By Boettcher, P. J. and Dekkers, J. C. M. and Muir, B. L. and Petitclerc, D. and Schaeffer, L. R., Cattle Practice, 1999
Description
Data were records of daily feed intake and milk yield, milk composition and health and reproductive information from 141 multiparous Holstein cows from the Agriculture Canada Dairy Research Station, Lennoxville, Quebec. Four energy balance traits were defined: average daily energy balance within the first 100 days of lactation; minimum daily energy balance; days in negative energy balance; and total energy deficit during the period of negative energy balance. Health traits were: udder problems; mastitis; locomotive problems; laminitis; digestive disorders; and reproductive disorders. Reproductive traits were: number of days to first oestrous and number of inseminations. Phenotypic correlations between energy balance and health were studied by regressing health traits on energy balance traits. Parity and treatment were included. Several significant phenotypic correlations between energy balance and health were observed. Cows with longer periods of negative energy balance had more digestive disorders. Cows with higher total energy deficit had more digestive disorders and laminitis. Cows with lower average energy balance in early lactation had delayed first oestrous. Heritabilities for energy intake and milk energy were 0.42 and 0.12 respectively, but heritability for the energy balance traits were 0
Data were records of daily feed intake and milk yield, milk composition and health and reproductive information from 141 multiparous Holstein cows from the Agriculture Canada Dairy Research Station, Lennoxville, Quebec. Four energy balance traits were defined: average daily energy balance within the first 100 days of lactation; minimum daily energy balance; days in negative energy balance; and total energy deficit during the period of negative energy balance. Health traits were: udder problems; mastitis; locomotive problems; laminitis; digestive disorders; and reproductive disorders. Reproductive traits were: number of days to first oestrous and number of inseminations. Phenotypic correlations between energy balance and health were studied by regressing health traits on energy balance traits. Parity and treatment were included. Several significant phenotypic correlations between energy balance and health were observed. Cows with longer periods of negative energy balance had more digestive disorders. Cows with higher total energy deficit had more digestive disorders and laminitis. Cows with lower average energy balance in early lactation had delayed first oestrous. Heritabilities for energy intake and milk energy were 0.42 and 0.12 respectively, but heritability for the energy balance traits were 0
We welcome and encourage discussion of our linked research papers. Registered users can post their comments here. New users' comments are moderated, so please allow a while for them to be published.