Genetic Selection for Health Traits Using Producer-Recorded Data. I. Incidence Rates, Heritability Estimates, and Sire Breeding Values

Zwald, N.R.; Weigel, K.A.; Chang, Yu‐Mei; Welper, R.D.; Clay, J.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(04)73573-0

Cited by 205 publications

(247 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Heritability estimates of locomotion scores either for diagnosing lameness (Van Dorp et al, 2004) or as a linear trait assessed as part of a linear type classification scheme Laursen et al, 2009;van der Linde et al, 2010) range from 0.05 to 0.14. Heritability of lameness itself has been estimated to range from 0.07 to 0.10 (Boettcher et al, 1998;Pryce et al, 1999;Zwald et al, 2004). Early heritability estimates of specific foot diseases/lesions (Koenig et al, 2005;van der Waaij et al, 2005) ranged from 0.01 to 0.11; more recent ones range from 0.03 to 0.07 van der Linde et al, 2010;Buch et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profile and genetic parameters of dairy cattle locomotion score and lameness across lactation

Kougioumtzis

Valergakis

Oikonomou

et al. 2014

Animal

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This study investigated the profile of locomotion score and lameness before the first calving and throughout the first (n = 237) and second (n = 66) lactation of 303 Holstein cows raised on a commercial farm. Weekly heritability estimates of locomotion score and lameness, and their genetic and phenotypic correlations with milk yield, body condition score, BW and reproduction traits were derived. Daughter future locomotion score and lameness predictions from their sires' breeding values for conformation traits were also calculated. First-lactation cows were monitored weekly from 6 weeks before calving to the end of lactation. Second-lactation cows were monitored weekly throughout lactation. Cows were locomotion scored on a scale from one (sound) to five (severely lame); a score greater than or equal to two defined presence of lameness. Cows' weekly body condition score and BW was also recorded. These records were matched to corresponding milk yield records, where the latter were 7-day averages on the week of inspection. The total number of repeated records amounted to 12 221. Data were also matched to the farm's reproduction database, from which five traits were derived. Statistical analyses were based on uni-and bivariate random regression models. The profile analysis showed that locomotion and lameness problems in first lactation were fewer before and immediately after calving, and increased as lactation progressed. The profile of the two traits remained relatively constant across the second lactation. Highest heritability estimates were observed in the weeks before first calving (0.66 for locomotion score and 0.54 for lameness). Statistically significant genetic correlations were found for first lactation weekly locomotion score and lameness with body condition score, ranging from −0.31 to −0.65 and from −0.44 to −0.76, respectively, suggesting that cows genetically pre-disposed for high body condition score have fewer locomotion and lameness issues. Negative (favourable) phenotypic correlations between first lactation weekly locomotion score/lameness and milk yield averaged −0.27 and −0.17, respectively, and were attributed to management factors. Also a phenotypic correlation between lameness and conception rate of −0.19 indicated that lame cows were associated with lower success at conceiving. First-lactation daughter locomotion score and/or lameness predictions from sires' estimated breeding values for conformation traits revealed a significant linear effect of rear leg side view, rear leg rear view, overall conformation, body condition score and locomotion, and a quadratic effect of foot angle.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profile and genetic parameters of dairy cattle locomotion score and lameness across lactation

Kougioumtzis

Valergakis

Oikonomou

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…Dealing with producer-recorded data requires a good sampling system, as the recording accuracy may vary from herd to herd (Zwald et al, 2004a). Thus, proper editing of health data for the use in genetic analyses is of utmost importance.…”

Section: Data Editsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A genetic component exists for most diseases (e.g. Zwald et al, 2004a); however, this aspect has not been given much attention in the dairy industry. Apart from the use of somatic cell score as an indicator trait to improve resistance to mastitis (MAST), direct selection for health has been limited to Nordic countries (Osteras et al, 2007;Steine et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Health data recording is difficult and expensive, as exact diagnoses and follow-ups should be carried out in a large population. Health traits have generally low heritabilities (Mä ntysaari et al, 1993;Uribe et al, 1995;Zwald et al, 2004a;Heringstad et al, 2005;Heringstad, 2010;Koeck et al, 2010). Information from a relatively large number of cows and herds over several years is therefore required to obtain reliable estimates of breeding values of sires.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some health data analyses have already applied threshold model methodology (e.g. Uribe et al, 1995;Zwald et al, 2004a and2004b;Heringstad, 2010;Koeck et al, 2010) whereas a linear model approach (although not optimal) is also used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic parameters for producer-recorded health data in Canadian Holstein cattle

Neuenschwander

Miglior

Jamrozik

et al. 2012

Animal

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Health traits are of paramount importance for economic dairy production. Improvement in liability to diseases has been made with better management practices, but genetic aspects of health traits have received less attention. Dairy producers in Canada have been recording eight health traits (mastitis (MAST), lameness (LAME), cystic ovarian disease (COD), left displaced abomasum (LDA), ketosis (KET), metritis (MET), milk fever (MF) and retained placenta (RP)) since April 2007. Genetic analyses of these traits were carried out in this study for the Holstein breed. Edits on herd distributions of recorded diseases were applied to the data to ensure a sufficient quality of recording. Traits were analysed either individually (MAST, LAME, COD) or were grouped according to biological similarities (LDA and KET, and MET, MF and RP) and analysed with multiple-trait models. Data included 46 104 cases of any of the above diseases. Incidence ranged from 2.3% for MF to 9.7% for MAST. MET and KET also had an incidence below 4.0%. Variance components were estimated using four different sire threshold models. The differences between models resulted from the inclusion of days at risk (DAR) and a cow effect, in addition to herd, parity and sire effects. Models were compared using mean squared error statistic. Mean squared error favoured, in general, the sire and cow within sire model with regression on DAR included. Heritabilities on the liability scale were between 0.02 (MET) and 0.21 (LDA). There was a moderate, positive genetic correlation between LDA and KET (0.58), and between MET and RP (0.79).

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Diseases that Affect the Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle

Meléndez

2011

Dairy Production Medicine

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From an economic point of view, a successful reproductive program on a dairy farm increases the number of pregnant animals in a timely manner at the end of the voluntary waiting period. Peripartal diseases and those that occur during lactation disturb this process by affecting health, delaying resumption of cyclicity, and lowering conception risk and embryo survival. This chapter discusses common diseases that affect the reproductive process of lactating dairy cows.

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Genetic Selection for Health Traits Using Producer-Recorded Data. I. Incidence Rates, Heritability Estimates, and Sire Breeding Values

Cited by 205 publications

References 15 publications

Profile and genetic parameters of dairy cattle locomotion score and lameness across lactation

Profile and genetic parameters of dairy cattle locomotion score and lameness across lactation

Genetic parameters for producer-recorded health data in Canadian Holstein cattle

Diseases that Affect the Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle

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