Genetic and environmental parameters for milk production, udder health, and fertility traits in Mexican Holstein cows

Abstract

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for Mexican Holstein cows were estimated for first- to third-parity cows with records from 1998 to 2003 (n=2,971-15,927) for 305-d mature equivalent milk production (MEM), fat production (MEF), and protein production (MEP), somatic cell score (SCS), subsequent calving interval (CAI), and age at first calving (AFC). Genetic parameters were obtained by average information matrix-REML methodology using 6-trait (first-parity data) and 5-trait (second- and third-parity data) animal models. Heritability estimates for production traits were between 0.17+/-0.02 and 0.23+/-0.02 for first- and second-parity cows and between 0.12+/-0.03 and 0.13+/-0.03 for third-parity cows. Heritability estimates for SCS were similar for all parities (0.10+/-0.02 to 0.11+/-0.03). For CAI, estimates of heritability were 0.01+/-0.05 for third-parity cows and 0.02+/-0.02 for second-parity cows. The heritability for AFC was moderate (0.28+/-0.03). No unfavorable estimates of correlations were found among MEM, MEF, MEP, CAI, and SCS. Estimates of environmental and phenotypic correlations were large and positive among production traits; favorable between SCS and CAI; slightly favorable between MEM, MEF, and MEP and SCS, between AFC and SCS, and between SCS and CAI; and small but unfavorable between production traits and CAI. Estimates of genetic variation and heritability indicate that selection would result in genetic improvement of production traits, AFC, and SCS. Estimates of both heritability and genetic variation for CAI were small, which indicates that genetic improvement would be difficult.

Effect of Number of Lactation Records on the Selection Rates in Holstein Dairy Cattle

“…Heritabilities for milk yields, milk fat and protein yields were highest at the first lactation (0.28, 0.24 and 0.27, respectively), but decreased to 0.14, 0.15 and 0.13 at the third lactation. These are similar results to those of previous reports (Powell and Norman, 1981;Montaldo et al, 2010).…”

Parámetros genéticos para producción de leche de ganado Holstein en dos modalidades de control de producción

“…Heritability estimates in this work for MP1 of the MHA and NBPD are similar to those obtained by Montaldo et al (26) of 0.17 ± 0.02, and higher than the estimation obtained by Valencia et al (6) of 0.13 ± 0.03 for Holstein cattle in Mexico, while the heritability for MP1 of the NBDI is in the rank calculated by Mark (4) of 0.19 to 0.59 and the estimations of other countries (4,(27)(28)(29) .…”

“…La PL1std mostró heredabilidades para la AHM de 0.228 ± 0.017, para el PNMG un valor intermedio de 0.262 ± 0.012 y para el BNIL el valor más alto con 0.350 ± 0.017. Las heredabilidades estimadas en este trabajo para PL1 de la AHM y el PNMG son similares a la obtenida por Montaldo et al (26) de 0.17 ± 0.02 y mayores a la obtenida por Valencia et al (6) de 0.13 ± 0.03 para ganado Holstein en México, mientras que la heredabilidad para PL1 de la BNIL se encuentra en el rango calculado por Mark (4) de 0.19 a 0.59 y las estimadas en otros países (4,27,28,29) .…”

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for 305 Days Milk Yields and Calving Interval in Xinjiang Brown Cattle

“…It is necessary that genetic parameter was estimated for the important economic trait in dairy cattle, and it has great significance for drawing up breeding scheme, implementing efficient breeding programs, predicting selection effect and explaining genetic mechanism in large-scale dairy farm [2]. On the one hand, the researcher can apply phenotypic value to deduce and estimate breeding value.…”