Lifetime Milk Yield Research Articles

Preweaning milk replacer intake and effects on long-term productivity of dairy calves

The preweaning management of dairy calves over the last 30 yr has focused on mortality, early weaning, and rumen development. Recent studies suggest that nutrient intake from milk or milk replacer during the preweaning period alters the phenotypic expression for milk yield. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutrient intake from milk replacer and pre- and postweaning growth rate with lactation performance in the Cornell dairy herd and a commercial dairy farm. The analysis was conducted using traditional 305-d first-lactation milk yield and residual lactation yield estimates from a test-day model (TDM) to analyze the lactation records over multiple lactations. The overall objective of the calf nutrition program in both herds was to double the birth weight of calves by weaning through increased milk replacer and starter intake. First-lactation 305-d milk yield and residuals from the TDM were generated from 1,244 and 624 heifers from the Cornell herd and from the commercial farm, respectively. The TDM was used to generate lactation residuals after accounting for the effects of test day, calving season, days in milk, days pregnant, lactation number, and year. In addition, lactation residuals were generated for cattle with multiple lactations to determine if the effect of preweaning nutrition could be associated with lifetime milk yield. Factors such as preweaning average daily gain (ADG), energy intake from milk replacer as a multiple of maintenance, and other growth outcomes and management variables were regressed on TDM milk yield data. In the Cornell herd, preweaning ADG, ranged from 0.10 to 1.58kg, and was significantly correlated with first-lactation yield; for every 1kg of preweaning ADG, heifers, on average, produced 850kg more milk during their first lactation and 235kg more milk for every Mcal of metabolizable energy intake above maintenance. In the commercial herd, for every 1kg of preweaning ADG, milk yield increased by 1,113kg in the first lactation and further, every 1kg of prepubertal ADG was associated with a 3,281kg increase in first-lactation milk yield. Among the 2 herds, preweaning ADG accounted for 22% of the variation in first-lactation milk yield as analyzed with the TDM. These results indicate that increased growth rate before weaning results in some form of epigenetic programming that is yet to be understood, but has positive effects on lactation milk yield. This analysis identifies nutrition and management of the preweaned calf as major environmental factors influencing the expression of the genetic capacity of the animal for milk yield.

Milk production performance of Jersey cows at Wolaita Sodo State Dairy Farm, Southern Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Wolaita Sodo State Dairy Farm to determine the milk yield, lactation length and productive herd life of Jersey cattle, and also the potential factors affecting these parameters. The Jersey cattle in the study farm were mainly kept on pastureland and with some supplementary feeds. The result of this study revealed that the overall mean values of milk yield, lactation length and lifetime milk yield were 1691.59 kg, 318.42 days and 5565.19 kg respectively. Milk yield, lactation and lactation length were significantly affected by year of calving and cattle source (p

Artificial Neural Network versus Multiple Regression Analysis for Prediction of Lifetime Milk Production in Sahiwal Cattle

Gandhi, R.S., Raja, T.V., Ruhil, A.P. and Kumar, A. 2010. Artificial neural network versus multiple regression analysis for prediction of lifetime milk production in Sahiwal cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 233–237. First lactation records (1493) of Sahiwal cows comprising of age at first calving, first lactation 305-d or less milk yield, first lactation length, first service period and first dry period were analyzed to predict the lifetime milk production using multiple regression analysis (MRA) and artificial neural network (ANN). The data was divided into three sets i.e. cows retained in the herd up to first three parities (set I), 4th to 6th parities (set II) and more than 6th parities (set III). The accuracy of prediction of lifetime milk production in MRA was lower than the accuracy of ANN in all the test data sets. Also, the root mean square errors of prediction were lower from ANN in comparison to MRA. Higher estimates of accuracy of prediction of lifetime milk yield from ANN in comparison to MRA in both the data sets revealed that this methodology can be used as an alternate approach to predict lifetime milk production.

