Milk Production Of Holstein Cattle Research Articles

Lifetime milk production of Holstein cattle in the humid tropics compared to Holstein-Gyr and Holstein-Brahman crosses.

Crossbred cattle are commonly used for milk production in the tropics, combining the potential benefits of pure breeds with the heterosis effects of the offspring. However, no comprehensive assessment of lifetime productivity for crossbred versus purebred cattle in low-altitude tropical environments has been carried out. The present study compares the lifetime productivity of purebred Holstein (HO, n = 17,269), Gyr (GY4, n = 435), and Brahman (BR4, n = 622) with crossbreds Gyr × Holstein (GY × HO, n = 5521) and Brahman×Holstein (BR × HO, n = 5429) cows from dairy farms located in low and medium altitude tropical regions in Costa Rica. The production traits of interest were age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), milk production per lactation (TMP), lactation length (LLEN), age at culling (ACUL), and number of lactations (NLAC). Estimates of heterosis were also calculated. The AFC for GY × HO crosses (33-34 months) was not significantly different (p > .05) from HO (33.8 months). For BR × HO crosses, a significant (p < .05) decrease in AFC (BR3HO1 35.6 months, BR2HO2 34.5 months, and BR1H03 33.3 months) was observed as the fraction of HO breed increased. Estimates of heterosis for AFC were favourable for both crosses, of a magnitude close to 3%. The DO for F1 crosses (GY2HO2 94 days; BR2HO2 96 days) was significantly (p < .05) lower than HO (123 days). Estimates of heterosis for DO were also favourable and above 15% for both crosses. The TMP and LLEN were higher for HO (TMP = 5003 kg; LLEN = 324 days) compared with GY × HO (TMP = 4428 to 4773 kg; LLEN = 298 to 312 days) and BR × HO (TMP = 3950 to 4761 kg; LLEN = 273 to 313 days) crosses. Heterosis for TMP was favourable but low for both crosses, with a magnitude below 3.0%. The NLAC for HO (4.6 lactations) was significantly (p < .05) lower than F1 (GY2HO2, 5.8 lactations; BR2HO2, 5.4 lactations). Heterosis for NLAC was above 6.0% for both crosses. Overall, estimates of lifetime income over feed costs per cow on average were USD 2637 (30.3%) and USD 734 (8.4%) higher in F1 GY × HO and BR × HO, respectively, compared to HO. In conclusion, crossbred animals, specifically those with Gyr and Brahman genetics, extend the productive lifespan, increasing economic returns.

Asociačná štúdia g.16024A&gt;G polymorfizmu génu FASN s produkciou mlieka holštajnského dobytka

Fatty acid synthase regulates the de novo biosynthesis of long chained fatty acids and is considered to be a potential candidate gene for fat content and fatty acids composition in milk. The objective of the study was to estimate the impact of FASN-16024 polymorphism on milk production in Holstein cows. This study determined the genetic structure of the analysed population of 1050 Holstein cows to possible relationships between genetic variants of FASN-16024 and average breeding values for traits of milk production. PCR-RFLP was used to identify genetic polymorphism for FASN-16024. The following genotype distributions were observed: AA (2.38%), AG (30%), and GG (67.62%). The frequencies of alleles A and G were 17.38% and 82.62%, respectively. The positive effect of the FASN gene polymorphism on the yield of milk, protein, and fat in the milk of Holstein cows was observed. No effect of individual genotypes of FASN-16024 gene polymorphism on fat and protein percentage was observed. The analysis of FASN gene polymorphism showed that the AA genotype significantly increased the average breeding value of the yield of milk (P<0.05), compared to the GG genotype. At the same time, the genotypes AA and AG increase the breeding value for the yield of fat (P<0.05) and yield of protein (P<0.05) in kilograms compared to the GG genotype. Therefore, the FASN gene may be used as a potential genetic marker for milk production in Holstein cattle with an emphasis on further research.

