Evaluation of the breeding strategy for milk yield of Holstein Friesian cows on large-scale dairy farms in Malawi

2004 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. G. CHAGUNDA ◽  
E. W. BRUNS ◽  
J. M. KING ◽  
C. B. A. WOLLNY
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Additive Genetic Effect ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Genetic Trend ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Over the last two decades, dairy cattle management in Malawi has been oriented towards increasing milk yield per animal. One consequence of this process has been reliance on Holstein Friesian bull semen from temperate regions. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the performance of Holstein Friesian cows on large-scale farms in Malawi. A data set of 60640 test-day records from Holstein Friesian cows in first, second and third lactation from three large-scale dairies in Malawi were utilized. Fixed effects of herd, year and season of calving were tested. (Co)variance components were estimated through the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure. Heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations for milk yield, lactation length, age at first calving, and calving interval were determined. In general, milk yield decreased over the years and there was significant (P<0·001) variation in milk yield between herds. The genetic base, as indicated by the genetic trend, remained almost constant in the studied period. This entails genotype by environment interaction, culminating in the additive genetic effect not expressing itself fully in the phenotype. It is therefore apparent that considerable improvement could be achieved by improving the production environment.

scholarly journals Comparison of service period and lactation milk yields in dairy cows with single- and twin-calving

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-121
Author(s):  
Maximiliane Dörstelmann ◽  
Melinda Ari ◽  
Zsolt Becskei ◽  
László Gulyás ◽  
András Gáspárdy
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Contradictory Result ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Service Period ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Friesian Cattle

Introduction. Twin-calving occurs in 3 to 5 % of Holstein Friesian cattle, and it is mostly followed by reproductive and economic problems. This evaluation will compare the service period and the milk yield in cows with single and twin births at a Hungarian large-scale farm. Materials and Methods. The data were collected from 4223 cows between 2000 and 2010. In Cox?s regression model (service period) and general linear model (milk production traits), the type of calving (single/twin), the construction code (referring to the Holstein Friesian blood proportion), the season and number of calvings were fixed effects, and furthermore, the year of calving was a covariate. Results and Conclusions. This analysis showed there was no significant difference in the length of service period (SP) between the two groups of cows. The total lactation milk yield produced a meaningful difference in performance: single-calving cows had greater milk yield (p=0.013), fat yield (p=0.030), and protein yield (p=0.028) than cows with twins. The standard lactation milk yield showed the same tendency at a stronger significance and a lower level of production. This unexpected and contradictory result in service period could be explained by the much longer period of open days in twinning cows, known from previous research. Regarding milk yield, an involuntary decrease for cows after twin calving was confirmed.

scholarly journals Determination of Body Parts in Holstein Friesian Cows Comparing Neural Networks and k Nearest Neighbour Classification

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Jennifer Salau ◽  
Jan Henning Haas ◽  
Wolfgang Junge ◽  
Georg Thaller
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Nearest Neighbour ◽  
Data Set ◽  
3D Data ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Knn Classification ◽  
Friesian Cows

Machine learning methods have become increasingly important in animal science, and the success of an automated application using machine learning often depends on the right choice of method for the respective problem and data set. The recognition of objects in 3D data is still a widely studied topic and especially challenging when it comes to the partition of objects into predefined segments. In this study, two machine learning approaches were utilized for the recognition of body parts of dairy cows from 3D point clouds, i.e., sets of data points in space. The low cost off-the-shelf depth sensor Microsoft Kinect V1 has been used in various studies related to dairy cows. The 3D data were gathered from a multi-Kinect recording unit which was designed to record Holstein Friesian cows from both sides in free walking from three different camera positions. For the determination of the body parts head, rump, back, legs and udder, five properties of the pixels in the depth maps (row index, column index, depth value, variance, mean curvature) were used as features in the training data set. For each camera positions, a k nearest neighbour classifier and a neural network were trained and compared afterwards. Both methods showed small Hamming losses (between 0.007 and 0.027 for k nearest neighbour (kNN) classification and between 0.045 and 0.079 for neural networks) and could be considered successful regarding the classification of pixel to body parts. However, the kNN classifier was superior, reaching overall accuracies 0.888 to 0.976 varying with the camera position. Precision and recall values associated with individual body parts ranged from 0.84 to 1 and from 0.83 to 1, respectively. Once trained, kNN classification is at runtime prone to higher costs in terms of computational time and memory compared to the neural networks. The cost vs. accuracy ratio for each methodology needs to be taken into account in the decision of which method should be implemented in the application.

