The Role of Conformational Traits on Dairy Cattle Production and Their Longevities

Abstract

The dairy industry faces a unique challenge to constantly improve functionality of the dairy cows to meet the needs of future production and reproduction demands. The basis of improvements is selection of the best animals. The accuracy of selection can be increased by using the combined analysis of both direct information on herd life and indirect information obtained from conformation traits. Generally, conformation traits are important in dairy cattle development. These traits are used for selection of animals through creating the predict equation based on the independent variable and assuring selection of the superior animal with its important trait. The functional conformation traits that influence or facilitate the longevity and reproduction status of dairy cows are the appearance of udder conformation, feet and leg conformation, thoracic and abdominal body conformation, and rump and loin structure. The relationship between conformation traits with milk production and reproduction traits might be different among breeds, which could have implications for the use of conformation traits in different dairy cattle breeding programmes. The estimated correlations between longevity and different conformation traits are also varying with breeds.

Predicting survival in dairy cattle by combining genomic breeding values and phenotypic information

“…The exterior score gEBV selected in this study were mostly related to size. Body size has been associated with longevity and efficiency (Getu and Misganaw, 2015;Kern et al, 2015); however, the direction of the associations found varied, and some studies find no effect at all (Sewalem et al, 2004). Even when studies find negative associations, culling decisions may be influenced by a (regional) farmer preference for larger cows (Hansen et al, 1999;Caraviello et al, 2004).…”

Number of services per conseption and its relationship with dairy cow productive and reproductive traits

“…From the length of CI we can make assumptions about the individual cow and herd reproductive health and about the cow's efficiency in herd (Pryce et al, 2004;Bujko et al, 2013). For analyzed cows, the average CI was 399.6 days long (from the third to fourth lactation for LB breed cows) to 407.3 days long (from the fourth to fifth lactation for HBW breed cows), furthermore, LB breed cows in all lactations had shorter CI than HBW breed cows.…”

“…In the second lactation, between calving ages of cows in the first and fourth group appeared difference of 156.6 than that for LB breed cows. Studies show that the breed of cows and cow milk productivity are the main factors that show the biggest impact on NSPC in different lactations, because of the tendency to repeat service for cows with higher milk productivity (Cummins et al, 2012;Bujko et al, 2013). The main environmental factor that affects NSPC is the heat detection system in the farm.…”

“…3→4 4→5 Bujko et al, 2013). The main environmental factor that affects NSPC is the heat detection system in the farm.…”

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). 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;).…”