744 Sire performance and reproductive breeding values are associated with feed efficiency and growth in dairy heifers

Early first lactation data from 2230 cows of five research herds of Agriculture Canada were used to study the interactions of genetic line by concentrate level, and sire by concentrate level and to estimate breeding values of sires. The genetic lines were defined as Holstein (H), Ayrshire (A), and H × A or A × H (C). The interactions of sire by concentrate level were studied separately using progeny of five different mating groups: G1, H sires mated to H cows; G2, H sires mated to H, A and C cows; G3, A sires mated to A cows; G4, A sires mated to H, A and C cows; and G5, C sires mated to C cows. The interactions of genetic line by concentrate were significant (P < 0.05) for 56- to 112-d milk yield (MY112), corrected 56-to 112-d milk yield (CMY112) and feed efficiency (EFMY112 = MY112/TDN consumption). H and C cows produced more milk and were more efficient than A cows when fed high levels of concentrate. The H cattle possess a greater capacity to convert the concentrate into milk, while A cattle reach maximum milk production earlier than H cattle. The interactions of sire by concentrate were statistically significant for MY112, EFMY112 and CMY112 in G1 (P < 0.01), and G2 (P < 0.01). The breeding values of sires for MY112 were estimated using BLUP for all of the H line (BLUP-T), for half of the population consuming low amounts of concentrate (BLUP-L) and for the other half consuming high amounts (BLUP-H). A significant reranking of sires was found among the three groups. Key words: Genotype × environment interaction, milk production, efficiency, breeding value, dairy cattle

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Simultaneous Bayesian estimation of genetic parameters for curves of weight, feed intake and residual feed intake in beef cattle

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab231 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hadi Esfandyari ◽

Just Jensen

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Test Period ◽

Random Regression ◽

Farm Animals ◽

Joint Analysis ◽

Breeding Values ◽

Covariance Functions

Abstract Rate of gain and feed efficiency are important traits in most breeding programs for growing farm animals. Rate of gain (GAIN) is usually expressed over a certain age period and feed efficiency is often expressed as residual feed intake (RFI), defined as observed feed intake (FI) minus expected feed intake based on live weight (WGT) and GAIN. However, the basic traits recorded are always WGT and FI and other traits are derived from these basic records. The aim of this study was to develop a procedure for simultaneous analysis of the basic records and then derive linear traits related to feed efficiency without retorting to any approximations. A bivariate longitudinal random regression model was employed on 13,791 individual longitudinal records of WGT and FI from 2,827 bulls of six different beef breeds tested for own performance in the period from 7 to 13 months of age. Genetic and permanent environmental covariance functions for curves of WGT and FI were estimated using Gibbs sampling. Genetic and permanent covariance functions for curves of GAIN were estimated from the first derivative of the function for WGT and finally the covariance functions were extended to curves for RFI, based on the conditional distribution of FI given WGT and GAIN. Furthermore, the covariance functions were extended to include GAIN and RFI defined over different periods of the performance test. These periods included the whole test period as normally used when predicting breeding values for GAIN and RFI for beef bulls. Based on the presented method, breeding values and genetic parameters for derived traits such as GAIN and RFI defined longitudinally or integrated over (parts of) of the test period can be obtained from a joint analysis of the basic records. The resulting covariance functions for WGT, FI, GAIN and RFI are usually singular but the method presented here do not suffer from the estimation problems associated with defining these traits individually before the genetic analysis. All results are thus estimated simultaneously, and the set of parameters are consistent.

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Reliability of breeding values for feed intake and feed efficiency traits in dairy cattle: When dry matter intake recordings are sparse under different scenarios

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2018-16020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 102 (8) ◽

pp. 7248-7262 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

E. Negussie ◽

T. Mehtiö ◽

P. Mäntysaari ◽

P. Løvendahl ◽

E.A. Mäntysaari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Breeding Values

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Relationship between feed efficiency indexes and performance, body measurements, digestibility, energy partitioning, and nitrogen partitioning in pre-weaning dairy heifers

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0223368 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. e0223368 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Camila Flávia de Assis Lage ◽

Sandra Gesteira Coelho ◽

Hilton do Carmo Diniz Neto ◽

Victor Marco Rocha Malacco ◽

João Paulo Pacheco Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Efficiency ◽

Energy Partitioning ◽

Nitrogen Partitioning ◽

Body Measurements ◽

Dairy Heifers ◽

And Performance

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PSVI-6 Effects of feeding a novel alfalfa leaf pellet (ProLEAF MAX™) and an alfalfa stem byproduct (ProFiber Plus™) on growth and conception rates of developing dairy heifers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.745 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 427-428

Author(s):

Laura A Smith ◽

Allen Y Young ◽

Reganne K Briggs ◽

Tevan J Brady ◽

Caleb C Reichhardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Efficiency ◽

Treatment Time ◽

Repeated Measure ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Dairy Heifers ◽

