Inclusion of herdmate data improves genomic prediction for milk-production and feed-efficiency traits within North American dairy herds

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate prediction methods, validation approaches and pseudo-phenotypes for the prediction of the genomic breeding values of feed efficiency related traits in Nellore cattle. It used the phenotypic and genotypic information of 4,329 and 3,594 animals, respectively, which were tested for residual feed intake (RFI), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), feed conversion ratio (FCR), residual body weight gain (RG), and residual intake and body weight gain (RIG). Six prediction methods were used: ssGBLUP, BayesA, BayesB, BayesCπ, BLASSO, and BayesR. Three validation approaches were used: 1) random: where the data was randomly divided into ten subsets and the validation was done in each subset at a time; 2) age: the division into the training (2010 to 2016) and validation population (2017) were based on the year of birth; 3) genetic breeding value (EBV) accuracy: the data was split in the training population being animals with accuracy above 0.45; and validation population those below 0.45. We checked the accuracy and bias of genomic value (GEBV). The results showed that the GEBV accuracy was the highest when the prediction is obtained with ssGBLUP (0.05 to 0.31) (Figure 1). The low heritability obtained, mainly for FE (0.07 ± 0.03) and FCR (0.09 ± 0.03), limited the GEBVs accuracy, which ranged from low to moderate. The regression coefficient estimates were close to 1, and similar between the prediction methods, validation approaches, and pseudo-phenotypes. The cross-validation presented the most accurate predictions ranging from 0.07 to 0.037. The prediction accuracy was higher for phenotype adjusted for fixed effects than for EBV and EBV deregressed (30.0 and 34.3%, respectively). Genomic prediction can provide a reliable estimate of genomic breeding values for RFI, DMI, RG and RGI, as to even say that those traits may have higher genetic gain than FE and FCR.

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The effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian and feeding system on grazing behaviour, herbage intake and productivity in the first lactation

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800053959 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 169-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

M. Linnane ◽

B. Horan ◽

J. Connolly ◽

P. O'Connor ◽

F. Buckley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

North American ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Feeding System ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Concentrate Supplementation ◽

Herbage Intake ◽

Biting Rate ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Grazing Behaviour

AbstractA comparative study of grazing behaviour, herbage intake and milk production was conducted using three strains of Holstein-Friesian (HF) heifer : 33 high production North American (HP), 33 high durability North American (HD) and 33 New Zealand (NZ) animals. Heifers were assigned, within strain, to one of three grass-based feeding systems : (1) the Moorepark (control) system (MP), (2) a high concentrate system (HC), (3) a high stocking rate system (HS). Strain of HF had no significant effect on grazing time or number of grazing bouts. The NZ strain had longer grazing bouts (P< 0.01) and spent a lower proportion of time ruminating (P< 0.05) than both the HP and HD strains. There was a significant strain ✕ feeding system interaction for biting rate. The biting rate of the NZ strain was reduced in the HC system. Biting rates in the HS feeding system were significantly higher (P< 0.001) than in the MP system. Heifers on HC had shorter grazing time (P< 0.01) with grazing bouts of shorter duration (P< 0.01). Increasing stocking rate (HS) decreased the proportion of time ruminating (P< 0.001) and tended to shorten grazing bouts (P = 0.06). The HP strain had higher (P< 0.05) herbage and total dry matter (DM) intakes than the NZ strain, while the HD strain was intermediate. Concentrate supplementation reduced (P< 0.001) herbage DM intake but increased (P< 0.001) total DM intake. The reduction of herbage DM intake per kg of concentrate DM intake (substitution rate) was greater for the NZ than the HP strain. The HP produced significantly higher milk, fat, protein and lactose yields than the NZ, while the HD strain was intermediate. The milk fat content of the NZ was higher than both the HP and HD strains, while the protein content was higher than the HP strain. Concentrate supplementation (HC v . MP) significantly increased yields of milk and milk components. Milk production responses to the HC system were much greater with the HP than the NZ strain. Increasing stocking rate (MP v . HS) significantly decreased milk protein yield. The results indicate that the choice of strain of HF may depend on the feeding system.

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Association of Feed Efficiency, Feeding Rate, and Behaviour with the Milk Performance of Dairy Cows

Dairy ◽

10.3390/dairy2040053 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 684-694

Author(s):

Lenka Krpálková ◽

Niall O’Mahony ◽

Anderson Carvalho ◽

Sean Campbell ◽

Gerard Corkery ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Feeding Rate ◽

Feeding Time ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Milk Performance

Identification of the associations of cow feed efficiency with feeding behaviour and milk production is important for supporting recommendations of strategies that optimise milk yield. The objective of this study was to identify associations between measures of feed efficiency, feed intake, feeding rate, rumination time, feeding time, and milk production using data collected from 26 dairy cows during a 3 month period in 2018. Cows averaged (mean ± standard deviation) 2.2 ± 1.7 lactations, 128 ± 40 days in milk, 27.5 ± 5.5 kg/day milk, 1.95 ± 0.69 kg feed/1 kg milk—the measure used to express feed conversion ratio (FCR), 575 ± 72 min/day rumination time, and 264 ± 67 min/day feeding time during the observation period. The coefficient of variation for rumination time (min/d) was 12.5%. A mixed linear model was selected for analyses. The most feed inefficient cows with the highest FCR (≥2.6 kg feed/1 kg milk) showed the lowest milk yield (24.8 kg/day), highest feed intake (78.8 kg), highest feeding rate (0.26 kg/min) and BCS (3.35 point). However, the relative milk yield (milk yield per 100 kg of body weight) was the highest (4.01 kg/day) in the most efficient group with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). Our study showed that the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk) had the highest rumination time (597 min/day; p < 0.05), feeding time (298 min/day; p < 0.05), rumination/activity ratio (4.39; p < 0.05) and rumination/feeding ratio (2.04; p < 0.05). Less active cows (activity time 164 min/day; p < 0.05) were the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). The behavioural differences observed in this study provide new insight into the association of feed behaviour and feed efficiency with milk performance. Incorporating feeding behaviour into the dry matter intake model can improve its accuracy in the future and benefit breeding programmes.

