Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations between Fertility and Milk Composition traits of Friesian x Bunaji cows

Cyprian Alphonsus, G.N. Akpa, N.P. Achi, I.M. Sam, I. Abdullahi

Abstract


This study was conducted to determine the genetic and phenotypic relationship between fertility and milk production traits of Friesian x Bunaji dairy cows. The estimates of heritability (h2) for fertility traits were low and ranged from 0.014 to 0.035. This indicates that the fertility traits are largely influences by management and environmental factors. The genetic correlations were generally stronger than the phenotypic correlations, but the direction of the relationship was similar. The magnitude and direction of the estimated genetic correlation coefficients between milk yield and fertility traits was unfavourable; cows selected for high milk yield may have prolong interval to insemination after calving (DFI = 0.435 ) due to delay in resumption of ovarian activity (DO = 0.485) and may require high number of insemination per conception (NIC = 0.299) and therefore, are not likely to become pregnant within 56 days after the first insemination (NRR56  = -0.044). The genetic correlation between milk fat content (MFC) and fertility of dairy cows in early lactation was also unfavourable; high MFC in early lactation is associated with poor fertility,  decreased conception rate to first services (DFI = 0.290), prolong calving to conception interval (DO = 0.216) and increased number of service per conception (NIC= -0.197). However, cows with high milk protein in early lactation are likely to have shorter intervals to first insemination after calving (DFI = - 0.290), with high probability of first insemination conception rate (NIC = -0.114) and therefore, are likely to become pregnant within 56 days after first insemination (NRR56 = 0.096). There is a close relationship between milk composition yield and fertility, such that increase milk yield and composition yield is associated with lower fertility of dairy cows, decrease conception rate, prolong calving to conception interval and increase number of insemination per conception.

Keywords


fertility, heritability, milk composition, genetic, phenotypic, correlation

Full Text:

PDF

References


Alphonsus C., Akpa G. N., Barje P. P., Nwagu B. I., Orunmuyi M. (2014a). Evaluation of Fertility traits of Friesian x Bunaji dairy cows. Animal Research International. Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsuka, (UNN) Nigeria. www.zoo-unn.org 11 (1): 1851-1862

Alphonsus C., Akpa G. N., Nwagu B. I., Orunmuyi M and Barje P. P., (2014b). Changes in milk protein content as indicator of energy balance and fertility in dairy cows. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Centro para la Investigacion en Sistemas Sostenibles de Produccion Agropecuaria, Cali, Colombia. CIPAV http://www.lrrd.org 26 (12) 2014

Berglund, B (2008) Genetic improvement of dairy cow reproductive performance and reproduction in domestic animals. Zuchthygiene. 43 Suppl 2: 89-95.

Berry, D.P., Buckley, F., Dillon, P., Evans, R.D., Rath, M. and Veerkamp, R.F. (2003). Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield and fertility in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 86 (6):2193–2204

Cameron, N. D. (1997). Selection indices and prediction of genetic merit in Animal Breeding. CAB international Walking ford U.K. pp.12-31

Dedovic, R., Latinovic, D., Bogdanovic, V., Trifunovic, G., Petrovic, M.M (2005). Genetic Variability and Correlations between fertility traits monitored in progeny tests of Holstein Friesian Bulls. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandary. 21(5-6):13-17

Fahey, J., Morton .J., Mac Millan, K.L (2003). Relationship between milk protein percentage and reproductctive performance in Australian dairy cows. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 63:82-86

Groen, A.F., Steine,T.,Colleau,J.J. , Pedersen,J.,Pribyl, J and Reinsch,N (1997)Economicvalues in dairy cattle breeding, with special reference to functional traits. Report of anEAAP working group. Livestock Production Science,49(1): 1-21.

Harris B L and Pryce J E (2004). Genetic and Phenotypic relationships between milk protein percentage, reproductive performance and body condition score in New Zealand dairy cattle. Proceeding of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 64: 127-131

Javed, K., (1999). Genetic and phenotypic aspects of some performance traits in a pure bred herd of Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ.Agric., Faisalabad.

Kadarmideen, H. N., Thompson, R. and Simm, G. (2000). Linear and threshold model genetic parameters for disease, fertility and milk production in dairy cattle. Animal Science71: 411-419.

Kadarmideen, H.N., R. Thompson, M.P. Coffey, and M.A. Kossaibati (2003) Genetic parameters and evaluations from single- and multiple-trait analysis of dairy cow fertility and milk production.Livestock Production Science,81(2-3): p. 183-195.

Kelm, S. C., Freeman, A. E and Kelle, D. H (1997). Realized versus expected gains in milk and fat production of Holstein cattle, considering the effects of days open. Journal of Dairy Science.80:1786-1794.

Morton, J (2000). In calf project: Progress Report: a reference for farmers managing or working in seasonal, split and batch calving herds. Dairy Research and Development Corporation, Melbourne, Australia.

Norman, H.D. and Wright, J.R (2009).Factors that impact longevity of Holsteins in the United States. Journal of Animal Science, 2006. 84: 276-276.

Oni, O. O., Adeyinka, I. A., Afolayan, R. A., Nwagu, B.I., Malau-Aduli, A. E. O., Alwa, C. B.I and O. S. Lamidi (2001). Relationships between milk yield, post partum body weight and reproductive performance in Friesian x Bunaji Cattle. Asian–Australian Journal, 14 (11):1516 – 1519.

Pryce, J.E., M.D. Royal, P.C. Garnsworthy, and I.L. Mao (2001)Fertility in the high-producing dairy cow. Livestock Production Science. 86(1-3): 125-135.

Pryce, J. E., Nielsen, B. L., Veerkamp, R. F and Simm, G (1999). Genotype and feeding system effects and interactions for health and fertility traits in dairy cattle. Livestock Production Science. 57:193–202.

Roche, J.R., Berry, D.P., Lee, J.M., Macdonald, K.A., Boston, R.C., (2007). Describing the body condition score change between successive calving: a Novel Strategy Generalizable to diverse Cohorts. Journal of Dairy Science. 90:4378-4396.

Royal M. D., Darwash A.O., Flint A.P.E., Webb R., Woolliams J.A., Lamming, G.E. (2000).Declining fertility in dairy cattle: changes in traditional and endocrine parameters of fertility. Animal Science, 70:487-501.

SAS (2000).SAS User guide; Basic Version 5th edition, SAS Institute Inc. Carry. N.C

Sun, C., Madsen,P. Lund,M.S., Zhang,Y., Nielsen, U.S and G. Su (2010).Improvement in genetic evaluation of female fertility in dairy cattle using multiple-trait models including milk production traits.Journal of Animal Science,88(3): 871-878.

Veerkamp, R.F., B. Beerda, and T. van der Lende, (2003). Effects of genetic selection for milk yield on energy balance, levels of hormones, and metabolites in lactating cattle, and possible links to reduced fertility's. Livestock Production Science, 83(2-3): 257- 275.

Wilcox, C.J (1992). Genetics: basic concept in large dairy herd management (Van Horn, H.H and Wilcox C.J., eds). American Dairy Scince Association. Champain


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2017 The Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.