Genetic correlations between milk production traits and somatic cell scores on test day within and across first and second lactations in Holstein cows

Abstract

The genetic correlations between milk production traits (daily milk yield, 305-day milk yield, and lactation persistency as the difference between milk yields at days 240 and 60) and daily somatic cell score (SCS) within and across first and second lactations in Holstein cows were estimated by using a multiple trait test day (TD) animal model. The data set consisted of 200,095 TD milk and SCS records from 21,238 cows in their first lactations and 143,051 records from 15,281 cows in their second. Data were analyzed by using a two-trait, two-lactation random regression animal model. Genetic correlations between daily SCS and milk production traits were estimated from additive genetic variance component estimates of random regression coefficients. Genetic correlations between daily milk yield in first lactation and daily SCS in both lactations were positive and peaked in early lactation stage. In contrast, the genetic correlations between persistency and daily SCS in both lactations were negative, except in very early lactation stage. These correlations suggested that focusing selection on increasing milk yield early in the first lactation would likely increase SCS, whereas selecting for increased persistency would decrease SCS during both lactations. The genetic correlations between 305-day milk yield and persistency were positive within and across the first and second lactations. These results suggested that selection for lactation persistency could help to increase lactation yield overall in the first and second lactations without increasing SCS.