The effect of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of dairy cattle housed in straw yards

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
J. A. Fregonesi ◽  
J.D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Ways Of Coping ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Face Width ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Space allowance could be an important variable affecting production, health, reproductive performance and behaviour of dairy cattle. Also, high and low yielding cows may have different ways of coping with insufficient space allowance. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of strawyard housed dairy cows.The experiment was carried out using 24 Holstein Friesian cows with two groups in early lactation of high (over 30 kg/day milk yield) and two groups in late lactation of low yield (under 25 kg/day milk yield). The groups were allocated to strawyard systems with low stocking density (bed area/cow = 9 m2; pen area/cow = 13.5 m2; feed face width/cow = 1.5 m) or high stocking density (bed area/cow = 4.5 m2; pen area/cow = 6.75 m2; feed face width/cow = 0.75m) conforming to a changeover design with two periods, each of four weeks. The cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum and 2kg/cow/day of concentrate in the milking parlour. All animals were milked twice daily.

scholarly journals An examination of two concentrate allocation strategies which are based on the early lactation milk yield of autumn calving Holstein Friesian cows

animal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 796-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lawrence ◽  
M. O’Donovan ◽  
T.M. Boland ◽  
E. Lewis ◽  
E. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Allocation Strategies ◽  
Friesian Cows

scholarly journals Comparison of yield, composition and quality of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows in conventional and automatic milking systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kolenda ◽  
Dariusz Piwczyński ◽  
Marcin Brzozowski ◽  
Beata Sitkowska ◽  
Piotr Wójcik
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Urea Content ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems ◽  
Quality Of Milk ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
Friesian Cows

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in selected production and functional traits of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows after switching from a conventional (CMS) to an automatic milking system (AMS). The study consisted of 3398 Polish Holstein- Friesian dairy cows, from 16 herds in which CMS was changed to AMS. Cows were in their 1st (L1) or 2nd lactation (L2). The data consisted of milk yield [MY, kg], fat content [FC, %], protein content [PC, %], dry matter [DM, %], lactose content [LC, %], urea content [MU, mg/l], somatic cell count [SCC, thous./ml] and score [SCS, log]. The milking system had a significant impact on milk yield, fat, lactose, dry matter and urea contents. Regardless of lactation number, milk derived from CMS was characterised by higher values for FC, PC, DM SCC and SCS, while milk from AMS had higher MY, LC and MU. Multifactor analysis of variance also confirmed significant effect of herd, season, herd × milking system interaction on SCS in milk of cows in L1. In the studied herds change from CMS to AMS was evaluated separately for cows in L1 and L2. The transitioning from CMS to AMS resulted in the decrease of fat content in 6 L1 and 7 L2 herds, dry matter in 8 L1 and 5 L2 herds. SCS in milk also decreased in 4 L1 and 5 L2 herds. The change caused the increase of MY in 11 L1 and 9 L2 herds, lactose content in 6 L1 and 4 L2 herds and urea content in 9 L1 and 10 L2 herds. AMS may positively affect milk yield and health status, however, the change of milking system should be also accompanied by the change in herd management.

scholarly journals Phenotypic characteristics of linear traits of udder and angularity in Holstein-Friesian cows and their correlation with milk yield traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-416
Author(s):  
Radica Djedovic ◽  
Vladan Bogdanovic ◽  
Dragan Stanojevic ◽  
Hasan Ismael ◽  
Dobrila Jankovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Progeny Testing ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Linear Type ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Type Traits ◽  
Important Trait

Data set including 10860 primiparous Holstein-Friesian breed cows first calved in the period from 2011 to 2015, was used in determining phenotypic variability and correlation between the traits of milk yield and linearly estimated traits of udder and angularity. The average values obtained for type traits (angularity, fore udder attachment, front teats placement, teats length, udder depth and rear udder height) were 6.47; 5.74; 4.96; 5.20; 5.99 and 6.25, respectively. The values obtained for phenotypic correlations between linear type traits and traits of milk yield ranged from -0.042 (udder depth and milk yield) to 0.335 (fore udder attachment and protein yield). Positive phenotypic correlation (0.293) was recorded also between fore udder attachment and milk yield which is deemed the most important trait of milk yield while the lowest correlation between milk yields was determined in relation to udder depth (-0.033). The results obtained indicate a possibility of applying direct and indirect multiple traits selection which should be conducted within a national progeny-testing programme on Holstein-Friesian bulls by using the method of selection indexes.

Efecto de dos estrategias de agrupación de padres fantasmas en la evaluación genética de rasgos de crecimiento en el ganado Braunvieh mexicano

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 878-892
Author(s):  
Luis Antonio Saavedra-Jiménez ◽  
Rodolfo Ramírez-Valverde ◽  
Rafael Núñez-Domínguez ◽  
Agustín Ruíz-Flores ◽  
José Guadalupe García-Muñiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Effect ◽  
Additive Genetic Effect ◽  
Genetic Trend ◽  
Phenotypic Data ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Grouping Strategies ◽  
Parent Groups ◽  
Different Sources

The study aimed to compare two grouping strategies for unknown parents or phantom parent groups (PPG) on the genetic evaluation of growth traits for Mexican Braunvieh cattle. Phenotypic data included birth (BW), weaning (WW) and yearling (YW) weights. Pedigree included 57,341 animals. The first strategy involved 12 PPG (G12) based on the birth year of the unknown parent’s progeny and the sex of the unknown parent, while the second involved 24 PPG (G24) based on the birth year of the unknown parent’s progeny and 4-selection pathways. The animal models included fixed effects and the random direct additive genetic effect; WW also included random maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. Product-moment correlations between EBV from G0 (no PPG) and G12 were 0.96, 0.77 and 0.69 for BW, WW and YW, respectively, and between EBV from G0 and G24 were 0.91, 0.54, and 0.53, respectively. Corresponding rank correlations between G0 and G12 were 0.94, 0.77, and 0.72, and between G0 and G24 were 0.89, 0.61, and 0.60. Genetic trends showed a base deviation from the genetic trend of G0, except for BW of G12. The results did not support the use of the two grouping strategies on the studied population and traits, and further research is required. Introducing PPG to the model, enough phenotype contribution from descendants to PPG, and avoiding collinearity between PPG and fixed effects are important. Genetic groups should reflect changes in the genetic structure of the population to the unknown parents, including different sources of genetic materials, and changes made by selection over time.

Production responses by cows to grass-clover swards maintained at different heights with or without concentrate supplementation

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 99-99
Author(s):  
C. A. Huckle ◽  
A. J. Rook ◽  
R. J. Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Fertilizer Nitrogen ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Lower Protein ◽  
Mixed Grass ◽  
Friesian Cows

Clements, Huckle and Wilkins (1991) reported that milk yield did not differ significantly between cows grazing grass-clover swards with compressed sward heights maintained at either 4.5 or 6 cm in early season. However, cows grazing the shorter sward produced milk with a lower protein concentration. The feeding of 4 kg concentrates/day resulted in an increase in milk yield at both sward heights but there was no effect on milk constituent concentrations. The present experiment was designed to investigate the effect of a wider range of sward heights and their interaction with concentrate supplementation.Forty eight, multiparous, Holstein Friesian cows with a mean calving date of 21 March were continuously stocked on mixed grass-clover swards. The cows were blocked by calving date, parity and milk yield and randomly allocated to one of six treatments, 0 (U) or 4 kg concentrate supplementation (S) with swards maintained at 4, 6 or 8 cm compressed sward height. Sward heights were maintained by adjusting the grazed area. The swards were permanent pastures which had received no fertilizer nitrogen.

scholarly journals Genetic parameters of meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits in commercial swine

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (9) ◽  
pp. 3669-3683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piush Khanal ◽  
Christian Maltecca ◽  
Clint Schwab ◽  
Kent Gray ◽  
Francesco Tiezzi
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Effect ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Additive Genetic Effect ◽  
Yield Traits ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Crossbred Pigs

Abstract Swine industry breeding goals are mostly directed towards meat quality and carcass traits due to their high economic value. Yet, studies on meat quality and carcass traits including both phenotypic and genotypic information remain limited, particularly in commercial crossbred swine. The objectives of this study were to estimate the heritabilities for different carcass composition traits and meat quality traits and to estimate the genetic and phenotypic correlations between meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits in 2 large commercial swine populations: The Maschhoffs LLC (TML) and Smithfield Premium Genetics (SPG), using genotypes and phenotypes data. The TML data set consists of 1,254 crossbred pigs genotyped with 60K SNP chip and phenotyped for meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits. The SPG population included over 35,000 crossbred pigs phenotyped for meat quality, carcass composition, and growth traits. For TML data sets, the model included fixed effects of dam line, contemporary group (CG), gender, as well as random additive genetic effect and pen nested within CG. For the SPG data set, fixed effects included parity, gender, and CG, as well as random additive genetic effect and harvest group. Analyses were conducted using BLUPF90 suite of programs. Univariate and bivariate analyses were implemented to estimate heritabilities and correlations among traits. Primal yield traits were uniquely created in this study. Heritabilities [high posterior density interval] of meat quality traits ranged from 0.08 [0.03, 0.16] for pH and 0.08 [0.03, 0.1] for Minolta b* to 0.27 [0.22, 0.32] for marbling score, except intramuscular fat with the highest estimate of 0.52 [0.40, 0.62]. Heritabilities of primal yield traits were higher than that of primal weight traits and ranged from 0.17 [0.13, 0.25] for butt yield to 0.45 [0.36, 0.55] for ham yield. The genetic correlations of meat quality and carcass composition traits with growth traits ranged from moderate to high in both directions. High genetic correlations were observed for male and female for all traits except pH. The genetic parameter estimates of this study indicate that a multitrait approach should be considered for selection programs aimed at meat quality and carcass composition in commercial swine populations.

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