Investigation of the genetic correlation between milk and fertility traits of first calving cows of Simmental breed

Investigation of the production capacity of cattle for the purpose of increase of milk and milk fat production, as well as number of calves, greatly depends on phenotypic and genetic variability, heritability and correlation between desired traits, and on production level in the population. This research included 3.461 first calving cows of Simmental breed under control and reared on farms of individual agricultural producers on the territory of Republic of Serbia. Genetic correlations were calculated using equation of mixed model which included the effect of bull-sire, breeding region, year and season of calving: Yijklm = ? + Bi + Rj + Gk + Sl + eijklm. Coefficients of genetic correlation between service period and milk traits were following: duration of lactation 0,239, milk yield 0,089, percentage of milk fat 0,095, quantity of milk fat 0,105 and yield of 4%FCM 0,099. Correlation between service period and age at calving was 0,535. Genetic correlation between age at calving and milk traits was following: duration of lactation 0,245, production of milk 0,003, percentage of milk fat 0,531, quantity of milk fat 0,082 and production of 4%FCM 0,050.

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Genetic correlations among female fertility traits and milk production in different parities in Swedish dairy cattle

BSAP Occasional Publication ◽

10.1017/s1463981500043211 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 177-181

Author(s):

A. Roth ◽

E. Strandberg ◽

B. Berglund ◽

U. Emanuelson ◽

J. Philipsson

Keyword(s):

Genetic Correlation ◽

Variance Components ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Relationship Matrix ◽

Phenotypic Variance ◽

Bivariate Model ◽

Service Period ◽

Swedish Dairy ◽

Fertility Traits ◽

Maternal Grandsire

AbstractThe main objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between fertility and production in first and second lactations as well as between fertility traits measured in the same way at different ages. The analyses were carried out for Swedish Red and White cows born from 1986 to 1996, in total about 578 000, 430 000, and 221 000 records in the heifer period, first lactation and second lactation, respectively. The fertility traits studied were: interval between calving and first insemination (CFI), interval between calving and last insemination (CLI), number of inseminations per service period (NINS) and number of treatments for reproductive disturbances (NREPT). Production was measured as the average of the energy-corrected milk yield from the second and third test-days in a lactation (ECM23). A linear, bivariate model that included effects of herd-year, month, age, and sire of the cow was applied. A relationship matrix containing sire and maternal grandsire of the sire was included. The (co)variance components for the random effects were estimated by use of a restricted maximum likelihood algorithm. The genetic correlations between fertility traits and production within first and second lactation were in the range of 0.1 to 0.3, all of them unfavourable. However, the genetic correlation between NREPT and ECM23 was close to zero within both lactations. The heritabilities, calculated without the herd-year variance included in the phenotypic variance, varied between 0.02 and 0.06 for the fertility traits with only minor differences between first and second lactation. The heritability of ECM23 was 0.35 in the first lactation and 0.28 in the second lactation. The genetic correlation between NINS during the heifer period and in first lactation was high, 0.7. The heritabilities for NINS and NREPT during the heifer period were very low, <0.01. In conclusion, there were only minor differences in inter-relationships between fertility and production in first and second lactation and the traits were negatively associated with each other. Based on the genetic correlation between NINS in the heifer period and NINS in first lactation, this study indicated that the traits at least partly are regulated by different sets of genes.

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Phenotypic and genetic parameters of reproductive traits of black and white cows with different share of HF genes

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah0701193p ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (5-6-1) ◽

pp. 193-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.M. Petrovic ◽

S. Aleksic ◽

T. Smiljakovic ◽

V. Pantelic ◽

D. Ostojic-Andric

Keyword(s):

Genetic Parameters ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Genetic Group ◽

Milk Traits ◽

Black And White ◽

Service Period ◽

White Breed ◽

General Average ◽

Fertility Traits

In this paper, results of the effect of direct and indirect selection of quantitative fertility traits of cattle end heritability level are presented. Study of the quantitative genetic parameters was carried out on three large farms of Black and White, Holstein-Friesian cattle. Investigation included 3900 first calving cows, daughters of 54 bull sires. The effect of genetic group of the head of cattle (genotype) and of the herd on fertility and milk traits of heifers and first calving cows of Black and White breed was investigated. Genetic group of the head of cattle (genotype) had no significant effect in variation of the fertility traits compared to general average (P<0.01). The effect of herd caused statistically significant and highly significant deviation from the general average, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01. Established heritability coefficients for fertility traits had low values for age at insemination (0,112), duration of pregnancy (0,045) and duration of service period (0,097). Results were obtained by applying mathematicalstatistical analysis of data - using mixed model (Harvey, 1990). Mathematical-statistical analysis of data was carried out using linear methods with fixed influence through model of Least Squares (LS method). Genotype of the head of cattle caused no significant deviation of fertility traits (P>0,05).

