Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T09:22:51.769Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An analysis of the genetic relationship between udder health and udder conformation traits in South African Jersey cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2009

B. Dube ,
K. Dzama ,
C. B. Banga  and
D. Norris
B. Dube
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
K. Dzama*
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
C. B. Banga
Affiliation:
ARC Livestock Business Division, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa
D. Norris
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
*
E-mail: kdzama@sun.ac.za
Get access

Abstract

A multi-trait animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters among lactation somatic cell score (SCS) and udder-type traits in South African Jersey cattle, through restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedures. Data comprised records on 18 321 Jersey cows in 470 herds, collected through the National Milk Recording Scheme from 1996 to 2002. Average SCS in the first three lactations (SCS1, SCS2 and SCS3) were considered as different traits and the udder-type traits were fore udder attachment (FUA), rear udder height (RUH), rear udder width (RUW), udder cleft (UC), udder depth (UD), fore teat placement (FTP), rear teat placement (RTP) and fore teat length (FTL). Heritability estimates for the respective lactation SCS were 0.07 ± 0.01, 0.11 ± 0.01 and 0.11 ± 0.02. Udder-type traits had heritability estimates ranging from 0.14 ± 0.01 for UD to 0.30 ± 0.02 for FTL. Genetic correlations between SCS and udder-type traits ranged from −0.003 ± 0.07 between FUA and SCS3 to −0.50 ± 0.07 between UD and SCS3. Slow genetic progress is expected when selection is applied independently on SCS and udder-type traits, due to the generally low heritabilities. Tightly attached shallow udders with narrowly placed rear teats are associated with low SCS in the Jersey population.

