Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:32:37.506Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Genetic parameters for first lactation test-day milk flow in Holstein cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2011

M. M. M. Laureano*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Parintins, 69.152-450, Amazonas, Brazil
A. B. Bignardi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14.884-900 São Paulo, Brazil
L. El Faro
Affiliation:
Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios – APTA, Pólo Regional Centro Leste, Ribeirão Preto, 14.001-970 São Paulo, Brazil
V. L. Cardoso
Affiliation:
Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios – APTA, Pólo Regional Centro Leste, Ribeirão Preto, 14.001-970 São Paulo, Brazil
L. G. Albuquerque
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14.884-900 São Paulo, Brazil Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia—Ciência Animal, Brazil
*
Get access

Abstract

Genetic parameters for test-day milk flow (TDMF) of 2175 first lactations of Holstein cows were estimated using multiple-trait and repeatability models. The models included the direct additive genetic effect as a random effect and contemporary group (defined as the year and month of test) and age of cow at calving (linear and quadratic effect) as fixed effects. For the repeatability model, in addition to the effects cited, the permanent environmental effect of the animal was also included as a random effect. Variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method in single- and multiple-trait and repeatability analyses. The heritability estimates for TDMF ranged from 0.23 (TDMF 6) to 0.32 (TDMF 2 and TDMF 4) in single-trait analysis and from 0.28 (TDMF 7 and TDMF 10) to 0.37 (TDMF 4) in multiple-trait analysis. In general, higher heritabilities were observed at the beginning of lactation until the fourth month. Heritability estimated with the repeatability model was 0.27 and the coefficient of repeatability for first lactation TDMF was 0.66. The genetic correlations were positive and ranged from 0.72 (TDMF 1 and 10) to 0.97 (TDMF 4 and 5). The results indicate that milk flow should respond satisfactorily to selection, promoting rapid genetic gains because the estimated heritabilities were moderate to high. Higher genetic gains might be obtained if selection was performed in the TDMF 4. Both the repeatability model and the multiple-trait model are adequate for the genetic evaluation of animals in terms of milk flow, but the latter provides more accurate estimates of breeding values.

Type
Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Boettcher, PJ, Dekkers, JCM, Kolstad, BW 1998. Development of an udder health index for sire selection based on somatic cell score, udder conformation, and milking speed. Journal Dairy Science 81, 11571168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bagnato, A, Rossoni, A, Maltecca, C, Vigo, D, Ghiroldi, S 2003. Milk emission curves in different parities in Italian Brown Swiss cattle. Italian Journal Animal Science 2, 4648.Google Scholar
Bignardi, AB, El Faro, L, Albuquerque, LG, Cardoso, VL, Machado, PF 2008. Modelos de dimensão finita para a estimação de parâmetros genéticos para a produção de leite de primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Holandesa. Ciência Rural 38, 17051710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boldman, KG, Kriese, LA, Van Vleck, LD, Van Tessel, CP, Kachman, SD 1995. A manual for use of MTDFREML: a set of programs to obtain estimates of variance and (co)variance (DRAFT). Lincoln, USDA/ARS.Google Scholar
Dukes, HH 1996. Fisiologia dos animais domésticos, 11th edition. Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Koogan.Google Scholar
El Faro, L, Albuquerque, LG 2003. Estimação de parâmetros genéticos para produção de leite no dia do controle e para a produção acumulada até 305 dias, para as primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Holandesa. Revista Brasileira Zootecnia 32, 284294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferreira, WJ, Teixeira, NM, Euclydes, RF, Verneque, RS, Lopes, PS, Torres, RA, Wenceslau, AA, Silva, MVGS, Magalhaes, MN Jr 2003. Avaliação genética de bovinos da raça holandesa usando a produção de leite no dia do controle. Revista Brasileira Zootecnia 32, 295303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammami, H, Rekik, B, Soyeurt, H, Ben Gara, A, Gengler, N 2008. Genetic parameters for Tunisian Holsteins using a test-day random regression model. Journal Dairy Science 91, 21182126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melo, CMR, Packer, IU, Costa, CN, Machado, PF 2005. Parâmetros genéticos para as produções de leite no dia do controle e da primeira lactação de vacas da raça Holandesa. Revista Brasileira Zootecnia 34, 796806.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyer, K 1991. Estimating variances and covariances for multivariate animal models by restricted maximum likelihood. Genetics Selection Evolution 23, 6783.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miglior, F, Gong, W, Wang, Y, Kistemaker, GJ, Sewalem, A, Jamrozik, J 2009. Genetic parameters of production traits in Chinese Holsteins using a random regression test-day model. Journal Dairy Science 92, 46974706.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Misztal, I 2001. RELMF90 Manual. Retrieved February 7, 2008 from http://nce.ads.uga.edu/~ignacy/newprograms.html/.Google Scholar
Njubi, DM, Wakhungu, JW, Badamana, MS 2010. Use of test-day records to predict first lactation 305-day milk yield using artificial neural network in Kenyan Holstein–Friesian dairy cows. Tropical Animal Health and Production 42, 639644.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Povinelli, M, Romani, C, Degano, L, Cassandro, M, Dal Zotto, R, Bittante, G 2003. Sources of variation and heritability estimates for milking speed in Italian Brown cows. Italian Journal Animal Science 2, 7072.Google Scholar
Rensing, S, Ruten, W 2005. Genetic evaluation for milking speed in German Holstein population using different traits in a multiple trait repeatability model. INTERBULL MEETING Proceedings, Uppsala, Sweden, June 2–4, 2005, Bulletin 33, pp. 167–170.Google Scholar
Seykora, AJ, Mcdaniel, BT 1985. Heritabilities of teat traits and their relationships with milk yield, somatic cell count, and percentage of two-minute milk. Journal Dairy Science 68, 26702683.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vicario, D, Degano, L Carnier, P, 2006. Test-day model for national genetic evaluation of somatic cell count in Italian Simmental Population. INTERBULL Meeting Proceedings, Uppsala, Sweden, Bulletin 33, pp. 171–175.Google Scholar
Zwald, NR, Weigel, KA, Chang, YM, Welper, RD, Clay, JS 2005. Genetic evaluation of dairy sires for milking duration using electronically recorded milking times of their daughters. Journal Dairy Science 88, 11921198.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed