Abstract
The aim of the study was to estimate genetic correlations among functional longevity, conception rate of heifers and of lactating cows, somatic cell score, clinical mastitis, udder depth and udder balance in Montbéliarde breed. Bivariate random regression sire models including a pedigree or a genomic relationship matrix were used to compute (co)variance components. Genetic correlations obtained including genomic information were consistent with those estimated using the pedigree relationship matrix. Conception rate, somatic cell score, clinical mastitis and udder depth showed moderate to high genetic correlations with functional longevity, suggesting that they can be good indirect predictors of the length of productive life when included in a combined genomic evaluation. In addition, the large genetic correlations among the two udder health traits and udder depth indicate that they can improve the prediction of the other traits in a multi-trait single-step model.
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