Generation intervals in Canadian dairy cattle herds

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-183
Author(s):  
Bernard Ato Hagan ◽  
Roger Cue

Genetic evaluation records for the Canadian Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey, and Brown Swiss bulls and cows born from 1950 and 1960, respectively, were used to study the generation intervals (L) along the four-path selection model. The objectives of the study were to determine the L in the four dairy cattle breeds and the effects of some environmental factors and variations among herds or artificial insemination (AI) studs on the L achieved. Total L of the four selection paths was reduced by 55% from 29.2 yr in 1980 to 13.2 yr in 2016 in the Holstein breed. Substantial reductions in total L were also observed in the Ayrshire, Jersey, and Brown Swiss populations between 1980 and 2016. Unlike progeny year of birth, housing system, agricultural region in Québec (region) — as well as their interaction — were not important on realised L of sires and dams used on Canadian dairy farms. There were significant variations among herds and AI studs on the age of sires and dams used for breeding. The considerable variations in realised L among herds and AI studs offer opportunities to increase the annual rate of genetic progress in the four Canadian dairy cattle populations.

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Van Doormaal ◽  
G. J. Kistemaker

Artificial insemination (AI) of dairy cattle in Canada was started more than half a century ago and today it is estimated that at least 75% of all dairy cattle nationally are bred using this common reproductive technology. A Best Linear Unbiased Prediction sire model for estimating genetic evaluations for production traits was introduced in 1975. The combination of extensive use of AI with genetic evaluations for bulls and cows has resulted in significant phenotypic and genetic gains over the past 20 yr. In the Holstein breed, mature equivalent yields have increased by an average of 200 kg milk, 7.0 kg fat and 6.3 kg protein per year since 1980. Genetically, the relative emphasis realized for production traits versus overall type during the past 5 yr has followed the 60:40 breeding goal represented in the Lifetime Profit Index, which has increased at an average rate of 0.28 standard units per year. Examination of the generation interval in the Canadian Holstein breed, associated with each of the four pathways for genetic improvement, indicates a 46% increase in the rate of annual genetic gain today compared to 20 yr ago. The increased accuracy and intensity of selection associated with the use of AI and genetic evaluations have also contributed to the rates of phenotypic and genetic progress achieved over the years. In the future , AI will continue to be a critical component of the genetic gains possible in dairy cattle breeding but it will be complemented by other reproductive technologies aimed at further reducing generation intervals and increasing the accuracy and selection of intensity, especially on the female side. Key words: Dairy cattle, artificial insemination, genetic progress, genetic evaluation


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. McALLISTER

In the last decade the dairy cattle population has declined to a level of 1.9 million cows in 1978 with about 56% of these cows bred AI and nearly 20% of the population enrolled in a supervised milk recording program. The decline in cow numbers has been accompanied by an increase in herd size and production per cow. The current breeding program of the dairy industry is a composite of breeding decisions made by AI organizations, breeders who produce young bulls for sampling and all dairymen who choose the sires and dams of their replacement heifers. Estimates of genetic trend from 1958–1975 for milk production in the national milk recorded herd range from 21 to 55 kg per year for the four dairy breeds with Holsteins being 41 kg per year. Both differential use of superior proven sires and improved genetic merit of young bulls entering AI studs contribute to this genetic improvement. Various national production and marketing alternatives were examined. Selection is a major breeding tool in establishing a breeding program to meet national production requirements for milk and milk products once the selection goal is defined. AI and young sire sampling programs will continue to be the primary vehicle for genetic improvement through selection regardless of the selection goal. The current resources of milk-recorded cows bred AI is not being fully utilized to achieve maximum genetic progress possible from young sire sampling indicate that the number of young bulls sampled annually in the Holstein breed could be tripled with the existing milk-recorded and AI bred dairy cow population. Expanded milk recording and AI breeding levels could increase the potential for even further genetic improvement. The potential impact of selection for other traits, crossbreeding and the use of embryo transfer of future breeding programs is highlighted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 168-174
Author(s):  
L. M. Khmelnychyi ◽  
V. V. Vechorka