Prediction of Milk Production of Holstein Cattle Using Principal Component Analysis

The aim of this research is to increase the accuracy of estimating environmental standards by starting to fix fixed effects by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as an alternative approach to analyzing the studied traits and solving the problem of multicollinearity, with the possibility of identifying an appropriate and more accurate model for predicting milk production and thus obtaining an increase in economic return. Number of records 2067 in Holstein Friesian (HF). Studied traits were Total milk yield (TMY, kg), lactation period (LP), Calving interval (CI), Dry period (DP) and Days open (DO); day. Methods: The factor program of SPSS statistical package was used for the principal component analysis (PCA). It was found that for all studied traits; the first 2 principal components(PC) explained more than 82% of the total variation . Multiple regression models were: TMY=2331.34+4.96LP+0.98CI+2.01DP+2.04DO. To predict the increase in the amount of TMY, the multiple regression (MR) model was used variables LP, CI and DP. The obtained equations for (PCA) were written as:PC1=0.533 LP+0.272 CI- 0.226DP+ 0.407 DO, PC2 = 0.019 LP+0.551 CI+ 0.581 DP- 0.035 DO. Regression equation for PCA scores as: TMY = 4726.12+433.30 PC1+ 179.83 PC2 ,(PC1& PC2) used as predictors with (TMY); increasing TMY would be expected to increase with increasing PC. The present results showed that instead of (MR) analysis use of (PCA) in (MR) analysis might offer a good opportunity without multicollinearity problem for predicting TMY of HF

Genotype by environment interaction due to heat stress during gestation and postpartum for milk production of Holstein cattle

Remarkable increases in the production of dairy animals have negatively impacted their tolerance to heat stress (HS). The evaluation of the effect of HS on milk yield is based on the direct impact of HS on performance. However, in practical terms, HS also exerts its influence during gestation (indirect effect). The main purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the genotype by environment interaction (G × E) due to HS during the last 60 days of gestation (THI_g) and also the HS postpartum (THI_m) over first lactation milk production of Brazilian Holstein cattle. A total of 389 127 test day milk yield (TD) records from 1572 first lactation Holstein cows born in Brazil (daughters of 1248 dams and 70 sires) and the corresponding temperature–humidity index (THI) obtained between December 2007 and January 2013 were analyzed using different random regression models. Cows in the cold environment (THI_g = 64 to 73) during the last 60 days of gestation produced more milk than those cows in a hot environment (THI_g = 74 to 84), particularly during the first 150 days of lactation (DIM). The heritabilities (h2) of TD were similar throughout DIM for cows in THI_g hot (0.11 to 0.20) or (0.10 to 0.22), while the genetic correlations (rg) for TD between these two environments ranged from 0.11 to 0.52 along the first 250 DIM. The h2 estimates for TD across THI_m were similar for cows in THI_g hot (0.07 to 0.25) and THI_g cold (0.08 to 0.19). The rg estimates ranged from 0.17 to 0.42 along THI_m between TD of cows in cold and hot THI_g. The results were consistent in demonstrating the existence of an additional source of G × E for TD due to THI_g and THI_m. The present study is probably the first to provide evidence of this source of G × E; further research is needed because of its importance when the breeding objective is to select animals that are more tolerant to HS.

Association of HindIII-polymorphism in kappa-casein gene with milk, fat and protein yield in holstein cattle.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of genetic polymorphism of kappa-casein on milk production in Holstein cattle. Two hundred and ten Holstein cows were used in this study. We established genotype structure of cattle population and calculated allelic frequencies based on PCR-RFLP analyses. The three genotypes: AA (69.52%), AB (27.62%), and BB (2.86%) were detected. Frequency of allele A was 83.33%, and of allele B 16.67%. The Holstein cattle kept in Slovak Republic exhibit a high value of homozygosity (0.7222) and low values of polymorphism information content (0.2392), effective number of alleles (1.3847) and level of possible variability realization (27.91%). The effect of polymorphism of CSN3 gene on average breeding values for milk production traits, such as yield of milk, fat and protein expressed in kilograms, as well as percentage content of fat and protein in milk, has been assessed. In our assessment of the observed traits' variability's dependence on CSN3 gene polymorphism, we detected a statistically significant difference between genotypes only in case of the average breeding value for the percentage of protein in milk.

