scholarly journals Inclusion of bioclimatic variables in genetic evaluations of dairy cattle

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Negri ◽  
Ignacio Aguilar ◽  
Giovani Luis Feltes ◽  
Juliana Dementshuk Machado ◽  
José Braccini Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Genetic Evaluations

Objective: Considering the importance of dairy farming and the negative effects of heat stress, more tolerant genotypes need to be identified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of heat stress via temperature-humidity index (THI) and diurnal temperature variation (DTV) in the genetic evaluations for daily milk yield of Holstein dairy cattle, using random regression models.Methods: The data comprised 94,549 test-day records of 11,294 first parity Holstein cows from Brazil, collected from 1997 to 2013, and bioclimatic data (THI and DTV) from 18 weather stations. Least square linear regression models were used to determine the THI and DTV thresholds for milk yield losses caused by heat stress. In addition to the standard model (SM, without bioclimatic variables), THI and DTV were combined in various ways and tested for different days, totaling 41 models.Results: The THI and DTV thresholds for milk yield losses was THI = 74 (–0.106 kg/d/THI) and DTV = 13 (–0.045 kg/d/DTV). The model that included THI and DTV as fixed effects, considering the two-day average, presented better fit (–2logL, Akaike information criterion, and Bayesian information criterion). The estimated breeding values (EBVs) and the reliabilities of the EBVs improved when using this model.Conclusion: Sires are re-ranking when heat stress indicators are included in the model. Genetic evaluation using the mean of two days of THI and DTV as fixed effect, improved EBVs and EBVs reliability.

scholarly journals Selection for Test-Day Milk Yield and Thermotolerance in Brazilian Holstein Cattle

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Renata Negri ◽  
Ignacio Aguilar ◽  
Giovani Luis Feltes ◽  
Jaime Araújo Cobuci
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Holstein Cattle ◽  
Environmental Sensitivity ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Selection For

Intense selection for milk yield has increased environmental sensitivity in animals, and currently, heat stress is an expensive problem in dairy farming. The objectives were to identify the best model for characterizing environmental sensitivity in Holstein cattle, using the test-day milk yield (TDMY) combined with the temperature–humidity index (THI), and identify sires genetically superior for heat-stress (HS) tolerance and milk yield, through random regression. The data comprised 94,549 TDMYs of 11,294 first-parity Holstein cows in Brazil, collected from 1997 to 2013. The yield data were fitted to Legendre orthogonal polynomials, linear splines and the Wilmink function. The THI (the average of two days before the dairy control) was used as an environmental gradient. An animal model that fitted production using a Legendre polynomials of quartic order for the days in milk and quadratic equations for the THI presented a better quality of fit (Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC)). The Spearman correlation coefficient of greatest impact was 0.54, between the top 1% for TDMY and top 1% for HS. Only 9% of the sires showed plasticity and an aptitude for joint selection. Thus, despite the small population fraction allowed for joint selection, sufficient genetic variability for selecting more resilient sires was found, which promoted concomitant genetic gains in milk yield and thermotolerance.

scholarly journals Daily vaginal temperature in Girolando cows from three different genetic composition under natural heat stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano de Rezende Carvalheira ◽  
Raphael Rocha Wenceslau ◽  
Lilian dos Santos Ribeiro ◽  
Bruno Campos de Carvalho ◽  
Álan Maia Borges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Genetic Composition ◽  
Tropical Condition ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
Vaginal Temperature