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Genetic analysis of values, trends and relations between conformation and milk traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cows

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.7482/0003-9438-56-052 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 536-546 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

W. Kruszyński ◽

E. Pawlina ◽

M. Szewczuk

Keyword(s):

Milk Fat ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Dairy Production ◽

Genetic Trend ◽

Milk Traits ◽

White Variety ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Genetic Value ◽

Friesian Cows

Abstract. In the work presented an analysis was performed of the genetic values of conformation traits in cows and their relations with the genetic value of dairy traits, basing on dairy performance (milk, fat and protein yield) and conformation data, obtained for Polish Holstein-Friesian cows of the Black-and-White variety, born between year 2001 and 2004, and maintained in 21 herds in the region of Wielkopolska (central Poland). The genetic values for the data analysed were estimated using the BLUP method and a mixed model. For the traits analysed a genetic trend was estimated as well as genetic correlations between the dairy and conformation traits. The population analysed was divided depending on year of birth and production level. The results obtained show a systematic increase in the traits analysed (positive genetic trends), both for the dairy and for conformation traits (with the exception of temperament). The highest genetic correlations between dairy and conformation traits were obtained for the udder, temperament and dairy type, while the lowest for height at sacrum and calibre. The analysis of the genetic value of conformation traits in cows of different dairy production genetic values indicated that the highest results were obtained for the group of animals with the highest genetic dairy production value. In turn, the analysis of the genetic value of traits of cows born in different years did not show statistically significant differences, with the exception of height in the youngest group.

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Estimation of variance components of milk, fat, and protein yields of Tunisian Holstein dairy cattle using Bayesian and REML methods

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-59-243-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 243-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hafedh Ben Zaabza ◽

Abderrahmen Ben Gara ◽

Hedi Hammami ◽

Mohamed Amine Ferchichi ◽

Boulbaba Rekik

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Bayesian Methods ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Variance Components ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Bayesian Procedure ◽

Milk Traits ◽

Residual Variances ◽

Estimation Of Variance

Abstract. A multi-trait repeatability animal model under restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and Bayesian methods was used to estimate genetic parameters of milk, fat, and protein yields in Tunisian Holstein cows. The estimates of heritability for milk, fat, and protein yields from the REML procedure were 0.21 ± 0.05, 0.159 ± 0.04, and 0.158 ± 0.04, respectively. The corresponding results from the Bayesian procedure were 0.273 ± 0.02, 0.198 ± 0.01, and 0.187 ± 0.01. Heritability estimates tended to be larger via the Bayesian than those obtained by the REML method. Genetic and permanent environmental variances estimated by REML were smaller than those obtained by the Bayesian analysis. Inversely, REML estimates of the residual variances were larger than Bayesian estimates. Genetic and permanent correlation estimates were on the other hand comparable by both REML and Bayesian methods with permanent environmental being larger than genetic correlations. Results from this study confirm previous reports on genetic parameters for milk traits in Tunisian Holsteins and suggest that a multi-trait approach can be an alternative for implementing a routine genetic evaluation of the Tunisian dairy cattle population.

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Phenotypic Characterization of Milk Yield and Quality Traits in a Large Population of Water Buffaloes

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10020327 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 327 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Angela Costa ◽

Riccardo Negrini ◽

Massimo De Marchi ◽

Giuseppe Campanile ◽

Gianluca Neglia

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Large Scale ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Large Population ◽

Solid Content ◽

Current Status ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Italian Population ◽

Milk Traits

The buffalo milk industry has economic and social relevance in Italy, as linked to the manufacture of traditional dairy products. To provide an overview of the current status of buffaloes’ performances on a large scale, almost 1 million milk test-day records from 72,294 buffaloes were available to investigate milk yield, energy corrected milk, fat, protein, and lactose content, and somatic cell score (SCS). Phenotypic correlations between milk traits were calculated and analysis of variance was carried out through a mixed model approach including fixed effect of parity, stage of lactation, sampling time, month of calving, and all their interactions and random effects of buffalo, herd-test-date, and residual. Third-parity buffaloes were the most productive in terms of milk yield, while the lowest solid content was detected in sixth parity buffaloes. A considerable gap between primiparous and multiparous buffaloes was observed for milk yield, especially in early- and mid-lactation. Overall, SCS progressively increased with parity and showed a negative correlation with milk yield in both primiparous (−0.12) and multiparous (−0.14) buffaloes. Results suggested that, at the industrial level, milk of primiparous buffaloes may be preferred for transformation purposes, since it was characterized by greater solid content and lower SCS. Results of this study provide a picture of the Italian population of buffaloes under systematic performance records and might be beneficial to both dairy industry and breeding organizations.

