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Genetic analysis of return over feed in Canadian Holsteins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

J. Bohmanova ,
F. Miglior ,
J. Jamrozik ,
B. J. Van Doormaal ,
K. J. Hand  and
D. Lazenby
J. Bohmanova*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
F. Miglior
Affiliation:
Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, J1M 1Z3, Canada Canadian Dairy Network, Guelph, ON, N1K 1E5, Canada
J. Jamrozik
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
B. J. Van Doormaal
Affiliation:
Canadian Dairy Network, Guelph, ON, N1K 1E5, Canada
K. J. Hand
Affiliation:
CanWest DHI, Guelph, ON, N1K 1E5, Canada
D. Lazenby
Affiliation:
CanWest DHI, Guelph, ON, N1K 1E5, Canada
*
†E-mail: jbohmano@uoguelph.ca
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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate genetic merit of return over feed (ROF), which is a herd profit index defined by CanWest Dairy Herd Improvement as a difference between milk income and feed cost. A multiple-trait (MT) model and random regression model (RRM) were used. The traits analyzed in MT were rearing cost and ROF of the first three lactations. In RRM, a cumulative ROF was fitted as function of age and rearing cost was treated as a correlated trait. Variance components were estimated within a Bayesian framework by Gibbs sampling using a subsample of data. Breeding values were then estimated for 3 041 078 animals using records of 1 951 893 cows. Estimates of heritability for rearing cost from MT and RRM were 0.23 and 0.22, respectively. ROF per lactation and cumulative ROF were negatively correlated with rearing cost. Estimates of heritability of ROF through the first, second and third lactation from MT were 0.27, 0.10 and 0.08, respectively. Estimates of heritability of ROF from RRM increased with age and ranged from 0.08 through 0.31. Estimated breeding values (EBVs) for ROF from MT and RRM were moderately correlated with official EBV for production traits and the Canadian selection index (Lifetime Profit Index). Herd life EBV had −0.07 and 0.19 correlations with EBVs for ROF from MT and RRM, respectively. From both MT and RRM, small favorable correlations were reported between EBVs for ROF and for bone quality and angularity, whereas low unfavorable correlations were reported with EBV for udder depth, front end and chest width. Majority of correlations between EBVs for ROF and for reproduction traits were near 0, with the exception of EBV for gestation length, calf size and calving ease, where small favorable correlations were reported. The ROF is a good indicator of cow profitability despite the fact that it is a simplified profit index that does not account for animal-specific health and reproductive cost. However, because ROF does not account for differences in heritabilities between components of profit, ROF is not recommended to be used for direct selection for profit.

Keywords

cow profitabilityvariance component estimationbreeding values
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , February 2010 , pp. 173 - 182
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2009

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