Breeding practice testifies that phenotypic and genetic specificity and an appropriate level of consolidation by leading economically useful traits are important characteristics and binding conditions for testing and subsequent genetic progress of breeds and their structural breeding units. Therefore, in the aspect of estimation of the conformation type of brown breeds in Sumy region – Lebedyn, Ukrainian brown dairy and brown Swiss, the level of phenotypic consolidation coefficients of firstborn cows, evaluated by the method of linear classification, was studied. Five farms of Sumy region were used as the basis of experiments: PJSC “Plemzavod “Mykhailivka” Lebedynsky, PAF “Kolos” and SE “Pobeda” of Bilopilsky and pedigree reproducers – AJSCCT “Zorya” Okhtyrsky and JSC “Mayak” of Trostyanets districts. The coefficients of phenotypic consolidation (K1 and K2) of breeding groups of animals on linear traits of conformation were determined by formulas proposed by Yu. P. Polupan (2005). Taking into account the importance of estimation of breeds of dairy cattle created in the process of interbreed combinations, in the aspect of studying the genetic progress and the desired level of their phenotypic consolidation, determining the degree of coefficients of phenotypic consolidation of cows of brown breeds in Sumy region by linear traits, that characterize the conformation type of animals, is motivated and relevant research. According to the group traits of 100-point linear classification system was revealed that the most consolidated by type were animals of brown Swiss breed by all group traits (K1 = 0.274–0.362; K2 = 0.262–0.369) and the final type assessment (K1 = 0.304; K2 = 0.322). The negative values of phenotypic consolidation coefficients indicated that the least consolidated by type were animals of the Swiss breed, especially on the group traits that characterize the dairy type (K1 = -0.012; K2 = -0.021), udder (K1 = -0.212; K2 = -0.231) and the final score (K1 = -0.028; K2 = -0.023). Animals of Ukrainian brown dairy breed were closer to the peers of brown Swiss cattle by both group traits (K1 = 0.202; K2 = 0.268) and by the final score (K1 = 0.219; K2 = 0.279). The consolidation coefficients of brown Swiss cows by group traits are (K1 = 0.274; K2 = 0.362), and by the final estimate (K1 = 0.304; K2 = 0.322). In a comparative analysis of the level of phenotypic consolidation coefficients of descriptive traits of the type was determined that of the evaluated breeds significant advantage by the phenotypic consolidation of these traits have animals of brown Swiss breed. The most consolidated firstborn cows of this breed for important descriptive traits of angularity (K1 = 0.362; K2 = 0.375), rear width (K1 = 0.293; K2 = 0.306, attachment of front (K1 = 0.289; K2 = 0.309) and rear ( K1 = 0.225; K2 = 0.229) udder parts, central ligament expression (K1 = 0.333; K2 = 0.371), udder depth (K1 = 0.296; K2 = 0.312), placement (K1 = 0.286; K2 = 0.303) and teats length (K1 = 0.321; K2 = 0.313) and locomotion (K1 = 0.304; K2 = 0.333). The determined hereditary influence of breed on the degree of phenotypic consolidation of the majority of linear traits testifies to the possibility of effective breeding of dairy cattle by type with intensive use of purebred sires of brown Swiss breed with high score by the linear classification of type of their daughters.


Pathogens ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos ◽  
Eleftherios Triantafillou ◽  
Athanasios I. Gelasakis ◽  
Elias Papadopoulos

Fly infestation remains a universal problem for dairy cattle herds, affecting the animals’ health and welfare status. Pre-weaned dairy calves are significantly challenged by the direct and indirect consequences of severe fly infestation, heat-stress and their interaction, which contribute to a stressful and fatiguing environment. Among several physiological, behavioral, clinical and biochemical traits, serum cortisol (SC) and creatine kinase (CK) levels, as well as feed consumption can be used as valid indicators of potential stressful and fatiguing conditions and, therefore, can be efficiently used for stress analysis studies. Hence, the objective of the study was to assess the fly-repellency effect of deltamethrin on pre-weaned dairy calves exposed to heat stress conditions, as well as its association with SC, CK concentrations and feed consumption. Two commercial dairy cattle herds of the Holstein breed in Central Macedonia (Greece) were involved in the study during summer months and under heat stress conditions. Deltamethrin administration resulted in (i) a decreased fly population (100% Musca domestica) landing on pre-weaned dairy calves, (ii) a reduced SC (stress indicator) and CK (fatigue indicator) concentration, and (iii) an increased consumption of feedstuff in deltamethrin treated animals compared to the untreated ones.