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Genetic parameters of milk traits in Latxa dairy sheep

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800058379 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 73 (3) ◽

pp. 407-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

A. Legarra ◽

E. Ugarte

Keyword(s):

Milk Fat ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Selection Criterion ◽

Genetic Effect ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Additive Genetic Effect ◽

Dairy Sheep ◽

Milk Traits

AbstractA total of 7444 lactation records which include milk, fat and protein yields (MY, FY, PY) and fat and protein content (F%, P%) from 6429 Black-Faced Latxa ewes were employed to estimate genetic parameters for milk traits. Traits were standardized to 120 days of lactation. For the calculation of composition traits, not all test-days had their composition measured and therefore a correction taking this into account was included in the analysis. A first-derivative restricted maximum likelihood algorithm was used on an animal model with repeatability analysis, using models including fixed effects (flock-year-season of lambing, age-parity at lambing, number of lambs, interval between lambing and first milk recording and the combination of sampled test-days) and random effects (the additive genetic effect and the permanent environmental effect). The resulting heritabilities were 0·20, 0·16, 0·18, 0·14 and 0·38 for MY, FY, PY, F% and P% respectively. Heritability of F% was much lower than expected, probably due to problems derived from the recording method. Genetic correlations were high and positive between yields and moderately positive between F% and P%, and negative or null between yields and composition, as has been reported for other European dairy sheep breeds. As most of the milk produced by Latxa dairy sheep is processed into cheese, the inclusion of milk sampling in official milk recording and a change in the selection criterion are recommended to avoid a long-term worsening in milk composition.

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Phenotypic correlations of productive and reproductive traits of Simmental cows

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah0704011p ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (3-4) ◽

pp. 11-17

Author(s):

Vlada Pantelic ◽

Z. Skalicki ◽

M.M. Petrovic ◽

S. Aleksic ◽

B. Miscevic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Fat ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Phenotypic Correlation ◽

Cattle Breeding ◽

Phenotypic Correlations ◽

Service Period ◽

Calving Season ◽

The Republic ◽

One Year ◽

Fertility Traits

Research included 3.461 first calving Simmental cows in control, with lactations concluded within one year. All first calving cows were reared by private/individual farmers on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Phenotypic correlations between following milk and fertility traits have been investigated: duration of lactation DL, milk yield MY, milk fat content MFC, milk fat yield MFY, yield of 4% FCM, age at first calving AFC and duration of service period DSP. Results of the investigation of phenotypic correlations are obtained using mixed models LSMLMW (Harvey 1990). This method enables optimal consideration of numerous effects on investigated traits (bull sires, region, calving season, and calving year). Phenotypic correlation of traits in cattle breeding relates to presence of mutual positive or negative covariance which is result of the effect of genetic and factors of the environment. Information on phenotypic correlations between milk and fertility traits can be of great importance in selection of cows, since it provides possibility to choose/select heads based on several traits at the same time. .

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Genetic relationship between milk dry matter and other milk traits in extended lactations of Polish Holstein cows

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/49/2009-cjas ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 91-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K. Yazgan ◽

J. Makulska ◽

A. Węglarz ◽

E. Ptak ◽

M. Gierdziewicz

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Random Regression ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Milk Traits ◽

