Genetic parameters for female fertility, locomotion, body condition score, and linear type traits in Czech Holstein cattle

ZINK, V., ŠTÍPKOVÁ, M. & LASSEN, J. Genetic parameters for female fertility, locomotion, body condition score, and linear type traits in Czech Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 2011, roč. 94, s. 5176-5182. {INTLINK}
ZINK, Vojtěch, ŠTÍPKOVÁ, Miloslava and LASSEN, J. Genetic parameters for female fertility, locomotion, body condition score, and linear type traits in Czech Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 2011, 94, 5176-5182. ISSN 0022-0302.
Year2011
CathegoryScientific publication in impacted journals
Internal link11097.pdf
Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for fertility traits and linear type traits in the Czech Holstein dairy cattle population. Phenotypic data regarding twelve linear type traits and three fertility traits. (Co)variance components were estimated using AI-REML implemented in the DMU package. All heritability estimates for reproduction traits were low ranging from 0.02 to 0.04, for linear type traits ranged from 0.03 for locomotion to 0.39 for stature. Estimated genetic correlations between fertility traits and linear type traits were generally neutral or positive, whereas genetic correlations between body condition score (BCS) and fertility traits were mostly negative. Results of this study show that cows that are genetically extreme for angularity, stature, and body depth tend to perform poorly for fertility traits. At the same time cows, that are genetically predisposed for low body condition score or high locomotion score are generally inferior for fertility.