[en] Genetic, environmental, and phenotypic correlations among average somatic cell score (SCS) at different stages of lactation and conformation traits were estimated. Data consisted of the lactational average of SCS at 150 (SCS(150)) and 305 (SCS(305)) d in milk and 19 conformation traits recorded on 57,154 primiparous Holstein cows, that calved from 1996 to 2009 in 119 herds in Iran. Variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood procedure based on multiple-trait animal models. Udder depth (-0.32), fore udder attachment (-0.22), and udder width (0.34) showed moderate genetic correlation with SCS(150). Heart girth (0.17), body depth (0.14), chest width (0.26), and angularity (0.19), showed modest genetic correlation with SCS(150). The estimated heritabilities for SCS(150) and SCS(305) were 0.06 and 0.08, respectively. The heritability of the conformation traits ranged from 0.09 to 0.29. Genetic and environmental correlations between SCS(150) and SCS(305) were very high (means ± SE; 0.99±0.01 and 0.89±0.01, respectively), which indicates that recording SCS over a shorter period of lactation is an alternative approach for involving many herds in SCS data collection. The low heritability of SCS indicated that indirect selection for some of udder and body traits might be helpful to reduce the SCS. Additionally, selection for udder traits may help reduce SCS in developing countries where SCS data are sparsely recorded.
Disciplines :
Animal production & animal husbandry
Author, co-author :
Dadpasand, M; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. dadpasand@shirazu.ac.ir
Zamiri, M J; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71441-65186, Iran
Atashi, Hadi ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Animal Sciences (AS) ; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71441-65186, Iran
Akhlaghi, A; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71441-65186, Iran
Language :
English
Title :
Genetic relationship of conformation traits with average somatic cell score at 150 and 305 days in milk in Holstein cows of Iran.
This research was supported by a grant through the Center of Excellence for Studies on High Producing Dairy Cows (Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran). Many thanks go to M. Kafi, the Head of the Center. The authors gratefully appreciate the cooperation of the Animal Breeding Centre (Karaj, Iran) of the Ministry of Agriculture for providing the data.
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