Association of Leptin Gene (LEP) Polymorphism with Growth Rates and Milk Production in Holstein First-Calf Heifers

The objective of the work is to study the polymorphic leptin gene variants and their influence on growth, development, and milk production of Holstein first-calf heifers, whose 172 blood samples were analyzed. Genotyping the leptin gene locus was performed with the PCR-RFLP method. The frequencies of occurrence of the C and T alleles comprised 0.62 and 0.38, respectively; the values for genotypes CC, TC, and TT comprised 35.5% (61 animals), 53.3% (90 animals), and 12.2% (21 animals), respectively. It was ascertained that the analyzed animal population is in the genetic balanced equilibrium state according to the Hardy–Weinberg law. Under similar conditions of feeding and nutritional supplement, the animals having genotype CC were significantly superior to their peers with the other genotypes in all the parameters characterizing the live weight at different ages. However, the milk yield, the fat mass fraction, the milk fat yield, and the milk protein yield in the specimens having the TT genotype were higher by 8.9% (P ≤ 0.01; 673.4 kg), 0.20, 12.9% (P ≤ 0.05; 38.4 kg), and 9.0% (P ≤ 0.05; 22.7 KG), respectively, than that in the genotype TC carriers. The coefficient of milkability was 142.1 kg higher in all the first-calf heifers when compared to the lower value for the entire herd, therefore, indicating the specific dairy type of the analyzed animal population. The obtained data can prove the associations between the different genotypes of the leptin gene and the growth rates, the physical development, and the milk production in Holstein cattle.

Comparison of genomic breeding values of Holstein in Czech Republic

Genomic evaluation by single-step procedure allows efficient implanting of genetic SNP markers into complicated procedure of random regression test-day-model of milk traits. Test-day records and pedigree files on nation-wide scale are combined with genomic relationship into common evaluation of both genotyped and ungenotyped animals. Due to strong import of foreign sperm into small national populations is the reliability of evaluation of young animals low. This is particularly seen in evaluation of young bulls, which frequently have both parents foreign. Genomic evaluation helps and notably improves reliability of evaluation. ssGBLUP procedure is advantageous especially for small populations. Domestic genomic evaluation of young animals has medium to high correlation with foreign Interbull values. Interbull conversion of values of bulls according MACE, which works with progeny tested bulls, is more reliable than conversion according GMACE procedure, which works with genomic evaluation of young animals. Keywords: genomic breeding value, ssGBLUP, test day model, MACE, GMACE References Bauer, J. et al. (2014) Approximation of the reliability of single-step genomic breeding values for dairy cattle in the Czech Republic. Anim. Sci. Papers and Reports, 32, pp. 301-306. Bauer, J., Přibyl, J. and Vostrý, L. (2015) Contribution of domestic production records and Interbull EBV on approximate reliabilities of single-step genomic breeding values in dairy cattle. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 60, 263-267. Christensen, O.F. and Lund, M.S. (2010) Genomic prediction when some animals are not genotyped. Genet.Sel.Evol. 42, pp. 2. Forni, S., Aguilar I. and Misztal, I. (2011) Different genomic relationship matrices for single step analysis using phenotypic, pedigree and genomic information. Genet. Sel. Evol., 43, pp. 1. Legarra A., Aguilar I. and Misztal, I. (2009) A relationship matrix including full pedigree and genomic information. J. Dairy Sci., 92, pp. 4656-4663. Meuwissen, T.H.E., Hayes, B.J. and Goddard, M.E. (2001) Prediction of total genetic value using genome-wide dense marker maps. Genetics, 157, pp. 1819–1829. Misztal, I., Legarra A. and Aguilar, I. (2009) Computing procedures for genetic evaluation including phenotypic, full pedigree, and genomic information. J. Dairy Sci., 92, pp. 4648–4655. Pesek, P., Přibyl, J. and Vostrý, L . (2015) Genetic variances of SNP loci for milk yield in dairy cattle. J. Appl. Genet., 56, pp. 339-347. Plemdat, (2015) Descriptions of Breeding values Evaluation. Retrieved on 10 th June 2015 From www.plemdat.cz. Přibyl, J. et al. (2014) Domestic and Interbull information in the single step genomic evaluation of Holstein milk production. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 59, pp. 409-415. Přibyl, J. et al. (2015) Domestic estimated breeding values and genomic enhanced breeding values of bulls in comparison with their foreign genomic enhanced breeding values. Animal, 9, pp. 1635-1642. Vitezica, Z.G. et al. (2011) Bias in genomic predictions for populations under selection. Genet. Res. (Camb), 93, pp. 357-366. Zavadilova, L., Jamrozik, J. and Schaeffer, L.R. (2005a) Genetic parameters for test- day model with random regressions for production traits of Czech Holstein cattle. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 50, pp. 142-154. Zavadilova, L., Němcova, E. and Wolf, J. (2005b) Definition of subgroups for fixed regression in the test-day animal model for milk production of Holstein cattle in the Czech Republic. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 50, pp. 7-13. Zavadilova, L. et al. (2014) Single-step genomic evaluation for linear type traits of Holstein cows in Czech Republic. Anim. Sci. Papers and Reports vol. 32, pp. 201-208.