Keywords

genetic parametersJerseyudder conformationudder health
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 494 - 500
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ali, AKA, Shook, GE 1980. An optimum transformation for somatic cell concentration in milk. Journal of Dairy Science 63, 487–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Amin, AA, Gere, T, Kishk, WH 2002. Genetic and environmental relationship among udder conformation traits and mastitis incidence in Holstein–Friesian in two different environments. Archiv für Tierzucht 45, 129–138.Google Scholar
Banga, CB, Mostert, BE 2004. Genetic correlations among somatic cell score and linear type traits in South African Jersey cattle. Proceedings of the Second Joint Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa and South African Society of Animal Science, Cape Town, South Africa.Google Scholar
Boettcher, PJ, Dekkers, JCM, Kolstad, BW 1998. Development of an udder health index for sire selection based on somatic cell score, udder conformation and milking speed. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 1157–1168.Google Scholar
Carlen, E, Strandberg, E, Roth, A 2004. Genetic parameters for clinical mastitis, somatic cell score and production in the first three lactations of Swedish Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 3062–3070.Google Scholar
Castillo-Juarez, H, Oltenacu, PA, Cienfuegos-Rivas, EG 2002. Genetic and phenotypic relationships among milk production and composition traits in primiparous Holstein cows in two different herd environments. Livestock Production Science 78, 223–231.Google Scholar
Colleau, JJ, Le Bihan-Duval, E 1995. A simulation study of selection methods to improve mastitis resistance in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 78, 659–671.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeGroot, BJ, Keown, JF, Van Vleck, LD, Marotz, EL 2002. Genetic parameters and responses of linear type, yield traits and somatic cell scores to divergent selection for predicted transmitting ability for type in Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 1578–1585.Google Scholar
DeJong, G, Lansbergen, L 1996. Udder health index: selection for mastitis resistance. In Proceedings of the International Workshop on Genetic Improvement of Functional Traits in Cattle. Bulletin No. 12. International Committee on Animal Recording, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 42–47.Google Scholar
Dube, B, Dzama, K, Banga, CB 2008. Genetic analysis of somatic cell score and udder type traits in South African Holstein cows. South African Journal of Animal Science 38, 1–11.Google Scholar
Dunklee, JS, Freeman, AE, Kelley, DH 1994. Comparison of Holsteins selected for high and average milk production. 2. Health and reproductive response to selection for milk. Journal of Dairy Science 77, 3683–3690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fuerst-Waltl, B, Solkner, J, Essl, A, Hoeschele, I, Fuerst, C 1998. Non-linearity in the genetic relationship between milk yield and type traits in Holstein cattle. Livestock Production Science 57, 41–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gengler, N, Groen, AF 1997. Potential benefits from multitrait evaluation – an example in selection for mastitis resistance based on somatic cell score and udder conformation. A simulation study. Interbull 15, 106–112.Google Scholar
Gonzalez, RN, Jasper, DE, Kronlund, NC, Farver, TB, Cullor, JS, Bushnell, RB, Dellinger, JD 1990. Clinical mastitis in two California dairy herds participating in contagious mastitis control programs. Journal of Dairy Science 3, 648–660.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groeneveld, E, Kovac, M, Wang, T 2001. PEST software package for multivariate prediction and estimation version 4.2. Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, USA.Google Scholar
Hansen, M, Lund, MS, Sorensen, MK, Christensen, LG 2002. Genetic parameters of dairy character, protein yield, clinical mastitis, and other diseases in the Danish Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 445–452.Google Scholar
Harris, BL, Freeman, AE, Metzger, E 1992. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for type and production in Guernsey dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 75, 1147–1153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koivula, M, Mantysaari, EA, Negussie, E, Serenius, T 2005. Genetic and phenotypic relationships among milk yield and somatic cell count before and after mastitis. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 827–833.Google Scholar
Kovac, M, Groeneveld, E 2003. VCE-5 user’s guide and reference manual version 5.1. Institute of Animal Science, Federal Agricultural Research Center (FAL), Mariensee, Germany.Google Scholar
Marie-Etancelin, C, Astruc, JM, Porte, D, Larroque, H, Robert-Granie, C 2005. Multiple-trait genetic parameters and genetic evaluation of udder-type traits in Lacaune ewes. Livestock Production Science 97, 211–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monardes, HG, Cue, RI, Hayes, JF 1990. Correlations among udder conformation traits and somatic cell count in Canadian Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 73, 1337–1342.Google Scholar
Mostert, BE, Banga, CB, Groeneveld, E, Kanfer, FHJ 2004. Breeding value estimation for somatic cell score in South African dairy cattle. South African Journal of Animal Science 34, 32–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mostert, BE, Theron, HE, Kanfer, FHJ, van Marle-KÖste, E 2006a. Comparison of breeding values and genetic trends for production traits estimated by a lactation model and a fixed regression test-day model. South African Journal of Animal Science 36, 71–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mostert, BE, Theron, HE, Kanfer, FHJ, van Marle-KÖste, E 2006b. Test-day models for South African cattle for participation in international valuations. South African Journal of Animal Science 36, 58–70.Google Scholar
Mrode, RA, Swanson, GJT 1996. Genetic and statistical properties of somatic cell count and its suitability as an indirect means of reducing the incidence of mastitis in dairy cattle. Animal Breeding Abstracts 64, 11–16.Google Scholar
Mrode, RA, Swanson, GJT 2003. Estimation of genetic parameters for somatic cell count in the first three lactations using random regression. Livestock Production Science 79, 239–247.Google Scholar
Mrode, RA, Swanson, GJT, Winters, MS 1998. Genetic parameters and evaluations for somatic cell counts and its relationship with production and type traits in some dairy breeds in the United Kingdom. Animal Science 66, 569–576.Google Scholar
Poso, J, Mantysaari, E 1996. Relationships between clinical mastitis, somatic cell score, and production for the first three lactations of Finnish Ayshire. Journal of Dairy Science 79, 1284–1291.Google Scholar
Reents, F, Jamrozik, J, Schaeffer, LR, Dekkers, JCM 1995. Estimation of genetic parameters for test day records of somatic cell score. Journal of Dairy Science 78, 2847–2857.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rogers, GW, Hargrove, GL, Lawlor, TJ Jr, Ebersole, JL 1991. Correlations among linear type traits and somatic cell counts. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 1087–1091.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rupp, R, Boichard, D 1999. Genetic parameters for clinical mastitis, somatic cell score, production, udder type traits and milking ease in first lactation Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 2198–2204.Google Scholar
Schukken, YH, Leslie, KE, Weersink, AJ, Martin, SW 1992. Ontario bulk milk somatic cell count program. II. Population dynamics of bulk milk somatic cell counts. Journal of Dairy Science 75, 3359–3366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Serrano, M, Perez-Guzman, MD, Montoro, V, Jurdo, JJ 2003. Genetic analysis of somatic cell count and milk traits in Manchega ewes mean lactation and test-day approaches. Livestock Production Science 84, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Setati, MM, Norris, D, Banga, CB, Benyi, K 2004. Relationships between longevity and linear type traits in Holstein cattle of Southern Africa. Tropical Animal Health and Production 36, 807–814.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shook, GE 1989. Selection for disease resistance. Journal of Dairy Science 72, 1348–1353.Google Scholar
Sorensen, MK, Jensen, J, Christensen, LG 2000. Udder conformation and mastitis resistance in Danish first lactation cows: heritabilities, genetic and environmental correlations. Acta Agriculture Scandinavia Section A, Animal Science 50, 72–82.Google Scholar
Theron, HE, Mostert, BE 2004. Genetic analyses for conformation traits in South African Jersey and Holstein cattle. South African Journal of Animal Science 34, 47–49.Google Scholar
Zhang, WC, Dekkers, JCM, Banos, G, Burnside, EB 1994. Adjustment factors and genetic evaluation of somatic cell score and relationships with other traits of Canadian Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 77, 659–665.Google Scholar
Zwald, NR, Weigel, KA, Chang, YM, Welper, RD, Clay, JS 2004. Genetic selection for health traits using producer-recorded recorded data. I. Incidence rates, heritability estimates and sire breeding values. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 4287–4294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed