scholarly journals Genomic evaluation of milk yield in a smallholder crossbred dairy production system in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Al Kalaldeh ◽  
Marimuthu Swaminathan ◽  
Yuvraj Gaundare ◽  
Sachin Joshi ◽  
Hassan Aliloo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Error Variance ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Production Environments ◽  
High Production

Abstract Background India is the largest milk producer globally, with the largest proportion of cattle milk production coming from smallholder farms with an average herd size of less than two milking cows. These cows are mainly undefined multi-generation crosses between exotic dairy breeds and indigenous Indian cattle, with no performance or pedigree recording. Therefore, implementing genetic improvement based on genetic evaluation has not yet been possible. We present the first results from a large smallholder performance recording program in India, using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes to estimate genetic parameters for monthly test-day (TD) milk records and to obtain and validate genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV). Results The average TD milk yield under the high, medium, and low production environments were 9.64, 6.88, and 4.61 kg, respectively. In the high production environment, the usual profile of a lactation curve was evident, whereas it was less evident in low and medium production environments. There was a clear trend of an increasing milk yield with an increasing Holstein Friesian (HF) proportion in the high production environment, but no increase above intermediate grades in the medium and low production environments. Trends for Jersey were small but yield estimates had a higher standard error than HF. Heritability estimates for TD yield across the lactation ranged from 0.193 to 0.250, with an average of 0.230. The additive genetic correlations between TD yield at different times in lactation were high, ranging from 0.846 to 0.998. The accuracy of phenotypic validation of GEBV from the method that is believed to be the least biased was 0.420, which was very similar to the accuracy obtained from the average prediction error variance of the GEBV. Conclusions The results indicate strong potential for genomic selection to improve milk production of smallholder crossbred cows in India. The performance of cows with different breed compositions can be determined in different Indian environments, which makes it possible to provide better advice to smallholder farmers on optimum breed composition for their environment.

Relationships among udder type traits and milk yield of Iranian Holstein-Friesian cattle

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 141-141
Author(s):  
M. R. Sanjabi ◽  
M. G. Govindaiah ◽  
M. M. Moeini
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Type Traits ◽  
High Production ◽  
Friesian Cattle

Correlation among type traits and with milk production has been investigated by Brotherstone (1994) and Misztal et al (1992). One of the primary reasons for collecting and utilizing information on type traits is to aid breeders in selecting profitable functional cows for high production and suitable herd life. The objectives of this study were to estimate phenotypic and genetic correlations among milk production and with udder traits.

scholarly journals Associations between milking technology, herd size and milk production parameters on commercial dairy cattle farms

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-111
Author(s):  
Dorottya Ivanyos ◽  
László Ózsvári ◽  
István Fodor ◽  
Csaba Németh ◽  
Attila Monostori
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Production Parameters ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Cattle Farms ◽  
Daily Milk

The aim of the study was to survey the milking technology and to analyse the associations between milking parlour type, herd size, and milk production parameters on dairy cattle farms. The milking technology was surveyed by using a questionnaire in 417 Hungarian dairy herds with 177,514 cows in 2017, and it was compared with their official farm milk production data. The surveyed farms were categorized according to their size (1-50, 51-300, 301-600, and >600 cows) and to their milking parlour types (herringbone, parallel, carousel, and others). The relationships were analysed by multivariate linear models, one-way ANOVA, and Fisher’s exact test. Pairwise comparisons were performed by Tukey’s post hoc tests. The prevailing type of milking parlour was herringbone (71.0 %), but on larger farms the occurrence of parallel and carousel parlours increased (p<0.001). The number of milking stalls per farm increased with herd size (p<0.001). Farms with herringbone parlour had significantly smaller number of milking stalls than that of parallel (p=0.022) and carousel (p<0.001) parlours, and the cows were mostly milked two times, while in carousel milking parlours mostly three times a day. As the herd size increased, so did daily milk yield (p<0.001) and daily milk production per cow (p<0.001). Herd size was associated with somatic cell count (p<0.001). The type of milking parlour showed significant association with daily milk yield (p=0.039) and dairy units with herringbone milking system had the lowest milk quality. Our findings show that herd size has greater impact on milk production parameters than milking technologies.

scholarly journals Evaluation of economic indicators for Czech dairy farms

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 499-508
Author(s):  
Jan Syrůček ◽  
Luděk Bartoň ◽  
Dalibor Řehák ◽  
Jindřich Kvapilík ◽  
Jiří Burdych
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Agrarian Sector ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
Milk Level

Milk production is one of the most important areas of the Czech agrarian sector, as evidenced by its 50% share (at 2017 prices) in revenues from livestock production. As for any business, a certain level of profitability is a prerequisite for long-term and sustainable development of dairy farms. This study’s aim was to evaluate the economic efficiency of milk production from both Czech Fleckvieh (C) and Holstein (H) cows based on data collected each year from 48 to 70 Czech dairy farms in the period from 2012 to 2017. Total costs per feeding day and litre of milk, level of profitability, and income over feed costs were calculated. The influences of herd size and milk yield on profitability and break-even points were examined while sensitivity analysis and model calculations were utilised to predict profitability. The farms with higher average milk yields (&gt;7 500 and &gt;9 500 L per lactation for C and H, respectively) had higher costs per feeding day, lower costs per litre of milk, and improved profitability (p &lt; 0.05). Average break-even points were estimated for milk price (0.31 and 0.32 EUR) and milk yield (7 257 and 9 209 L) in C and H herds, respectively.<br />

Significance of Environmental Influences on Average Daily Milk Traits of Sirohi Goats in Their Native Tract

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Gautam H.A. Waiz ◽  
R. K. Nagda
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Goat Milk ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Milk Traits ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Daily Milk

Data on 3244 Sirohi kidding during 2004 to 2016 in farmer’s flocks under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement (AICRP) project, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur were utilized to estimate the average daily milk (ADM) at different lactation months and subjected to least square analysis to study the effect of various non-genetic factors like cluster, periods of kidding, season of kidding, parity, type of birth and regression of dam’s weight. The overall least-squares means for ADM1, ADM2, ADM3, ADM4, ADM5 and overall ADM were 564.07±18.34, 671.92±15.17, 633.41±10.75, 508.93±8.01, 329.72±7.93 and 540.79±10.78 ml, respectively. Cluster and period wise variation were highly significant on all stages of average daily milk yields. The parity had statistically highly significant effect on average daily milk yields, in which seemed that milk yields increase as parity increase, thereafter declined slowly. The effect of type of kidding was non-significant on all stages of average daily milk yield under this study. The regression of dam’s weight at kidding was positive and highly significant (P£ 0.01) on all average daily milk yield. The heritability estimates for these traits ranged from 0.03 ± 0.01 (ADM4) to 0.19 ± 0.02 0.06 ± 002 (ADM1). The high estimates of genetic correlations of average milk yield of different periods with overall average daily milk yield. The phenotypic correlations were positive and low between ADM1 and ADM4­, ADM5 and medium between ADM1 and ADM4, ADM5. In order to augment goat milk production, goat keepers need to be focused on nutritional and others environmental conditions as it affect their flock.

Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan: genetic and environmental causes of variation in body weight and reproduction and their relationship to milk production

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. N. Khan ◽  
A. Dahlin ◽  
A. H. Zafar ◽  
M. Saleem ◽  
M. A. Chaudhry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Expectation Maximization Algorithm ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Genetic Value

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.