Effect of a plasma-derived colostrum replacement feeding program on adult performance and longevity in Holstein cows

To evaluate longevity, milk production, and breeding performance in adult Holstein cows fed either a plasma-derived commercial colostrum replacer (CR) or raw bovine maternal colostrum (MC) at birth. Randomized controlled clinical trial. 497 heifer calves born in 12 commercial dairies located in Minnesota and Wisconsin. All calves were separated from their dams within 30 to 60 minutes after birth and systematically assigned to be fed either MC (control group [n = 261 calves]) or CR (treatment group [236]). Calves were observed from birth up to adulthood (approx 54 months old), during which time death and culling events plus milk yield and breeding performance data were collected. Time to death, time to culling, time to death or culling combined, time to first calving, and time to conception intervals were evaluated by use of proportional hazards survival analysis models. Number of times inseminated per conception and lifetime milk yield (up to 54 months old) were evaluated by use of general linear models. Cows fed CR as calves at the time of birth were no different than cows fed MC as calves with respect to overall risk of death, culling, or death or culling combined (from birth to 54 months of follow-up and from first calving to 54 months old); lifetime milk yield; and breeding performance. No difference was detected in overall risk of death or culling, milk production, or reproductive performance between cows fed CR and those fed MC as calves at birth.

Effect of first lactation milk yield on efficiency of cows in herds with different production levels

Abstract. Lifetime performance was analysed in 6 981 Black and White cows with different proportion of Holstein Friesian inheritance from the active population in the Kujawsko- Pomorskie province according to first lactation yield. It was shown that from the viewpoint of lifetime efficiency, the optimum milk yield of first calvers depends on the milk yield level of the herd. In herds with ≤5 000 kg milk production, the best efficiency was shown by the cows that produced 6 001–7 000 kg milk as first calvers. A decrease in lifetime milk yield, reduced life span and length of productive life, and lower fertility should be taken into account for more efficient first calvers. In herds with 5 000–6 500 and >6 500 kg milk production, lifetime milk yield and milk yield per day of (productive) life increased with increased first lactation milk yield, while fertility deteriorated.

Genetic evaluation of Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian in central Ethiopia: milk production traits

Breed additive and non-additive effects, and genetic parameters of lactation milk yield (LYD), 305-day milk yield (305YD), lactation length (LL), milk yield per day of lactation (DM) and lifetime milk yield (LTYD) were estimated in Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein in central Ethiopia. The data analyzed included 2360 lactation records spread over 15 years. Ethiopian Boran cattle were consistently inferior (P < 0.01) to the Ethiopian Boran–Holstein crosses for the dairy traits studied. When the crosses were compared, LYD, 305YD and DM were higher (P < 0.01) for 75% and 87.5% crosses compared to 50% and 62.5% ones. However, the 50% crosses had higher (P < 0.01) LTYD than the other genetic groups. The individual additive genetic breed differences for milk production traits were all significant (P < 0.01). The estimates, in favor of Holstein, were 2055 ± 192 kg for LYD, 1776 ± 142 kg for 305YD, 108 ± 24 days for LL, 5.9 ± 0.5 kg for DM and 3353 ± 1294 kg for LTYD. Crossbreeding of the Holstein with the Ethiopian Boran resulted in desirable and significant (P < 0.01) individual heterosis for all milk production traits. The heterosis estimates were, 529 ± 98, 427 ± 72 kg, 44 ± 12 days 1.47 ± 0.23 kg and 3337 ± 681 kg, for LYD, 305YD, LL, DM and LTYD, respectively. The maternal heterotic effects were non-significant (P > 0.05) for all traits. Heritabilities of LYD, 305YD, LL, DM and LTYD for Ethiopian Boran were 0.20 ± 0.03, 0.18 ± 0.03, 0.26 ± 0.03, 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.02 ± 0.04, respectively. The corresponding estimates for crosses were 0.10 ± 0.002, 0.11 ± 0.003, 0.63 ± 0.02, 0.45 ± 1.05 and 0.24 ± 0.11, respectively. Selection within each of the genetic groups and crossbreeding should substantially improve the milk production potential of the Ethiopian Boran breed under such production system.

Optimum Model for Analyzing Lifetime Profitability of Holstein Cows

This study was on the relative net income (RNI) for 18,286 Iranian Holstein cows from 799 herds, with first freshening between 1991 and 2000. Two kinds of production system, which differed mainly in milk pricing system and feed cost, were considered. Four different models adopted from the literature were examined to find the optimum model. They differed by the cost of rearing and growth after first calving and they needed different amounts of economic data at the farm level. Results showed that four measures of RNI were highly correlated (>0.96) and could be used equally to measure lifetime profitability of cows. Therefore, in herds without a regular system for recording economic and management data, use of the simplest model is recommended. Multiple regression analysis revealed that RNI was affected by age at first freshening, milk yield and days of productive life (DPL), regardless of production system, and a similar breeding goal could be defined for the two systems. Multiple regression analysis of RNI showed that in order to obtain an unbiased estimate of economic value for DPL, the per day milk yield, not total lifetime milk yield, should be included in the regression model along with DPL. Regression analysis suggested that it is possible to predict RNI using information on age at first freshening along with the length of first lactation and per day milk yield with a coefficient of determination ranging from 0.44 to 0.47.

Production laitière et performances de reproduction des vaches Montbéliardes en région semi-aride algérienne

L’objectif de cette étude a été de comparer les performances de génisses de race Montbéliarde importées et de trois générations successives de femelles de même race nées en région semi-aride algérienne. Sous l’effet des pratiques d’élevage et de l’environnement, le poids moyen du nouveau-né et de l’adulte à partir de la quatrième génération a été inférieur à celui enregistré dans le pays d’origine. L’intervalle entre vêlages, et la production laitière (2 200 à 3 250 kg) et sa durée (282 à 309 jours) ont varié en fonction de l’effet des fluctuations des pluies sur les ressources. Les vaches importées ont produit entre 20 et 30 p. 100 de lait en plus que celles nées localement, mais leurs performances de reproduction ont été inférieures. Leurs intervalles entre vêlage et fécondation (153 jours), et entre vêlages (441 jours) ont été respectivement plus étendus de 36 à 44 jours et de 41 à 49 jours. Les générations nées localement ont présenté un intervalle entre vêlages comparable (392 à 400 jours) et plus régulier sur la carrière, exprimant une adaptation de la fonction de reproduction et une lactation standard comparable (2 755 à 2 811 kg). La variabilité de la durée de lactation (279 à 296 jours) expliquait la différence de niveau de production laitière réelle entre générations. D’une génération à l’autre, la durée de vie productive s’est écourtée et a affecté la production totale de lait et de veaux (p &lt; 0,05). Les résultats précisent les transformations relatives au matériel animal et les limites du modèle d’élevage développé.

Lifetime Performance of Nili-ravi Buffaloes in Pakistan

Data on 1,037 Nili-Ravi buffaloes from four institutional herds were used to study lifetime milk yield, herd life, productive life and breeding efficiency. A general linear model was used to study the environmental effects while an animal model having herd, year of birth and age at first calving (as covariate) along with random animal effect was used to estimate breeding values. The lifetime milk yield, herd life, productive life and breeding efficiency averaged 7,723 + 164 kg, 3,990±41 days, 1,061±19 days and 64 percent, respectively. All the traits were significantly (p<0.01) affected by the year of birth and herd of calving, while the herd life was also affected (p<0.01) by the age at first calving. The heritabilities for lifetime milk yield, herd life, productive life and breeding efficiency were 0.093±0.056, 0.001±0.055, 0.144±0.079 and 0.001, respectively. The definition for productive life, where each lactation gets credit upto 10 months had slightly better heritability and may be preferred over the definition where no limit is placed on lactation length. The genetic correlation between productive life and lifetime milk yield was low but high between productive life and herd life. The selection for productive life will increase herd life while lifetime milk yield will also improve. The overall phenotypic trend during the period under the study was negative for lifetime milk yield (-280 kg/year), herd life (-93 days), productive life (-42 days/year) and breeding efficiency (-0.36 percent/year), whereas the genetic trend was positive for lifetime milk yield (+15 kg/year) and productive life (+4 days/year).

Economic Analysis of Calving Interval of Hungarian Dairy Cattle

Safiullah, A.M., Prabaharan, R., Sadasivam, P. 2001. Economic analysis of calving interval of Hungarian dairy cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 19: 237–246. The impact of various lengths of calving interval (CI) was analysed by budgeting analysis using Quatro spreadsheet program. The lifetime milk yield and profit per day was used as a basis on various milk yields, milk prices and culling strategy either on age of cow or lactation. Another locally developed biometrical program package was also used to analyse the distribution of herds using frequency table. Milk production level over different lengths of CI and average lactational Clin comparison with each lactation were analysed. Greater portion of herds were distributed within the CI of 360 days. Annual milk yield got reduced from 4500 to 2272 kg as the CI increased from 360 to 450d. Average CI was found to be higher for high yielding cows in expectation to have more lactational yields by keeping them for longer days open. The CI increased as the lactation progressed upto the fourth and then started decreasing. Increasing CI from 360 to 420 or 450d resulted in a loss of 0.70 to 2.33 or 0.94 to 3.15 USD. From these findings, it could be concluded that optimum CI should be adjusted between 360d and 390d.

Crossbreeding of Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Sahiwal Cattle for Annual and Lifetime Milk Yield in the Lowland Tropics of Kenya

Records from 1577 cows born from 1973 to 1983 on a ranch in lowland Kenya were analyzed for age at first calving, lactation length, lactational milk yield, calving interval, annual milk yield, and, for cows born from 1973 to 1979, number of calvings, productive lifetime in the herd, and lifetime milk yield. Partial lifetime yield (≤4 lactations) was studied for all cows. Rotational crosses of Ayrshire and Sahiwal, the crosses between them (interbreds), and the crosses sired by Brown Swiss from the rotational crosses were compared. The Ayrshire-sired rotational crosses yielded 4.8% more milk during a 19-d longer lactation and with a calving interval that was 14 d longer than those sired by Sahiwal. Milk yield for completed lactations of interbred cows was 4.5% less, and milk yield of Brown Swiss crosses was 9.5% more, than the average of the rotational crosses. Lifetime milk yields were 48% greater for the rotational crosses sired by Ayrshire than for those sired by Sahiwal. Interbreds yielded 34% less than the average of the rotational crosses. Over partial lifetimes, the rotational crosses sired by Ayrshire yielded 45% more milk than those sired by Sahiwal; the interbreds and the crosses sired by Brown Swiss yielded 34% less and 62% more milk, respectively, than the mean of the rotational crosses.

The Influence of Additive and Nonadditive Gene Action on Lifetime Yields and Profitability of Dairy Cattle

Additive and nonadditive genetic effects on lifetime yields of milk and milk components and lifetime profitability were estimated from 5070 cattle in a Holstein pureline, an Ayrshire-based pureline, and 10 crossbred groups of these purelines.Lifetime yields of milk, fat, protein, and lactose and lifetime milk value and annualized discounted net returns were analyzed. Lifetime yields, lifetime milk value, and annualized discounted net returns of the Holstein × Ayrshire-based line F1 and an F1 × (F1 × F1) cross were not significantly different from those for the Holstein pureline. Net reproductive rate for F1 females was 9% greater than that of contemporary Holsteins. The Holstein pureline was superior to the Ayrshre-based pureline for direct additive genetic merit for all traits. Heterosis for the lifetime traits ranged from 16.6% for lifetime milk yield to 20.6% for annualized discounted net returns. Cytoplasmic maternal effect on annualized discounted net return was significant and favored the Ayrshire-based line. Potential economic benefit may derive from development of a crossbred cow that is superior to Holsteins. Maximum exploitation of additive and nonadditive genetic effects on lifetime yields and profitability appears to favor a rotational crossbreeding system with two breeds.

Genetic parameters of purebred and crossbred Milking Criollos in tropical Mexico

AbstractRecords on total of 1746 calvings of principally Milking Criollos and their crosses were collected between 1972 and 1990 at the experiment station of the Mexican Association of Animal Production on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Traits of interest were 305-day milk yield, days in lactation, number of services per lactation (raised to power 1/2), age at first calving and lifetime milk yield. Data were analysed by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) under an individual animal model based on 584 animals of which 146 were female ancestors and 35 were male ancestors. Heritabilities of 305-day milk and age at first calving were 0·17 and 0·07, respectively, but heritabilities of other traits were close to zero. Genetic trend in the Milking Criollos for 305-day milk was small and not significant (0·76 (s.e. 2·38) kg/year). Of crosses with Criollo sires, those involving Holstein and Canadienne breeding had highest 305-day and lifetime milk yields and those involving Brown Swiss and native Mexican (mostly Oaxaca) had lowest yields. Jersey crosses were intermediate for 305-day yield. The F1 Criollo × Jersey cross had highest lifetime yield, but backcrosses involving Jersey breeding were poor for lifetime milk. Additive breed effects for Jersey and Canadienne, relative to Milking Criollo, were 88 (s.e. 91) and 227 (s.e. 74) kg 305-day milk, respectively. Heterosis was 144 (s.e. 55) kg (11·6%) for 305-day milk, 16–4 (s.e. 9·6) (5·0%) for days in milk, −0·107 (s.e. 0–042) (7·7%) for number of services per lactation raised to power 1/2, −25·6 (s.e. 41·4) days (2•3%) for age at first calving and 1789 (s.e. 664) kg (60·0%) for lifetime milk. A plan was designed to develop a nucleus breeding scheme utilizing multiple ovulation and embryo transfer technology (MOET) for the genetic improvement of the Milking Criollo breed in Mexico.

Herdlife Lactation Yield, Herdlife, and Survival of Holstein and Ayrshire-Based Lines of Dairy Cattle

Length of herdlife, lifetime milk and component yields, daily milk and component yields, and survival rates were assessed from multiple lactation records of 927 cows in a Holstein line and an Ayrshire-based synthetic line. Holstein cows were progeny of random matings to either Holstein untested sires or progeny-tested Canadian and American Holstein sires. Ayrshire cows were randomly mated to Ayrshire untested sires or Canadian and American Ayrshire, Finnish Ayrshire, Norwegian Red, or Brown Swiss progeny-tested sires to produce the foundation females in the Ayrshire-based synthetic line.The Holstein cattle produced more milk and protein per day of milking herdlife or total herdlife than cows in the Ayrshire-based line and proportionately more survived to initiate second lactations. Daughters of the progeny-tested American and Canadian Holstein sires had significantly higher lifetime and daily milk, protein, and fat yields than daughters of young untested Holstein sires whereas lifetime yields of daughters of untested and progeny-tested Ayrshire sires were equivalent.

Genetic and phenotypic parameters of some measures of lifetime production and their relationship with milk yield in the first three lactations in Tharparkar cows

SUMMARYThe genetic parameters of lifetime production traits and their relationship with milk yield in first, second and third lactations were estimated from information on 753 Tharparkar cows. The heritability estimates for milk yield in first, second and third lactations were 0·22 ± 0·10, 0·33 ± 0·14 and 0·49 ± 0·17 and for number of lactations completed, lifetime milk production, number of days in milk and herd life 0·58 ± 0·23, 0·51 ± 0·22, 0·54 ± 0·22 and 0·34 ± 0·20 respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among the four lifetime production traits were in the range of 0·83–1·0 and 0·84–0·85 respectively. The phenotypic correlations of milk yield in first, second and third lactations with lifetime production traits were significant and ranged between 0·15 and 0·56. The corresponding genetic correlations ranged between 0·26 and 0·83. For the first three lactations, the genetic correlations of lifetime traits with the third lactation were high and that between lifetime milk yield and yield in third lactation the highest (0·83 ± 0·17). The direct and correlated responses from single trait selection were also estimated.

