Milk fat-to-protein ratio and its association with diseases in cows

KAŠNÁ, Eva, ZAVADILOVÁ, Ludmila, FLEISCHER, Petr, ŠLOSÁRKOVÁ, Soňa and KUČERA, Josef. Milk fat-to-protein ratio and its association with diseases in cows. Náš chov, 2020, vol. 80(2), p. 66-70. ISSN 0027-8068.
Year2020
CathegoryPublication in specialized journals
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Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the variability of fat-to-protein ratio in the first test day (1 .T/B), and its genetic association with the selected diseases occurrence in Holstein cows. Heritability estimate was 10% for 1 .T/B in 1st-3rd lactations. Data on milk fat and protein content from performance recording were merged with the data of selected diseases occurrence in first 100 days in milk, which were recorded by farmers to the national dairy cattle health database (Diary of diseases and medication). Genetic correlations were estimated with the set of bivariate linear animal models for relationship of 1.T/B with retained placenta (-0.15 ± 0.15), metritis (0.03 ± 0.08), endometritis (0.04 ± 0.12), cystic ovaries syndrome (0.10 ± 0.16), milk fever (-0.42 ± 0.61), clinical primary ketosis (0.38 ± 0.25) and displaced abomasum (0.23 ± 0.20). The estimates of genetic parameters showed, that 1 .T/B could serve, with higher heritability and statistically significant moderate genetic correlations with ketosis and displaced abomasum incidence, as a suitable indicator and auxiliary trait in breeding for better resistance to these diseases.