Contribution of domestic production records, Interbull estimated breeding values, and single nucleotide polymorphism genetic markers to the single-step genomic evaluation of milk production

Estimated breeding values (EBV) for first-lactation milk production of Holstein cattle in the Czech Republic were calculated using a conventional animal model and by single-step prediction of the genomic enhanced breeding value. Two overlapping data sets of milk production data were evaluated: (1) calving years 1991 to 2006, with 861,429 lactations and 1,918,901 animals in the pedigree and (2) calving years 1991 to 2010, with 1,097,319 lactations and 1,906,576 animals in the pedigree. Global Interbull (Uppsala, Sweden) deregressed proofs of 114,189 bulls were used in the analyses. Reliabilities of Interbull values were equivalent to an average of 8.53 effective records, which were used in a weighted analysis. A total of 1,341 bulls were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip V2 (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). Among the genotyped bulls were 332 young bulls with no daughters in the first data set but more than 50 daughters (88.41, on average) with performance records in the second data set. For young bulls, correlations of EBV and genomic enhanced breeding value before and after progeny testing, corresponding average expected reliabilities, and effective daughter contributions (EDC) were calculated. The reliability of prediction pedigree EBV of young bulls was 0.41, corresponding to EDC=10.6. Including Interbull deregressed proofs improved the reliability of prediction by EDC=13.4 and including genotyping improved prediction reliability by EDC=6.2. Total average expected reliability of prediction reached 0.67, corresponding to EDC=30.2. The combination of domestic and Interbull sources for both genotyped and nongenotyped animals is valuable for improving the accuracy of genetic prediction in small populations of dairy cattle.

Genetic and environmental parameters and trends for milk production of Holstein cattle in Turkey

Data from 4143 Holstein cattle from three herds in Turkey were used to study the influences of genetic and environmental factors on milk production traits as well as genetic and environmental trends over 20 years from 1987 to 2006. First lactation mean values for 305-day milk yield, actual lactation milk yield, and lactation length were 6222±35.8 kg, 6651±42.6 kg, and 327±1.3 days. Second and third 305-day lactation yields were proportionately 8% and 11% greater, respectively. The effects of herd and calving year were the largest sources of variation for all traits. Heritabilities of actual lactation milk yield, 305-day milk yield, and lactation length for first lactation records were 0.24±0.007, 0.23±0.007, and 0.08±0.035. Estimates of variances and genetic parameters were consistent with estimates reported throughout the literature. Trends were inconsistent with some phenotypic increase in yields during the period between 2001 and 2005. This improvement was associated with increased environment parameter estimates during that period. No consistent genetic improvement was observed.

Request from the European Commission related to the safeguard clause invoked by Austria on maize lines MON863 according to Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC

Request from the European Commission related to the safeguard clause invoked by Austria on maize lines MON863 according to Article 23 of Directive 2001/18/EC

Association Between Body Condition Score Change During the Dry Period and the Incidence of Calving-Related Disorders, and Milk Production in Holstein Cows

Body condition score (BCS) is a practical tool used to monitor energy nutrition of dairy cattle. Body condition score at calving has been associated with lactational performance; however, little information is available about cows calving with low, optimum or high BCS that either maintain, gain or lose BCS during the dry period. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the association of BCS of cows that calved with low, optimum or high BCS that either gained or lost BCS during the dry period and the incidence of periparturient disorders, and milk production in Holstein cattle.