2019 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 72-79
Author(s):  
L. M. Hmelnychyi ◽  
S. L. Hmelnychyi ◽  
A. V. Loboda ◽  
O. I. Klуmenko

Taking into account the importance of evaluation of structural breeding units of created breeds and types of dairy cattle, in the aspect of studying the genetic progress and the desired level of their phenotypic consolidation, the study was carried out to determine the coefficients of phenotypic consolidation of the leading genealogical formations of Sumy intrabreed type of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed by linear traits that characterize the conformation type of animals. In studying of phenotypic consolidation of first-calf cows of different genealogical formations in the experimental group included the offspring of sires lines Valiant 1650414, Starbuck 352790 and Matt 1392858. Breeding groups, depending on the conditional part of heredity improving breed were as follows: I – 62.5–74.9; II – 75.0–87.4; III – 87.5 and >. According to the 100-point system of linear classification, which includes the assessment four groups of body structure traits characterizing dairy type, body development, condition of legs and morphological qualities of the udder, for some of them, depending on the estimated line, observed a desired direction of phenotypic consolidation within the progeny of genealogical formations and evaluated conformation complexes. At the same time, the interlinear differentiation was found on the indicators of consolidation coefficients when comparing conformation complexes. Regardless of the line's representation, a sufficient degree of phenotypic consolidation in the first-calf cows was revealed after a set of traits characterizing dairy type with variability of coefficients – 0.130–0.253 (K1) and 0.125–0.261 (K2), udder morphological qualities – 0.064–207 (K1) and 0.067–213 (K2); a final score of type 0.104–228 (K1) and 0.101–0.234 (K2). Higher coefficients of the phenotypic consolidation of the Valiant's offspring line indicate about their respective level of consolidation by group type traits. The offspring of Matt's line by the level of consolidation coefficients significantly inferior to peers of the Valiant and Starbuck lines. Unconsolidated by conformation type can include the number of animals with conditional heredity Holstein breed 62.5–74.9%. The vast majority of phenotypic consolidation coefficients of estimated traits in this group have been obtained with a negative sign, and if positive then the low level. Cows with a conditional blood of Holstein breed at the level of 75.0–87.4% occupy an intermediate position between low-and high blood hybrids. The proposed coefficients proved to be sufficiently reliable, convenient and easy to use in practical breeding method for assessing the phenotypic consolidation of breeding group’s animals of different structural units and genotypes by the conformation type. The existence of genetic influence on the degree of phenotypic consolidation of most linear traits indicates about the possibility of effective selection of dairy cattle by body structure and morphological udder traits with intensive use of purebred Holstein sires with a high score for linear type classification. In the process of using linear methods of classification, determining coefficients of phenotypic consolidation can sufficiently distinguish different by origin breeding groups of animals. According to the linear traits of conformation with development on the basis of established breeding situation of effective measures to improve the unconsolidated traits in the direction of desired type.


Author(s):  
N.L. Ignatieva ◽  
◽  
I.V. Voronova ◽  
E.Yu. Nemtseva ◽  
◽  
...  

The aim of the research was to evaluate the compatibility of lines and improve on this basis the traditional selection methods for creating breeding herds in dairy cattle breeding. The results of the analysis showed that the best milk yield among the other lines were the first-born heifers (n=39) of the Holstein line Vis Back Idial (6441 kg of milk). The analysis of the results of the intra-linear selection showed that the best milk yield was also distinguished by the first-born heifers of the Vis Back Idial line – 6721 kg of milk. Analyzing the cross-line of the Vis Back Idial with other lines of the Holstein breed (MCH, RS, and PG), it should be noted that they are superior to their first-calf peers by 253-530 kg of milk. The first-calf cows, derived from the cross of the Montwick Miftaine line and the Reflection Sovering and Pabst Governer lines, also have some superiority over their peers. Thus, when improving breeding herds of dairy cattle, it is necessary to use both intra-linear selection and cross-lines, taking into account their compatibility.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Gaworski ◽  
Michał Boćkowski

