳蛋白率、乳糖率和总固形物(P<0.05);对血液生化指标无显著影响(P>0.05);复合益生菌能显著提高瘤胃中NH_3-N和微生物蛋白(MCP)含量(P<0.05);与对照组相比,试验2组的粗蛋白(CP)和粗脂肪(EE)表观消化率均显著提高(P<0.05);试验1,2,3组比对照组每头奶牛每天分别获益2.28,4.80和4.09元。以产奶性能、瘤胃发酵参数、营养物质表观消化率和经济效益为主要衡量指标,以每头奶牛日喂20g效果最佳。     

青年荷斯坦奶牛初次超数排卵试验

对影响荷斯坦青年奶牛超数排卵的因素进行了对比分析,并探索了青年奶牛超排的可行性方案.卵巢上有黄体存在的供体牛可以用于超排.青年奶牛在不同性周期阶段进行超排的结果不同,但差异不显著.用FSH联合氯前列烯醇,采用常规逐日递减法肌肉注射进行超排,平均获得胚胎7.07枚,可用胚胎5.98枚;在人工授精的同时注射促排卵素3号(LRH A3),平均回收胚胎8.64枚,可用胚胎为5.5枚.促排卵素3号能提高胚胎的回收率,但可用胚胎率急剧下降.     

Genetic relationships among female fertility disorders,female fertility traits and productivity of Holstein dairy cows in the early lactation period

Fertility health disorders from the early lactation period including retained placenta (REPLA), metritis (MET), corpus luteum persistence (CLP), anoestria/acyclia (AOEAC) and ovarial cysts (OC), as well as overall disease categories (disorders during the postpartal period (DPP), ovary infertility (OINF), overall trait definition “fertility disorders” (FD)), were used to estimate genetic (co)variance components with female fertility and test‐day traits. The disease data set comprised 25,142 Holstein cows from parities 1, 2 and 3 resulting in 43,584 lactations. For disease traits, we used the binary trait definition (sick or healthy) and disease count data reflecting the sum of treatments for the same disease within lactation or within lactation periods. Statistical modelling included single and multiple trait repeatability animal models for all trait combinations within a Bayesian framework. Heritabilities for binary disease traits ranged from 0.04 (OC) to 0.10 (REPLA) and were slightly lower for the corresponding sum trait definitions. Correlations between both trait definitions were almost one, for genetic as well as for permanent environmental effects. Moderate to high genetic correlations were found among puerperal disorders DPP, REPLA and MET (0.45–0.98) and among the ovarian disorders OINF, AOEAC, CLP and OC (0.59–0.99). Genetic correlations between puerperal and ovarian disorders were close to zero, apart from the REPLA–OC association (0.55). With regard to fertility disorders and productivity in early lactation, a pronounced genetic antagonistic relationship was only identified between OC and protein yield. Genetic correlations between fertility disorders and test‐day SCS were close to zero. OINF and all diseases contributing to OINF were strongly correlated with the female fertility traits “interval from calving to first service,” “interval from service to pregnancy” and “interval from calving to pregnancy.” The strong correlations imply that fertility disorders could be included in genetic evaluations of economic fertility traits as correlated predictors. Vice versa, a breeding focus on female fertility traits will reduce genetic susceptibility to OC, CLP and AOEAC.     

Comparison of homogeneity and heterogeneity of residual variance using random regression test-day models for first lactation Japanese Holstein cows

Using a large‐scale data set that included first lactation test day records from 1975 to 2000 for Japanese Holsteins, genetic parameters for milk yield were estimated by using random regression (RR) test‐day models (TDM) with heterogeneous and homogeneous residual variances. It is necessary for the RR‐TDM to include a function that explains the shape of the lactation curve. The RR‐TDM with the LW curve, which combined Wilmink's curve and a Legendre polynomial, was used for fitting the model for milk yield. In recent years, increases in residual variance have been noted for Japanese dairy cattle. Thus, three kinds of heterogeneous residual variance over the calving year were considered: H1, H2 and HG. Linear and quadratic exponential functions for the calving year were used in H1 and H2, respectively. Residual variance of HG was divided into five groups according to calving year. Homogeneous residual variance was HO. All heterogeneous residual variances increased with calving year in an almost linear fashion. Residual variance increased over the study period. However, there is no need to consider heterogeneous residual variances in genetic evaluations, because the heterogeneity of residual variance over the years did not affect the ranking of top sires and cows.     

Relationship between the lactation curve and udder disease incidence in different lactation stages in first‐lactation Holstein cows

We examined the relationships between the shape of the first parity lactation curve and udder disease incidence at different stages of lactation in 538 Holstein cows. Data used were first‐parity daily milk yields and treatment records. Each cow was classified according to whether or not it had had udder disease at least once over the whole lactation period or in one of three stages within the lactation period. We then examined the differences in the shapes of the lactation curves between the disease incidence and non‐incidence group in each stage. Cows that had high rates of increase in milk yield and high milk yields in early lactation were predisposed to udder disease afterwards. Cows with high milk production over a long period but with low lactation persistency were predisposed to udder disease after the peak of lactation. There was no difference in total milk yield between incidence and non‐incidence groups in all stages, suggesting that, for a comparable level of lactation, cows without udder diseases have flatter lactation curves.     

Nutritional efficiency of feed-restricted F1 Holstein/Zebu cows in early lactation

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The quantitative feed restriction of lactating cows has been used in intensive production systems as a strategy to reduce production costs. However, the...     

荷斯坦奶牛体型线性性状与产奶量的相关性分析

对新疆荷斯坦奶牛的产奶量与体型线性性状进行了相关。通径分析。结果表明，荷斯坦奶牛的乳房纵沟深，后乳房宽，后乳房高与产奶量呈中等正相关，体高，体长，尻宽，尻长与产奶量呈弱相关；后乳房宽，乳房纵沟深是直接影响产奶量的重要性状，且是正身作用；后乳房高对产奶量起负面影响。其间接作用大。