Index for Mastitis Resistance and Use of BHBA for Evaluation of Health Traits in Canadian Holsteins

Authors

  • Filippo Miglior Canadian Dairy Network CGIL, University of Guelph
  • Astrid Koeck CGIL, University of Guelph
  • Janusz Jamrozik CGIL, University of Guelph
  • Flavio Schenkel CGIL, University of Guelph
  • David Kelton Dept of Population Medicine, OVC, University of Guelph
  • Gerrit Kistemaker Canadian Dairy Network
  • Brian Van Doormaal Canadian Dairy Network

Keywords:

mastitis resistance, genetic evaluation, ß-hydroxybutyrate, metabolic disease

Abstract

A routine genetic evaluation for mastitis resistance will be officially implemented in Canada in August 2014 for Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey breeds. The model is a multiple-trait linear animal model including mastitis, average SCS in early lactation, standard deviation of SCS, excessive test-day SCC, fore udder attachment, udder depth and body condition score. Genetic evaluations for clinical mastitis in first lactation as well as in second and later lactations are calculated and expressed as relative breeding values with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 5, where higher values are desirable. An index for Mastitis Resistance was developed that includes both the two clinical mastitis traits and the official SCS evaluation, with equal weights.

Hyperketonemia or ketosis is one of the most frequent diseases in dairy cattle and the level of milk ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) is an indicator of subclinical ketosis. Heritability estimates for milk BHBA in Canadian Holstein cows were between 0.13 and 0.29. Higher milk BHBA in early lactation was genetically associated with a higher frequency of clinical ketosis and displaced abomasum. Milk BHBA can be routinely analyzed in milk samples at test-days, and, therefore, provides a potential alternative for breeding cows with a lower susceptibility to hyperketonemia.

Author Biographies

Filippo Miglior, Canadian Dairy Network CGIL, University of Guelph

Astrid Koeck, CGIL, University of Guelph

Janusz Jamrozik, CGIL, University of Guelph

Flavio Schenkel, CGIL, University of Guelph

David Kelton, Dept of Population Medicine, OVC, University of Guelph

Gerrit Kistemaker, Canadian Dairy Network

Brian Van Doormaal, Canadian Dairy Network

Downloads

Published

2014-06-22

Issue

No. 48 (2014): Proceedings of the 2014 Interbull Meeting

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

    1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

 

    1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

 

    1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).