Alfalfa Hay ◽

Conception Rates ◽

Dairy Animals ◽

Alfalfa Leaf ◽

Insight Into

Abstract Alfalfa is a commonly grown forage in the Intermountain west and is often included in rations for dairy animals. This study investigated the effects of including novel alfalfa products: ProLEAF MAX™ (PLM), an alfalfa leaf pellet; and ProFiber Plus™ (PFP), alfalfa stems, in the ration of dairy heifers on growth, feed efficiency, and conception. Heifers were stratified by weight and farm origin, and randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups (n = 8/treatment): control (CON, typical ration that included alfalfa hay), PLM+PFP (a ration that replaced alfalfa hay with PLM and PFP), or PFP (a ration that replaced alfalfa hay with PFP). Heifers were fed for 84 d in individual pens and feed intake and refusals were recorded daily. Weight, hip height, and wither height were recorded every two weeks and blood was collected every four weeks. Additionally, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and conception rates were measured. Data were analyzed with day as a repeated measure and treatment as a fixed effect. Heifers fed the CON ration had increased (P < 0.05) weight gain, hip height, and dry matter intake over time compared to the treatment groups. There was a treatment*time (P < 0.05) effect on feed efficiency where heifers fed the PFP had more variable feed efficiency than CON or PLM+PFP. Treatment had an effect (P > 0.03) on BUN where CON heifers had increased BUN compared to those fed PFP. No differences (P < 0.05) were observed in conception. These data provide insight into how performance of growing heifers is affected when novel alfalfa products are included in the ration and indicate that inclusion of PFP might decrease growth of heifers by decreasing DMI. More research needs to be done to determine whether there is an optimal amount of these products to include in heifer rations.

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Estimation of (co)variance components across breeds by a test-day model adapted to New Zealand dairy cattle

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200010255 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2005 ◽

pp. 114-114

Author(s):

S. Vanderick ◽

B. Harris ◽

P. Mayeres ◽

A. Gillon ◽

C. Croquet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Variance Components ◽

Dairy Farmers ◽

Breeding Values ◽

Dairy Heifers ◽

Breed Differences ◽

Genetic Contributions

In New Zealand, crossbreeding is largely used by dairy farmers. Currently an important proportion of cows are crossbreds, mostly Holstein-Friesians (HF) x Jersey (JE). Crossbred bulls are currently being progeny tested in New Zealand. Actually, more than one third of the replacement dairy heifers are crossbred animals (Montgomerie, 2002). However currently available methods to model genetic contributions of purebreds to crossbreds take breed differences only partly into account and therefore do not permit an optimal use of crossbred data. The first objective of our study was to allow the modelling of different additive breeding values according to parental breeds to define overall additive breeding values as a function of breed composition.

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Genetic correlations between 305-day and monthly test day milk yield records in primiparous Iranian Holsteins

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200006013 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2001 ◽

pp. 219-219

Author(s):

H. Farhangfar ◽

P. Rowlinson ◽

M.B. Willis

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Genetic Gain ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Cattle Breeding ◽

Breeding Values ◽

Dairy Heifers ◽

The Past ◽

Dairy Cattle Breeding ◽

Adjustment Factors ◽

Breeding Programmes

Traditionally, in most dairy cattle breeding programmes genetic evaluation of dairy sires and cows has been primarily based on 305-day lactation yield. To provide 305-day lactation yields many partial lactations have to be extended by adjustment factors resulting in overestimation or underestimation of 305-day yields which in turn leads to biased prediction of breeding values. Over the past decade there has been a considerable interest in using monthly test day records instead of 305-day lactation yield to predict breeding values of dairy cattle as early as possible and also to increase genetic gain through reducing generation interval. The main objective of present research was to estimate the genetic correlations between 305-day and monthly test day milk yields in Iranian Holstein dairy heifers.

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Relationship between feed efficiency indexes and thermography, blood, and ruminal parameters in pre-weaning dairy heifers

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0236118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. e0236118

Author(s):

C. F. A. Lage ◽

S. G. Coelho ◽

H. C. Diniz Neto ◽

V. M. R. Malacco ◽

J. P. P. Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Efficiency ◽

Dairy Heifers

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Genetic parameters for feed intake and feed efficiency in growing dairy heifers

Livestock Production Science ◽

10.1016/0301-6226(91)90119-b ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 49-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

S Korver ◽

E.A.M van Eekelen ◽

H Vos ◽

G.J Nieuwhof ◽

J.A.M van Arendonk

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Dairy Heifers

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Current challenges for trait economic values in animal breeding

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/161/2020-cjas ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (No. 12) ◽

pp. 454-462

Author(s):

Zuzana Krupová ◽

Emil Krupa ◽

Ludmila Zavadilová ◽

Eva Kašná ◽

Eliska Žáková

Keyword(s):

Feed Efficiency ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Selection Response ◽

Animal Production ◽

Animal Breeding ◽

Animal Performance ◽

Economic Values ◽

Breeding Values ◽

Breeding Objective ◽

Economic Selection

Modern selection approaches are expected to bring about the cumulative and permanent improvement of animal performance and profitability of animal production. Breeding values of traits along with trait economic values (EVs) are utilised for economic selection purposes with many species all over the world. Currently, some challenges related to trait EVs in animal breeding should be considered. First, the selection response based on the higher accuracy of genomic selection may be reduced due to improper weighting of the trait breeding values of selection candidates. A comprehensive approach applied in bioeconomic models allows suitable trait EV calculations. Further challenges comprise the new breeding objectives associated with climate change, environmental mitigation and animal adaptability. The estimation of EVs for traits influencing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has been mostly based on including the value of CO<sub>2</sub> emission equivalent in the trait EVs, on calculating EVs for feed efficiency traits and on methane yield as a direct trait of GHG emission. Genetic improvement of production, functional, feed efficiency and methane traits through the application of multi-trait selection indices was found to be crucial for mitigation of emissions and farm profitability. Defining the non-market values of traits connected with climate protection could be a useful solution for including these traits in an economic breeding objective. While GHG emissions mostly change the costs per unit of production, animal adaptability in its complexity influences animal performance. Clear definitions of disease, fertility, mortality and other breeding objective traits allow the proper calculation of trait EVs, and an accurate estimation of trait genetic parameters could lead to sufficient economic selection response. This complex approach could be beneficial for more effective utilisation of inputs and overall economic and environmental sustainability of animal production.

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