Evaluation of body condition score measured throughout lactation as an indicator of fertility in dairy cattle.

نویسندگان

  • G Banos
  • S Brotherstone
  • M P Coffey
چکیده

Body condition score (BCS) records of primiparous Holstein cows were analyzed both as a single measure per animal and as repeated measures per sire of cow. The former resulted in a single, average, genetic evaluation for each sire, and the latter resulted in separate genetic evaluations per day of lactation. Repeated measure analysis yielded genetic correlations of less than unity between days of lactation, suggesting that BCS may not be the same trait across lactation. Differences between daily genetic evaluations on d 10 or 30 and subsequent daily evaluations were used to assess BCS change at different stages of lactation. Genetic evaluations for BCS level or change were used to estimate genetic correlations between BCS measures and fertility traits in order to assess the capacity of BCS to predict fertility. Genetic correlation estimates with calving interval and non-return rate were consistently higher for daily BCS than single measure BCS evaluations, but results were not always statistically different. Genetic correlations between BCS change and fertility traits were not significantly different from zero. The product of the accuracy of BCS evaluations with their genetic correlation with the UK fertility index, comprising calving interval and non-return rate, was consistently higher for daily than for single BCS evaluations, by 28 to 53%. This product is associated with the conceptual correlated response in fertility from BCS selection and was highest for early (d 10 to 75) evaluations.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Animal Factors Condition Milk Performance and Quality of Grazing Dairy Cows

The base of this review is to consider the relevant role that animal factors (potential milk yield, body weight, body condition score, state of lactation, parity and fertility) play on milk performance (considering the energy balance and the rumen function across the full lactation curve of animals) and milk quality (milk protein content, milk fat content, milk lactose content, vitamins, minera...

متن کامل

Improvement of Fertility Performance of Farahani Ewes Raised on Supplementary Feeding

This study deals with effects of supplementary feeding on fertility performance of Farahani ewes. The study was conducted using three local flocks in Arak city, Iran. Half ewes in each flock (50 ewes from each flock) were used as control group and fed according to traditional method without supplementary feed. The other half per flock was fed on supplementary feed throughout the experiment that...

متن کامل

The genetic relationship between commencement of luteal activity and calving interval, body condition score, production, and linear type traits in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle.

The decline of fertility in the UK dairy herd and the unfavorable genetic correlation (r(a)) between fertility and milk yield has necessitated the broadening of breeding goals to include fertility. The coefficient of genetic variation present in fertility is of similar magnitude to that present in production traits; however, traditional measurements of fertility (such as calving interval, days ...

متن کامل

Young Scientists 1 BREEDING FOR BODY CONDITION SCORE IN DAIRY COWS

Body condition score has been proposed as an additional trait in New Zealand’s national breeding objective. To be considered for inclusion, genetic parameters and an economic value are required. We propose genetic evaluation of body condition score using a random regression model that includes 2 order orthogonal Legendre polynomials fitted to the genetic variance and a link function to account ...

متن کامل

Invited review: Methods to determine body fat reserves in the dairy cow with special regard to ultrasonographic measurement of backfat thickness.

As the dairy cow uses body energy reserves in early lactation, body condition scoring has become an integral part of dairy herd management. Several methods based on visual and tactile evaluation have been developed. Problems caused by the subjectivity of these techniques have been reported. Alternative approaches to predict energy reserves or energy balance in dairy cattle include metabolic pro...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • Journal of dairy science

دوره 87 8  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2004