Influence of Glyphosate-Tolerant (event nk603) and Corn Rootworm Protected (event MON863) Corn Silage and Grain on Feed Consumption and Milk Production in Holstein Cattle

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of a glyphosate-tolerant (event nk603) and a corn rootworm protected (event MON863) corn hybrid on feed intake and milk production compared with the nontransgenic hybrid and two reference hybrids. In Experiment 1, 16 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to one of four treatments in replicated 4×4 Latin squares with 28-d periods. Diets contained 40% (dry matter [DM] basis) of either 1) glyphosate-tolerant corn silage (GT), 2) nontransgenic control corn silage, or 3) two nontransgenic reference hybrids which are commercially available. Each diet also contained 23% corn grain from the same hybrid that supplied the silage. At ensiling, rapid drying conditions prevailed and the GT hybrid was the last to be harvested which resulted in greater DM content at similar physiological maturity. The 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield and DMI were reduced for cows fed the GT corn diet due to the higher DM content of the GT silage (37.1 vs. 33.2 kg/d and 4.05 vs. 3.61% of BW, respectively). There was no effect of the GT diet on milk composition or efficiency of 4% FCM production that averaged 1.43 kg/kg of DM intake for all diets. In Experiment 2, 16 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to one of four treatments in replicated 4×4 Latin squares with 21-d periods. Diets contained 26.7% (DM basis) corn grain from either 1) corn rootworm protected (event MON863) corn hybrid, 2) nontransgenic control corn hybrid, or 3) the same two nongenetically enhanced reference hybrids used in Experiment 1. The 4% FCM yield (34.8 kg/d) and DM intake (4.06% of BW) were unaffected by diet. Efficiency of FCM production (average 1.32 kg/kg of DMI) was not affected by diet. In summary, these two studies indicated that insertion of a gene for glyphosate tolerance or corn rootworm protection into a corn hybrid did not affect its nutritional value (as measured by efficiency of milk production) for lactating dairy cows compared with conventional corn hybrids.

Neospora caninum serostatus and milk production of Holstein cattle.

To determine whether Neospora caninum serostatus was associated with milk production among Holstein cattle in Ontario. Case-control study and cross-sectional observational study. 3,702 Holstein cows in 83 herds (case-control study) and 3,162 Holstein cows in 57 herds. Herds in the case-control study were grouped on the basis of N. caninum abortion status. Herds in the observational study were considered representative of Ontario dairy herds. The N. caninum serostatus of individual cows was determined with a kinetic ELISA. Milk production was modeled to compare seropositive with seronegative animals while controlling for parity, days since parturition, and herd clustering. In the case-control study, 305-day milk production of seropositive cows was significantly less than milk production of seronegative cows in herds with abortions attributable to N. caninum infection and in herds with abortions attributable to pathogens other than N. caninum, but not in herds without abortion problems. In the observational study, 305-day milk production for seropositive cows was not significantly different from milk production of seronegative cows. Results suggest that the association between N. caninum serostatus and milk production in Ontario Holstein dairy cattle may depend on abortion status of the herd. In herds with abortion problems, regardless of cause, N. caninum-seropositive cattle produced less milk, whereas in herds without abortion problems, N. caninum-seropositive cattle produced the same amount of milk as seronegative cattle.

Effect of Body Weight and Age at Calving on Milk Production in Holstein Cattle

Summary The 180-day production records of 1,344 lactations of Holstein cows including records of lactations one through eight, collected from six herds, were used to determine the independent influences of age and weight on production. A multiple regression analysis of first lactation data indicated that for a constant age milk production increased 134lb and fat 7.8lb for each 100-lb increase in body weight, and for a constant weight each increase of one month of age was accompanied by an increase of 46lb of milk and 1.2lb of fat. When all lactations were combined and the number of the lactation ignored, milk production increased by 400lb and fat production by 14.4lb for each 100-lb increase in weight. For a constant weight each month increase in age was accompanied by an increase of 28.4lb of milk and 0.9lb of fat. Heritability estimates based on 385 daughter-dam pairs for body weight, milk production, and fat production were .29, .44, and .0, respectively, when obtained from first lactation data, and were .19, .43, and .41 for all lactations 1 through 4 combined. Genetic correlations between total milk and fat production were of the order of .90. Those between body weight and production ranged from near zero in the first lactation to −.53 in the second lactation. The genetic correlation between weight and milk was −.12 and that between weight and fat −.23, when the first four lactations were combined. Because of the negative correlations, less progress would be expected in selecting for both increased body weight and production than if they were independent or positively correlated. Analysis of the data indicated that as much and probably more of the variation in production was associated with body weight as with age.