Effects of genotype and feeding system on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle

McGowan, Michael; Veerkamp, R.F.; Anderson, Lloyd L.

doi:10.1016/0301-6226(96)00010-3

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Their results are close to those of the results observed by McGowan et al (1996) that obtained an increase in the calving-to-last insemination of about 16 days/10 kg of milk. These two results showed a lower effect of MY on the CI than our simulations (about 20 days of CI per 10 kg of milk), but the differences in MY were observed during the first 60 days of lactation for Petersson et al (2006) and the first 182 days of lactation for McGowan et al (1996), whereas the differences studied in our simulations concerned the whole 305 days lactation. Mackey et al (2007) showed a higher effect of MY on the CI, with a difference in CI of 7.8 days/1000 kg increase in 305 days lactation, which correspond to an increase of about 24 days/10 kg of MY.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

An individual reproduction model sensitive to milk yield and body condition in Holstein dairy cows

Brun-Lafleur

Cutullic

Faverdin

et al. 2013

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To simulate the consequences of management in dairy herds, the use of individual-based herd models is very useful and has become common. Reproduction is a key driver of milk production and herd dynamics, whose influence has been magnified by the decrease in reproductive performance over the last decades. Moreover, feeding management influences milk yield (MY) and body reserves, which in turn influence reproductive performance. Therefore, our objective was to build an up-to-date animal reproduction model sensitive to both MY and body condition score (BCS). A dynamic and stochastic individual reproduction model was built mainly from data of a single recent long-term experiment. This model covers the whole reproductive process and is composed of a succession of discrete stochastic events, mainly calving, ovulations, conception and embryonic loss. Each reproductive step is sensitive to MY or BCS levels or changes. The model takes into account recent evolutions of reproductive performance, particularly concerning calving-to-first ovulation interval, cyclicity (normal cycle length, prevalence of prolonged luteal phase), oestrus expression and pregnancy (conception, early and late embryonic loss). A sensitivity analysis of the model to MY and BCS at calving was performed. The simulated performance was compared with observed data from the database used to build the model and from the bibliography to validate the model. Despite comprising a whole series of reproductive steps, the model made it possible to simulate realistic global reproduction outputs. It was able to well simulate the overall reproductive performance observed in farms in terms of both success rate (recalving rate) and reproduction delays (calving interval). This model has the purpose to be integrated in herd simulation models to usefully test the impact of management strategies on herd reproductive performance, and thus on calving patterns and culling rates.Keywords: dairy cow, reproduction, model, milk yield, body condition score Implications This paper describes an up-to-date stochastic reproduction model of Holstein dairy cows. This model is sensitive to both milk production and body reserves and takes into account the recent evolutions of reproductive performance in dairy cows. This model is able to well simulate the overall reproductive performance observed in commercial farms. Therefore, it can be used in dynamic individual-based herd simulation models to anticipate the consequences of management strategies (in terms of reproduction or feeding) on dairy herd demography and global performance.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

An individual reproduction model sensitive to milk yield and body condition in Holstein dairy cows

Brun-Lafleur

Cutullic

Faverdin

et al. 2013

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This was interpreted to imply that G Â E interactions for BCS might become more important in the future if selection for fat plus protein yield alone continues. McGowan et al (1996) showed no significant effect of diet on various reproductive parameters (days to first oestrus, calving interval, number of services per pregnancy) although they showed that heifers fed the high concentrate diet had significantly ( P b 0.05) longer calving intervals than those fed the low concentrate diet. Pryce et al (1999) using a similar data set failed to report any significant G Â E interaction for a range of health (mastitis, metritis, ketosis, retained placenta, milk fever and lameness) and fertility traits (oestrus not observed, conception to first service interval, calving interval, days to first heat, days to first service and days open) although the interaction for calving interval did approach statistical significance at the 10% level.…”

Section: Controlled Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…The herd comprised two genetic groups: a selection line bred to the sires of the highest genetic merit for fat and protein yield available in the UK since 1973, and a control line bred to sires of average national UK genetic merit for fat and protein yield since 1976. Several scientific articles have been published on the existence, or lack thereof, G Â E interactions for milk production (Veerkamp et al, 1995), BCS (Veerkamp et al, 1994), health and fertility (McGowan et al, 1996;Pryce et al, 1999). Veerkamp et al (1994) reported higher milk yields and lower BCS during the first 26 weeks of lactation in selected animals as opposed to control animals on the two different diets.…”

Section: Controlled Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Genotype by environment research studies of the past tended to focus mostly on milk production traits; however, the diversification of breeding objectives across the world (Miglior, 2005) has prompted researchers (Fredeen et al, 1988;Veerkamp et al, 1994;McGowan et al, 1996;Pryce et al, 1999;Buckley et al, 2000) to test for G Â E interactions in ancillary traits. Possible ancillary traits include health (e.g., mastitis, somatic cell count), fertility, conformation, BCS, body weight and many more.…”

Section: Genotype By Environment Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Consequences of genetic selection for increased milk production in European seasonal pasture based systems of milk production

et al. 2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Interestingly, when examining the observed feed effects, Pryce et al (1999) found little overall difference in the reproductive performance between animals fed a high v. a low concentrate. However, working on the same data at Langhill but with a division of records into heifers and Phuong, Blavy, Martin, Schmidely and Friggens multiparous cows over two lactations, McGowan et al (1996) reported that low-concentrate-fed heifers had a better reproductive performance but found the opposite pattern with multiparous cows. In the data of Pryce et al (1999) 34% of records were from heifers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling impacts of performance on the probability of reproducing, and thereby on productive lifespan, allow prediction of lifetime efficiency in dairy cows

Phuong

Blavy

Martin

et al. 2016

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reproductive success is a key component of lifetime efficiency -which is the ratio of energy in milk (MJ) to energy intake (MJ) over the lifespan, of cows. At the animal level, breeding and feeding management can substantially impact milk yield, body condition and energy balance of cows, which are known as major contributors to reproductive failure in dairy cattle. This study extended an existing lifetime performance model to incorporate the impacts that performance changes due to changing breeding and feeding strategies have on the probability of reproducing and thereby on the productive lifespan, and thus allow the prediction of a cow's lifetime efficiency. The model is dynamic and stochastic, with an individual cow being the unit modelled and one day being the unit of time. To evaluate the model, data from a French study including Holstein and Normande cows fed high-concentrate diets and data from a Scottish study including Holstein cows selected for high and average genetic merit for fat plus protein that were fed high-v. low-concentrate diets were used. Generally, the model consistently simulated productive and reproductive performance of various genotypes of cows across feeding systems. In the French data, the model adequately simulated the reproductive performance of Holsteins but significantly under-predicted that of Normande cows. In the Scottish data, conception to first service was comparably simulated, whereas interval traits were slightly under-predicted. Selection for greater milk production impaired the reproductive performance and lifespan but not lifetime efficiency. The definition of lifetime efficiency used in this model did not include associated costs or herd-level effects. Further works should include such economic indicators to allow more accurate simulation of lifetime profitability in different production scenarios.Keywords: dairy cow, lifetime efficiency, productive lifespan, reproduction, nutrient partitioning Implications This paper extended an existing lifetime performance model to incorporate the impacts that varying milk yield, energy balance and body condition have on the probability of reproducing and the productive lifespan, thereby allowing prediction of a cow's lifetime efficiency. The model adequately simulated the productive and reproductive performance of various genotypes of cows across feeding systems. Thus, it can be used to study the effect of future selection and management on animal performance and efficiency.

show abstract

Effects of genotype and feeding system on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle

Cited by 21 publications

References 17 publications

An individual reproduction model sensitive to milk yield and body condition in Holstein dairy cows

An individual reproduction model sensitive to milk yield and body condition in Holstein dairy cows

Consequences of genetic selection for increased milk production in European seasonal pasture based systems of milk production

Modelling impacts of performance on the probability of reproducing, and thereby on productive lifespan, allow prediction of lifetime efficiency in dairy cows

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About