Genetic analysis of milk production and composition in crossbred ewes from different maternal genotypes

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Afolayan ◽  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
J. E. Morgan ◽  
G. M. Gaunt ◽  
L. J. Cummins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Separate Analysis ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Sire Breed ◽  
Daily Milk

Milk production and milk composition were measured in 1056 crossbred ewes managed under pasture grazing in a lamb production system. Most ewes were milked on three occasions at ~3, 4 and 12 weeks of lactation. The ewes were the progeny of mainly Merino dams and 91 sires from several maternal crossing breeds including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep and Coopworth. The ewes were born over 3 years and run at three sites where they were joined naturally to meat rams. Most of the ewes were first parity (autumn-joined at 7 months of age and spring-joined at 14–17 months of age), with the remainder second or third parity. The cohorts of ewes and sites were linked genetically by three common maternal sires. The 4-h oxytocin-induced milking procedure was used to estimate daily milk production and milk samples were analysed for composition (fat%, protein% and lactose%). Daily milk yield and milk composition traits were analysed using restricted maximum likelihood mixed models procedures. The sire breed of crossbred ewes was significant for milk yield (P < 0.01), fat% (P < 0.01) and lactose% (P < 0.05). There was a significant (P < 0.01) interaction of sire breed × days of lactation, mainly due to the relatively higher milk yield of the East Friesian and White Suffolk cross ewes compared with the other crosses, at the end of the lactation. The East Friesian cross ewes had lower milk fat% than the other cross ewes. Ewes suckling multiple lambs had 29% higher peak milk yield than those bearing and suckling single lambs (P < 0.001). There was an increase in peak milk yield of the ewes from first to second parity, and third parity ewes had a greater decline to the end of lactation causing a significant interaction (P < 0.001). The overall decline in milk yield from peak to late lactation was –21.2 ± 0.7 g/day. Separate analysis showed a significant increase in milk yield with ewe pre-joining weight (regression 6.1 ± 1.8 g/day.kg). The estimate of heritability for daily milk yield was 0.24 ± 0.04 at 90 days of lactation and 0.10 ± 0.02 at 21 days of lactation. The estimates of heritability for the milk composition traits were generally moderate. Estimates of genetic correlations between measurements early and late in the lactation for milk yield and most composition traits were high. The within ewe by stage variance component estimates of repeatability were moderate to high for milk yield, fat% and protein%, with lactose% being low.

Fitting milk production curves through nonlinear mixed models

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Piccardi ◽  
Raúl Macchiavelli ◽  
Ariel Capitaine Funes ◽  
Gabriel A Bó ◽  
Mónica Balzarini
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Information Criteria ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
High Production

The aim of this work was to fit and compare three non-linear models (Wood, Milkbot and diphasic) to model lactation curves from two approaches: with and without cow random effect. Knowing the behaviour of lactation curves is critical for decision-making in a dairy farm. Knowledge of the model of milk production progress along each lactation is necessary not only at the mean population level (dairy farm), but also at individual level (cow-lactation). The fits were made in a group of high production and reproduction dairy farms; in first and third lactations in cool seasons. A total of 2167 complete lactations were involved, of which 984 were first-lactations and the remaining ones, third lactations (19 382 milk yield tests). PROC NLMIXED in SAS was used to make the fits and estimate the model parameters. The diphasic model resulted to be computationally complex and barely practical. Regarding the classical Wood and MilkBot models, although the information criteria suggest the selection of MilkBot, the differences in the estimation of production indicators did not show a significant improvement. The Wood model was found to be a good option for fitting the expected value of lactation curves. Furthermore, the three models fitted better when the subject (cow) random effect was considered, which is related to magnitude of production. The random effect improved the predictive potential of the models, but it did not have a significant effect on the production indicators derived from the lactation curves, such as milk yield and days in milk to peak.

scholarly journals 182 The effect of previous lactation milk production on twinning prevalence in US dairy cows

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 134-135
Author(s):  
Rachel Schambow ◽  
Thomas B Bennett ◽  
Dorte Dopfer ◽  
Joao Paulo N Martins
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Final Data ◽  
Using Data

Abstract The present study aimed to identify associations with previous lactation production on twinning prevalence in US dairy farms using data comprising over 7.9 million dairy calving and production records from 827 herds between 2001 and 2020. Inclusion criteria were breed (Holstein, Jersey, dairy and mixed cross), herd size (&gt; 50 calvings/year), and 305-d milk production &gt; 3,182 kg (7,000 lbs). Cows without previous production information or calving date were removed from the final data set, including all first lactation cows. Parity was grouped into 2 and 3+. Final data included n = 2,894,163 records from 2009 to 2020 from 577 herds in 24 states with average herd size from 50 to 14,948 calvings/year. Data were analyzed by logistical regression using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with herd within state as random effects. Absolute 305-d milk production from each cow’s previous lactation, parity, breed, calving month, year, calving interval (CI), and interaction terms of production by parity, production by breed, CI by parity, and CI by breed were used as predictors for next lactation twinning prevalence. All fixed effects were significantly associated with the outcome (P &lt; 0.001). Twinning prevalence was increased for higher levels of milk production within parity 2 and 3+ (OR: 1.067, 1.064; CL: 1.057–1.078, 1.054–1.075), and within Holstein, Jersey, mixed crossbreed, and dairy crossbreed (OR: 1.042, 1.068, 1.085, 1.07; CL: 1.038–1.046, 1.053–1.082, 1.056–1.114, 1.051–1.09). Parity 3+ had increased twinning compared to parity 2 (OR: 1.497; CL: 1.478–1.517). Holsteins had increased twinning compared to Jerseys (OR: 1.466, CL: 1.394–1.542). Year showed no clear trend. Twinning was increased for calving in spring/summer (April-September) with peak in June and July (OR: 1.377, 1.374; CL: 1.346–1.409, 1.344–1.405), correlating to conception months of September and October. These data can be instrumental to guide research focus and producer decisions to reduce twin births in lactating dairy cows.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF BODY SIZE ON THE BIOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY OF COWS: A REVIEW

1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. MORRIS ◽  
J. W. WILTON
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Biological Efficiency ◽  
Breeding Herd ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship

Relationships between body size and the biological efficiency of cows are reviewed in three parts: (1) size and biological efficiency of milk production; (2) size and biological efficiency of beef production; (3) a discussion of some important factors in experimental design, when cattle are of different sizes. Ranges of correlation estimates from different experiments were not always small. The overall relationship between milk yield and body size was 0.33 within breeds of dairy cattle; genetic correlations averaged 0.14. The average correlation of measures of body size with dairy efficiency (milk yield/feed intake) was −0.18, and genetic correlations averaged −0.37. Overall correlations between dairy efficiency and milk yield were large and positive (0.81), and genetic correlations averaged 0.89. In dairy cattle the relationship between milk production and body weight change during lactation was negative. Similarly, in beef cattle, the relationship between calf weaning weight and weight change of cow during lactation was negative. Weaning and yearling weights of calves generally increased with weights of their dams. Biological efficiencies of cow and calf to weaning or yearling weights were superior for small cows, where only combined cow and calf feed requirements and calf weights were considered. When feed requirements for replacements to the breeding herd were included (with extra salvage weight of saleable beef from the breeding herd as cow weight increased), biological efficiency was affected little by cow size unless reproductive performance also changed. Problem areas related to experimental design were the definition of size of cow, the definition of efficiency, and the selection of equitable diets for any given stage in the life cycle.

SELECTION LIMITS: HAVE THEY BEEN REACHED WITH THE DAIRY COW?

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. KENNEDY
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Genetic Theory ◽  
Term Selection ◽  
High Production

Genetic theory suggests that at some point genetic progress for milk production might plateau either through exhaustion of genetic variability or through development of antagonistic genetic relationships between milk yield and components of fitness. Although there have been no long-term selection experiments with dairy cattle, empirical evidence from field data indicates that selection limits for increased milk production have not been reached nor will they be in the foreseeable future. The rate of genetic improvement in milk yield is accelerating. Rather than witnessing a decline in genetic variability, as genetic theory would indicate, we seem to be experiencing an increase in genetic variability as production levels increase with time which is likely due to improved management allowing for greater expression of genetic variability. There is some evidence of genetic antagonisms between milk yield and fitness traits, fertility and health measures in particular, and this could impose a limit to selection for increased milk production. The solution to this problem is probably through improved management of high producing cows, to reduce stress associated with high production. Key words: Dairy cattle, selection, genetic variation

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