Data Set ◽

The Third

The objective of this research was to examine heritabilities and genetic, phenotypic and permanent environmental relationships between milk dry matter (DM) and milk traits such as milk, fat, protein and lactose yields, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and somatic cell score (SCS) in extended (to 395 days) lactations of Holstein cows from a big farm in Poland. The data set consisted of 78 059 test day records from the first, second and third lactations of 3 792 cows, daughters of 210 sires and 1 677 dams. Single- or two-trait random regression models were used with fixed effects of calving year, calving month, dry period and calving interval and random additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. The last two fixed effects were not included in the analysis of first lactation data. The highest values of heritabilities for all traits, except DM, were observed in the second lactation. First lactation heritabilities for all traits – except milk yield and SCS – were smaller than those in the third lactation. Lactose yield was highly heritable, with average h<SUP>2</SUP> equal to 0.25, 0.29 and 0.28 in lactations 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Heritability for DM was slightly lower than that for lactose (0.22, 0.26 and 0.28 for lactations 1, 2 and 3, respectively). In all lactations heritabilities for SCS were below 0.1. Genetic correlations between DM and milk yield (0.64–0.74) were lower than those between MUN and milk yield (0.67–0.79) as well as between lactose and milk yield (0.72–0.82). In general, DM was much more closely correlated with fat or protein yield (0.55–0.79) than with MUN or lactose (0.38–0.76). Only in the third lactation the correlation between DM and protein (0.72) was lower than between lactose and protein (0.76). For all lactations there were very high genetic correlations between DM and lactose (0.96–0.98) and high correlations between DM and MUN (0.63–0.83) and between lactose and MUN (0.70–0.85). The results suggest that further research is needed, focused on DM and its relationship with other traits in larger populations.  

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Phenotypic correlation of traits of production and reproduction of Simmental cows in different regions of Serbia

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah1903219p ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 219-228

Author(s):

Vlada Pantelic ◽

Dragan Niksic ◽

Nevena Maksimovic ◽

Dusica Ostojic-Andric ◽

Marina Lazarevic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Fat ◽

Breeding Value ◽

Phenotypic Correlation ◽

Agricultural Producers ◽

Phenotypic Correlations ◽

Service Period ◽

Milk Performance ◽

Breeding Selection ◽

The Republic ◽

One Year

The main goal of this research was to examine, using modern methods, the variability of phenotypic correlations of production performances and reproductive properties of Simmental cows reared on the farms of individual agricultural producers, in different breeding areas of the Republic of Serbia. The study of phenotypic correlations of milk performance and fertility properties in different regions of Serbia was carried out on a total of 3.056 primi parous Simmental heifers under control, with lactations completed within one year. The examined animals were reared on different individual farms, and mainly in very different conditions of housing and nutrition, depending on the breeding area. The study of phenotypic correlations included the following milk performance traits: milk yield, milk fat content, milk fat yield, yield of 4% corrected milk; and fertility properties: age at first calving and service period. The results of the study among other things indicate that although the phenotypic correlations between the fertility and milk performance properties show different degrees of variation, they should be taken into account in the final assessment of the breeding value of the animal, so that the breeding selection programs are more comprehensively designes.

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Evolution of genetic variability in a spatially heterogeneous environment: effects of genotype–environment interaction

Genetics Research ◽

10.1017/s001667230002694x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 147-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 180

Author(s):

Sara Via ◽

Russell Lande

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Genetic Correlation ◽

Genetic Variance ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Covariance Structure ◽

Genetic Models ◽

Quantitative Character ◽

Disruptive Selection ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

The Mean

SummaryClassical population genetic models show that disruptive selection in a spatially variable environment can maintain genetic variation. We present quantitative genetic models for the effects of disruptive selection between environments on the genetic covariance structure of a polygenic trait. Our models suggest that disruptive selection usually does not alter the equilibrium genetic variance, although transient changes are predicted. We view a quantitative character as a set of character states, each expressed in one environment. The genetic correlation between character states expressed in different environments strongly affects the evolution of the genetic variability. (1) If the genetic correlation between character states is not ± 1, then the mean phenotype expressed in each environment will eventually attain the optimum value for that environment; this is the evolution of phenotypic plasticity (Via & Lande, 1985). At the joint phenotypic optimum, there is no disruptive selection between environments and thus no increase in the equilibrium genetic variability over that maintained by a balance between mutation and stabilizing selection within each environment. (2) If, however, the genetic correlation between character states is ± 1, the mean phenotype will not evolve to the joint phenotypic optimum and a persistent force of disruptive selection between environments will increase the equilibrium genetic variance. (3) Numerical analyses of the dynamic equations indicate that the mean phenotype can usually be perturbed several phenotypic standard deviations from the optimum without producing transient changes of more than a few per cent in the genetic variances or correlations. It may thus be reasonable to assume a roughly constant covariance structure during phenotypic evolution unless genetic correlations among character states are extremely high or populations are frequently perturbed. (4) Transient changes in the genetic correlations between character states resulting from disruptive selection act to constrain the evolution of the mean phenotype rather than to facilitate it.

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