Genetics of milk yield and fertility traits in Holstein-Friesian cattle on large-scale Kenyan farms.

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.

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

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200013004 ◽

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.

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The differences in production of Holstein Friesian and Holstein Friesian x Norwegian Red F1 crossbreeds

Linear vs piecewise Weibull model for genetic evaluation of sires for longevity in Simmental cattle ◽

10.15567/mljekarstvo.2020.0406 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 70 (4) ◽

pp. 284-291

Author(s):

Stipo Benak ◽

Tina Bobić ◽

Vesna Gantner ◽

Domagoj Eman ◽

Maja Gregić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Lower Number ◽

Conception Rate ◽

Least Square ◽

Production Traits ◽

Retained Placenta ◽

Service Period ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Fertility Traits ◽

Insight Into

The aim of this study was to compare the production, health and fertility traits of Holstein Friesian (HF) and their F1 crosses with Norwegian Red cows (HF x NRF F1). Only the production data’s from finished first lactations of the total 57 HF x NRF F1 crosses and 401 HF cows, and for health and fertility traits of 120 HF x NRF F1 crosses and 255 HF cows, were used. The differences in production traits were tested by a least square means using the GLM procedure in SAS. The milk yield in both lactation (standard 305 days and full lactation) were higher in HF x NRF F1 crosses for approximately 400 kg, but without significance. The differences in production traits (fat and protein (kg and %)) were significant (p<0.001; p<0.05) with higher values for HF x NRF F1 crosses comparing to HF cows, with exception of protein in full lactation. Regarding the fertility traits, HF x NRF F1 crosses had a better conception rate (+1.58 %), a lower number of the insemination per pregnancy (-0.43) and a shorter duration of the service period (-22.2) comparable to HF cows. F1 crosses had better health traits (with except for hoofs problem) comparing to HF cows, they had less cows with mastitis (-11.9 %), ketosis (-0.5 %), retained placenta (-4.8 %) and dislocation of the abomasum (-1.0 %), respectively. Because of the fact that all results were obtained on the basis of data from the first lactation cows, it is necessary to do more analyses of all studied traits in subsequent lactations, in order to get a much clearer insight into the studied issues.

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Genetic aspects of common health disorders and measures of fertility in Holstein Friesian dairy cattle

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800008559 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 353-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 131

Author(s):

J. E. Pryce ◽

R. F. Veerkamp ◽

R. Thompson ◽

W. G. Hill ◽

G. Simm

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Economic Importance ◽

Milk Fever ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Health Disorders ◽

Selection For ◽

Fertility Traits

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for measures offertility and several health disorders in dairy cows. Data consisted of 33732 records, of which 9163 were on heifers, on 305-day milk yield, health disorders and inseminations. Measures offertility were calculated from calving and insemination dates and included calving interval, days to first service and conception to first service. Health disorders included milk fever, mastitis and lameness. Genetic and phenotypic (co)variances were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood. Heritability estimates for both health disorders and fertility traits were low, ranging from 0·003 to 0·080. All genetic correlations between 305-day milk yield and health and fertility traits, in cows and heifers together, were antagonistic implying that selection for milk yield may have caused a deterioration in health and fertility. The unfavourable correlation between milk yield and health and fertility traits, plus the economic importance of the latter, suggests that future breeding goals should be expanded to include some health disorders and fertility.

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A comparison of different methods of estimating sire transmitting ability of some milk traits in a herd of Holstein Friesian cattle

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-43-115-2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 115-122

Author(s):

H. Atil ◽

A. S. Khattab

Keyword(s):

Least Squares ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Milk Traits ◽

Linear Unbiased Prediction ◽

Age At First Calving ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽

Best Linear Unbiased ◽

Friesian Cattle

Abstract. A total of 1931 normal first lactation records of Holstein Friesian cows kept at Dena Farm in Egypt during the period from 1987 to 1994 were used to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters for 90 day milk yield (90 dMY), 305 day milk yield (305 dMY) and lactation period (LP). In addition, 76 bulls with at least ten daughters were used to compare three methods of sire transmitting ability. A least Squares analysis of variance show significant effect of month and year of calving and age at first calving for different traits studied, except the effect of age at first calving on LP. Heritability estimates for 90 dMY, 305 dMY and LP were 0.39 ± 0.08, 0.27 ± 0.07 and 0.14 ± 0.05, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between different traits were positive and significant. Sires with at least ten daughters were evaluated by best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), least Squares means (LSM) and regression of the future daughters mean on the present daughters mean. The product moment correlations between different traits studied were positive and high (= 0.96).

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