Abstract The present trial evaluated the effect of crossbred composition and Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) on vaginal temperature (VT) of Girolando dairy cows maintained under tropical pasture during warm seasons. The VT was monitored along 41 to 96 h in 615 Girolando cows with different Holstein (H) × Gir genetic composition (1/2 H = 284, 3/4 H = 248, and 7/8 H = 83) from six Brazilian farms in the summer of 2016 and 2017. VT of each cow at each hour of the day and the respective THI were averaged per hour across all monitoring days to generate an averaged value for VT and THI during 24 h. A linear mixed model with repeated measures using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method for (co)variance components estimation procedure was employed. The final model adjusted the VT for the effects of cow, time, THI, farm, year, pregnancy status, body condition score (BCS), milk yield, genetic composition, and genetic composition*time interaction. Fixed effects were evaluated by ANOVA and tested with Tukey test in R software version 3.6.1 (R Core Team, 2019). Overall mean of VT, air temperature (AT), and THI were 39.06 ± 0.52 °C, 25.63 ± 0.40 °C, and 75.06 ± 3.96, respectively. VT had moderate positive correlation with THI (r² = 0.45, P < 0.001) and AT (r² = 0.46, P < 0.001). The VT had estimated linear increase of 0.05 °C for each THI unit increase (P < 0.001). Least square mean of VT varied among the farms (P < 0.001), pregnancy status (P < 0.001), and BCS (P < 0.05) but not for Milk yield (P > 0.05). The daily average VT was affected by genetic composition (P < 0.001) with highest temperature for 3/4 H (39.08 ± 0.06 °C a) and 7/8 H (39.09 ± 0.06 °C a) and lowest temperature for 1/2 H (38.95 ± 0.06 °C b). The difference of VT among the three crossbred groups varied in function of the time of the day, from 12:00 to 20:00 h (P < 0.001), with 3/4 Holstein and 7/8 Holstein cows reaching similar VT, above to the upper limit 39.1 °C and higher than 1/2 Holstein cows during all this period. In conclusion, Girolando cows are sensitive to heat stress in tropical condition during warm seasons. Moreover, Girolando cows with genetic composition higher than 3/4 Holstein display reduced thermoregulatory efficiency. Therefore, Girolando cows in tropical dairy farms require strategies to mitigate heat stress according to their genetic composition.

scholarly journals Recent developments in cattle, pig, sheep and horse breeding - a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Svitáková ◽  
Jitka Schmidová ◽  
Petr Pešek ◽  
Alexandra Novotná
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Genetic Evaluations ◽  
Method Of Evaluation

The aim of this review was to summarize new genetic approaches and techniques in the breeding of cattle, pigs, sheep and horses. Often production and reproductive traits are treated separately in genetic evaluations, but advantages may accrue to their joint evaluation. A good example is the system in pig breeding. Simplified breeding objectives are generally no longer appropriate and consequently becoming increasingly complex. The goal of selection for improved animal performance is to increase the profit of the production system; therefore, economic selection indices are now used in most livestock breeding programmes. Recent developments in dairy cattle breeding have focused on the incorporation of molecular information into genetic evaluations and on increasing the importance of longevity and health in breeding objectives to maximize the change in profit. For a genetic evaluation of meat yield (beef, pig, sheep), several types of information can be used, including data from performance test stations, records from progeny tests and measurements taken at slaughter. The standard genetic evaluation method of evaluation of growth or milk production has been the multi-trait animal model, but a test-day model with random regression is becoming the new standard, in sheep as well. Reviews of molecular genetics and pedigree analyses for performance traits in horses are described. Genome – wide selection is becoming a world standard for dairy cattle, and for other farm animals it is under development.

scholarly journals Test-day or 305-day milk yield for genetic evaluation of Gir cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Junqueira Pereira ◽  
Denise Rocha Ayres ◽  
Mário Luiz Santana Junior ◽  
Lenira El Faro ◽  
Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Random Regression Model ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Yield Record ◽  
Genetic Evaluations ◽  
Dairy Breed

Abstract: The objective of this work was to compare genetic evaluations of milk yield in the Gir breed, in terms of breeding values and their accuracy, using a random regression model applied to test-day records or the traditional model (TM) applied to estimates of 305-day milk yield, as well as to predict genetic trends for parameters of interest. A total of 10,576 first lactations, corresponding to 81,135 test-day (TD) records, were used. Rank correlations between the breeding values (EBVs) predicted with the two models were 0.96. The percentage of animals selected in common was 67 or 82%, respectively, when 1 or 5% of bulls were chosen, according to EBVs from random regression model (RRM) or TM genetic evaluations. Average gains in accuracy of 2.7, 3.0, and 2.6% were observed for all animals, cows with yield record, and bulls (sires of cows with yield record), respectively, when the RRM was used. The mean annual genetic gain for 305-day milk yield was 56 kg after 1993. However, lower increases in the average EBVs were observed for the second regression coefficient, related to persistency. The RRM applied to TD records is efficient for the genetic evaluation of milk yield in the Gir dairy breed.

scholarly journals Fit of different functions to the individual deviations in random regression test day models for milk yield in dairy cattle

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (sup1) ◽  
pp. 153-155
Author(s):  
N. P. P. Macciotta ◽  
F. Miglior ◽  
A. Cappio-Borlino ◽  
L. R. Schaeffer
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Regression Test ◽  
The Individual

RELATIONSHIPS OF REPRODUCTION TRAITS, BODY WEIGHT AND MILK YIELD IN DAIRY CATTLE

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. LEE ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Heritability Estimates ◽  
National Cooperative