Prediction of Herdlife and Lifetime Production from First Lactation Production and Individual Type Traits in Holstein Cows

Herdlife from first calving to removal and lifetime milk and fat yields were predicted from production and type measures of 34,675 Holstein cows in first lactation. Multiple squared correlations ranged from .053 to .152. Inclusion of descriptive type codes after linear and quadratic effects of milk and fat yields in first lactation increased multiple squared correlations for herdlife by 45% and for lifetime milk yield by 21%.Differences in herdlife and lifetime milk yield among alternative codes for fore udder, rear udder, udder support, and miscellaneous traits far exceeded differences among alternative codes for all other traits. After adjustment for production and final score in first lactation, ranges in effects of alternative codes exceeded 10% of mean herdlife for fore udder, rear udder, udder support, and miscellaneous traits, and 10% of mean lifetime milk yield for rear udder, udder support, and miscellaneous traits. Additionally, conformational and functional desirability were nearly synonymous for fore udder, rear udder, and udder support codings. However, several codes with relatively large effects on herdlife and lifetime milk yield offered little potential for indirect improvement in cow longevity due to their low frequency.

Contributions of Discriptively Coded Type Traits to Longevity of Holstein Cows

Official type classifications and production records of Holstein cows calving between January 1, 1967, and June 1, 1976, were used to estimate contributions of appraisals in first lactation of descriptive type traits to first lactation and lifetime production, herdlife, and first calving intervals. Herdlife, production variables, and calving intervals were deviations from contemporary averages. Contributions of individual type components to these were estimated from least squares constants adjusted for all other descriptive type traits and for linear and quadratic effects of final score, age at first calving, herdlife opportunity, stage of lactation, and age when classified.Differences in herdlife, lifetime production, and first calving intervals were generally small but in some instances equalled 10% of means for all cows. Largest differences in lifetime milk yield among alternative codes for a trait were for front end, udder support, and miscellaneous codings, all of which exceeded 2000kg. Largest positive constants for lifetime milk yield were for cows with weak front ends, firmly attache rear udders, and bulgy fore udders. Large negative constants were associated with cows having coarse front ends, broken suspensory ligaments, undesirably shaped teats, and crampiness. Most type codes considered conformationally ideal were, for a given final score, associated with slightly less than average herdlife and lifetime production.

Relationships among First-Lactation and Lifetime Measurements in a Dairy Population

Relationships between first-lactation and lifetime traits were investigated for 6,468 lactation records of 1,861 Holsteins in seven herds of the North Carolina Institutional Breeding Association. The phenotypic correlation between first-lactation milk yield and lifetime production on a within herd-year of first calving basis was 0.48 and the correlation between first-lactation milk yield and productive life was 0.43. For these data the optimum age at first calving for maximum lifetime production was 27 months. Cows calving first at 24 months of age produced 579kg less milk in their lifetime than those calving first at 27 months; whereas, those calving first at 30 months produced 458kg less milk during their productive life. Genetic parameters were estimated from 1,017 daughter-dam pairs. The heritability estimates of lifetime milk yield and length of productive life were 0.18 and 0.15, respectively. The genetic correlation between first-lactation milk yield and lifetime production was 0.85 and between first-lactation milk yield and length of productive life, 0.76. The genetic correlations between the measures of lifetime production; namely, lifetime milk yield, length of productive life, and number of lactations were 0.95 or above. Even though selection is directed toward high first-lactation production, this should not produce a decline in lifetime performance in these herds.