Relationships between functional herd life and conformation traits in the South African Jersey breed

Abstract

________________________________________________________________________________ AbstractThe genetic relationship between conformation traits and functional herd life of the South African Jersey population was investigated. Data on conformation traits (n = 46 238) and functional herd life (n = 90 530) on registered South African Jersey cows calving between 1989 and 2008 were obtained from the Integrated Registration and Genetic Information System. Conformation traits were scored using a subjective linear scoring system ranging from 1 to 9, except for foot angle, with a maximum score of 8. Conformation traits included stature, chest width, body depth, dairy strength, rump angle, thurl width, rear leg side view, foot angle, fore udder attachment, rear udder height, rear udder width, udder support, udder depth, front teat placement, rear teat placement and front teat length. Genetic correlations between conformation traits and functional herd life were estimated by a series of bivariate analyses. Significant moderate to strong positive genetic correlations between most udder traits and functional herd life (0.23 to 0.63) were estimated. The most important udder traits related to functional herd life were fore udder attachment, rear udder height and udder depth. Most of the body structure traits had a low to moderate negative correlation with functional herd life (-0.04 to -0.27). However, rump angle and foot angle were estimated to have a moderate positive genetic correlation with functional herd life. The genetic relationships between functional herd life and conformation traits in the South African Jersey breed indicate that conformation traits could be used to enhance the accuracy of genetic evaluation for functional herd life. It is therefore recommended that current national genetic evaluation for functional herd life in the South African Jersey breed should include conformation traits. ________________________________________________________________________________

Genetic relationships of alternative somatic cell count traits with milk yield, composition and udder type traits in Italian Jersey cows

“…Sneddon, Lopez‐Villalobos, Hickson, and Shalloo () assessed heritabilities of 0.50 for milk yield, and 0.33, 0.58 and 0.64, for fat, protein and lactose percentages, respectively. Heritabilities of udder type traits agreed with findings of du Toit, van Wyk, and Maiwashe () for South African Jersey breed and were slightly lower than estimates of Gengler, Wiggans, Wright, Norman, and Wolfe (), who reported heritabilities of udder traits in the range from 0.20 to 0.30. Moreover, heritability estimates of udder type traits of this study were consistent with those reported by Cassandro, Battagin, Penasa, and De Marchi () for Holstein Friesian and Dal Zotto et al.…”

Influence of Legs and Udder Evaluation on Longevity and Selected Milk Production Parameters in Czech Fleckvieh and Montbeliarde Cattle

“…According to this author, the udder formation showed the strongest correlation to length of production life from all the complex characteristics of animal linear description. These results were also confirmed by Strapák et al (2010), du Toit et al (2012 and Fűrst (2008). Significantly higher average lactation at culling was observed in crossbred compared to purebred C and I.…”

“…Highly fixed udder and teats placed in the middle of quarters are an advantage for ensuring the health of mammary gland (Ondráková, 2013). Udder depth is the most important trait influencing cow's longevity (Strapák et al, 2010;du Toit et al, 2012). Bucek and Ondráková (2011) found positive relationship between udder depth and somatic cell count in milk.…”

Association Between Linear Traits of Legs and Longevity of Ukrainian Brown Dairy Cows

“…Considering existence a different level of positive correlation between linear type traits and longevity indicators (Vacek et al 2006;Zavadilová et al 2009;Morek-Kopec and Zarnecki 2012;J. du Toit et al 2012;Kern et al 2015), a sufficient heritability level of conformation traits (Wiggans et al, 2006;de Haas et al, 2007) and the ability to score animals in the first lactation, linear type traits can be used as predictors of longevity (Vukasinovic 2002;Esteves et al, 2004); Getu and Misganaw 2015).…”

“…du Toit et al 2012;Kern et al 2015), a sufficient heritability level of conformation traits (Wiggans et al, 2006;de Haas et al, 2007) and the ability to score animals in the first lactation, linear type traits can be used as predictors of longevity (Vukasinovic 2002;Esteves et al, 2004); Getu and Misganaw 2015). Numerous scientific studies have proven the longevity of dairy cows as an indicator of health, animal welfare and a sustainable system of milk production (VanRaden and Wiggans 1995;Essl 1998;Sewalem et al, 2005;Zavadilová et al 2009;Du Toit et al, 2012;Olechnowicz et al, 2016;).…”