The objective of the study was to propose a method to assess how well some housing conditions in barns meet national standards and recommendations. The key element of the method was to investigate the index of technical standards fulfilment (ITSF), which shows differences between current housing conditions created by barn facilities and some standards. The lower differences are expressed by higher ITSF value, whereas the index values range from 0 to 1. Data collected in 38 dairy farms (with tie-stall and freestall housing systems) were used for the ITSF index analyses. The ITSF index values for the two compared housing systems were calculated for measurements carried out in four zones in each barn: lying, social, feeding and milking areas. There were higher average ITSF index values for the freestall system than for the tie-stall housing system across all investigated zones included in the barns. Investigations can support farmers to improve some conditions of dairy production in the barns including consciousness of some standards on dairy facilities and cow comfort.


Author(s):  
E. Prishchep ◽  
V. Tsys ◽  
D. Leutina

Dairy cattle breeding in the Smolensk region is the most promising direction of development of agriculture. In this regard the purpose of the work has been to study and analyze the state of the breeding base in dairy cattle breeding in the region. Breeding base in the Smolensk region at present time is represented by three breeding farms (nucleuses) and 12 breeding farms fof breeding Brown Swiss, Sychevskaya, Vazuzskiy type of Sychevskaya breed, Holstein and Black-and-White breeds. In the breeding farms of the region in 2018 the number of cattle was 21 484 heads, which is by 19,4 % less than in 2017. The reduction of livestock has been occurred due to the reduction of cows by 15,4 % and reduction of offspring, but the sale of breeding young animals has been increased by 38 %. The term of economic use of cows according the breed has been varied from 3,2 (Holstein breed) to 4,7 calving (Brown Swiss). At intensive rearing of breeding heifers with their first fertilization at the age of 16– 18 months the average productivity of cows in the future may reach the level of 5500–6000 thousand kg of milk per lactation. Payback all costs under this is happening for 1,5–2,0 lactations. According to the valuation for 2018 highest yield of milk has been obtained in the herd in breeding farm OOO “Zolotaya Niva” (Holstein breed) – 9700 kg of milk and yield of fat 311 and protein 351 kg. Eff ective use of highly productive animals contributes to the improvement of the genealogical structure of the herd and the breed increases the chances of getting even more highly productive and valuable descendants.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
G Wellwood ◽  
J K Margerison

Mastitis is a complex disease causing inflammation of the udder, which has been estimated to cost the dairy farmer between £40-£117/cow per year (Stott et al., 2002). Economic loss occurs as a result of discarded milk, reduced milk yield and milk quality, increased vet costs and an increase in replacement costs. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of breed on the incidence of mastitis and somatic cell counts and milk production capabilities of Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss and Brown Swiss crossbred cows.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 599
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Gutierrez-Reinoso ◽  
Pedro M. Aponte ◽  
Manuel Garcia-Herreros

Genomics comprises a set of current and valuable technologies implemented as selection tools in dairy cattle commercial breeding programs. The intensive progeny testing for production and reproductive traits based on genomic breeding values (GEBVs) has been crucial to increasing dairy cattle productivity. The knowledge of key genes and haplotypes, including their regulation mechanisms, as markers for productivity traits, may improve the strategies on the present and future for dairy cattle selection. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) such as quantitative trait loci (QTL), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) methods have already been included in global dairy programs for the estimation of marker-assisted selection-derived effects. The increase in genetic progress based on genomic predicting accuracy has also contributed to the understanding of genetic effects in dairy cattle offspring. However, the crossing within inbred-lines critically increased homozygosis with accumulated negative effects of inbreeding like a decline in reproductive performance. Thus, inaccurate-biased estimations based on empirical-conventional models of dairy production systems face an increased risk of providing suboptimal results derived from errors in the selection of candidates of high genetic merit-based just on low-heritability phenotypic traits. This extends the generation intervals and increases costs due to the significant reduction of genetic gains. The remarkable progress of genomic prediction increases the accurate selection of superior candidates. The scope of the present review is to summarize and discuss the advances and challenges of genomic tools for dairy cattle selection for optimizing breeding programs and controlling negative inbreeding depression effects on productivity and consequently, achieving economic-effective advances in food production efficiency. Particular attention is given to the potential genomic selection-derived results to facilitate precision management on modern dairy farms, including an overview of novel genome editing methodologies as perspectives toward the future.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document