The relationships between reproduction traits, body weight and milk yield were investigated using data from 1611 heifers and 733 cows from two lines of the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project. The data were analyzed separately for heifers and cows within lines using a mixed linear model containing fixed effects for station, year of birth, season of birth and random effect of sires. Heritability estimates and genetic correlations were estimated by a paternal half-sib analysis. Heritability estimates for heifer and cow reproduction traits ranged between 0 and 26% while those of body weights at calving and 112 d postpartum and milk yield ranged from 24 to 43%. Heifers with difficult calving had a higher incidence of retained placenta than those with normal calving. Phenotypic correlations between heifer reproduction traits and milk yield during first lactation were small. High milk production in cows was associated with longer calving interval. Phenotypic correlations between heifer's and cow's reproduction traits were small. Difficult calving in heifers impairs reproductive performance after calving resulting in greater number of days from calving to first and last breeding and leading to a longer calving interval. Key words: Reproduction traits, heifers, cows, milk yield, dairy cattle

scholarly journals Risk factors and milk yield losses associated with lameness in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle

animal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 1230-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.M. Onyiro ◽  
J. Offer ◽  
S. Brotherstone
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Holstein Friesian

scholarly journals Milk production, mortality, and economic parameters in the context of heat-stressed dairy cattle.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (062) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Vriezen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Economic Parameters ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As climate change progresses, higher temperatures and longer periods of extreme weather are likely to increasingly impact the production and health of dairy cattle, in turn affecting farm-level profits and economic decision-making. This review identifies and summarizes the currently available research on the effect of climate-related heat stress or heat stress mitigation measures on milk yield, mortality, and economic parameters on dairy farms. A scoping review approach was adopted to map the volume, range, and characteristics of the existing body of evidence and to identify research gaps. Through a comprehensive search, 286 studies published between 2010 and 2020 were identified and underwent data extraction and analysis. These studies were conducted in 46 countries, and encompassed both research and non-research herds as well as simulation models. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) was the most common indicator of heat stress, although a range of atmospheric, physiological, and descriptive indicators were used. Three-quarters of these studies examined at least one heat stress mitigation strategy, such as genetic manipulations, mechanical interventions, and diet manipulation. Approximately 97% of studies evaluated the impact of heat stress on milk yield, and 10% of studies examined at least one economic parameter. Research gaps exist in the analysis of economic parameters related to heat stress in dairy cattle. Given the urgent and increasing nature of climate challenges, additional economic analyses of the effects of heat stress in dairy cattle are needed to inform production and animal health decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

scholarly journals Heat stress modifies the lactational performances and the urinary metabolomic profile related to gastrointestinal microbiota of dairy goats

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Contreras-Jodar ◽  
Nazri Nayan ◽  
Soufiane Hamzaoui ◽  
Gerardo Caja ◽  
Ahmed A.K. Salama
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Metabolomic Profile ◽  
Dairy Goats ◽  
Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽  
Toxic Compounds ◽  
H Nmr

AbstractThe aim of the study was to identify the candidate biomarkers of heat stress (HS) in the urine of lactating dairy goats through the application of proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomic analysis. Dairy does (n = 16) in mid-lactation were submitted to thermal neutral (TN; indoors; 15 to 20°C; 40 to 45% humidity) or HS (climatic chamber; 37°C day, 30°C night; 40% humidity) conditions according to a crossover design (2 periods of 21 days). Thermophysiological traits and lactational performances were recorded and milk composition analyzed during each period. Urine samples were collected at day 15 of each period for 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) assessment with cross validation were used to identify the goat urinary metabolome from Human Metabolome Data Base. HS increased rectal temperature (1.2°C), respiratory rate (3.5-fold) and water intake (74%), but decreased feed intake (35%) and body weight (5%) of the lactating does. No differences were detected in milk yield, but HS decreased the milk contents of fat (9%), protein (16%) and lactose (5%). Metabolomics allowed separating TN and HS urinary clusters by PLS-DA. Most discriminating metabolites were hippurate and other phenylalanine (Phe) derivative compounds, which increased in HS vs. TN does. The greater excretion of these gut-derived toxic compounds indicated that HS induced a harmful gastrointestinal microbiota overgrowth, which should have sequestrated aromatic amino acids for their metabolism and decreased the synthesis of neurotransmitters and thyroid hormones, with negative impact on milk yield and composition. In conclusion, HS markedly changed the thermophysiological traits and lactational performances of dairy goats, which were translated into their urinary metabolomic profile through the presence of gut-derived toxic compounds. Hippurate and other Phe-derivative compounds are suggested as urinary biomarkers to detect heat stressed dairy animals in practice.

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