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Intake of Tifton 85 chopped hay have positive effects on protein digestibility, and milk production and composition of Lacaune sheep

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v9i8.5005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. e347985005

Author(s):

Alexandre Bernardi ◽

Antonio Waldimir Leopoldino da Silva ◽

Catia Capeletto ◽

Felipe Junior Portela da Silva ◽

Renata Cristina Defiltro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Protein Concentration ◽

Protein Digestibility ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Feed Digestibility ◽

D 12

This study compared the effects of unchopped and chopped hay on milk production and composition, feed digestibility, and physiology of Lacaune sheep. Eighteen ewes were stratified by parity (two or three), days of lactation (60 ± 3.7 days), and milk production (1.04 L/ewe/day), and were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) Unchopped or 2) Chopped Tifton 85 hay. Corn silage and concentrate were also provided. Chopped hay ewes gave lower (P≤0.01) dry matter intake and greater (P=0.02) crude protein digestibility. No effects of treatment were detected (P≥0.38) for the digestibility of dry matter, or of neutral and acid detergent fibers. Chopped hay ewes had greater (P≤0.01) milk production (d 7 and d 12), lactation persistence, and feed efficiency. Ewes eating chopped hay had greater (P=0.03) protein concentration in their milk. However, there were no effects of treatment × day and treatments (P≥0.16) for concentrations of fat, lactose, minerals, deffated dry extract, or density. Ewes eating chopped hay presented lower (P<0.01) serum concentrations of urea and tended to have lower (P=0.10) serum concentrations of glucose only on d 12. However, there were no effects of treatment × day and treatments (P≥0.16) for serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides, or cholesterol. These data suggest that chopped hay promotes lower dry matter intake and serum concentrations of glucose and urea, but improves milk production, lactation persistence, feed efficiency, and protein concentration.

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Genomewide Association Analyses of Lactation Persistency and Milk Production Traits in Holstein Cattle Based on Imputed Whole-Genome Sequence Data

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12111830 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1830

Author(s):

Victor B. Pedrosa ◽

Flavio S. Schenkel ◽

Shi-Yi Chen ◽

Hinayah R. Oliveira ◽

Theresa M. Casey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Genome Sequence ◽

North American ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Whole Genome Sequence ◽

Holstein Cattle ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Production Traits

Lactation persistency and milk production are among the most economically important traits in the dairy industry. In this study, we explored the association of over 6.1 million imputed whole-genome sequence variants with lactation persistency (LP), milk yield (MILK), fat yield (FAT), fat percentage (FAT%), protein yield (PROT), and protein percentage (PROT%) in North American Holstein cattle. We identified 49, 3991, 2607, 4459, 805, and 5519 SNPs significantly associated with LP, MILK, FAT, FAT%, PROT, and PROT%, respectively. Various known associations were confirmed while several novel candidate genes were also revealed, including ARHGAP35, NPAS1, TMEM160, ZC3H4, SAE1, ZMIZ1, PPIF, LDB2, ABI3, SERPINB6, and SERPINB9 for LP; NIM1K, ZNF131, GABRG1, GABRA2, DCHS1, and SPIDR for MILK; NR6A1, OLFML2A, EXT2, POLD1, GOT1, and ETV6 for FAT; DPP6, LRRC26, and the KCN gene family for FAT%; CDC14A, RTCA, HSTN, and ODAM for PROT; and HERC3, HERC5, LALBA, CCL28, and NEURL1 for PROT%. Most of these genes are involved in relevant gene ontology (GO) terms such as fatty acid homeostasis, transporter regulator activity, response to progesterone and estradiol, response to steroid hormones, and lactation. The significant genomic regions found contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to LP and milk production in North American Holstein cattle.

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Relationships between Milk Production, Ovarian Function and Fertility in High-producing Dairy Herds in North-eastern Spain

Reproduction in Domestic Animals ◽

10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01227.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 38-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

J Yániz ◽

F López-Gatius ◽

G Bech-Sàbat ◽

I García-Ispierto ◽

B Serrano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

North Eastern

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EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS FEEDING OF RAPESEED MEAL ON GROWTH OF DAIRY CALVES AND SUBSEQUENT FIRST LACTATION YIELD

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas71-090 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 681-686 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. R. INGALLS ◽

M. E. SEALE

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Milk Production ◽

Soybean Meal ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Rapeseed Meal ◽

Conception Rate ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Continuous Feeding

Thirty dairy heifer calves were reared from birth to calving on rations containing 0, 6.8 or 13.7% rapeseed meal in substitution for soybean meal. The level of rapeseed meal did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect feed intake, weight gain or feed efficiency of heifers up to breeding weight (330–340 kg). The level of rapeseed meal did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect reproduction or milk production during the first lactation. However, there may have been a trend for lower conception rate and milk fat production during first lactation with the higher level of rapeseed meal.

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