GénoSanté: Improving productive health of dairy cows by genomic selection and management: A first step with ketosis

Abstract

Started in 2015, GénoSanté is a collaborative project bringing together French companies (AI cooperatives with Evolution, Elitest and Auriva, milk recording organizations and herd support with BCEL-Ouest, Seenergi and EILYPS, and dairy industry with Agrial) and research organizations (INRA, ALLICE, and IDELE). The aim of this project is to provide selection tools on new traits to improve productive health, in order to improve the profitability and sustainability of dairy herds. The first results deal with ketosis, one of the most common disorders in dairy cows due to energy deficit in early lactation. Its prevalence reaches 4% and 12-20% for clinical and subclinical forms, respectively. Data included milk beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetone and a ketosis indicator (Cetodetect®) from 887,000 Holstein (3 million samples) and 148,000 Normande cows (487,000 samples) collected between 2012 and 2015, from 7 to 120 days in milk. BHB and acetone measurements were predicted from Mid Infra Red spectra and log-transformed to improve normality. Genetic breeding values and permanent environment effects were estimated using a repeatability BLUP animal model applied to multiple lactations. Heritability estimates of BHB were 0.12 and 0.15 in Holstein and Normande breeds, respectively, and 0.10 and 0.16 for acetone. Genetic correlation estimates between the 3 traits ranged from 0.72 to 0.85 in Holstein and from 0.85 to 0.98 in Normande. A genomic evaluation was carried out with a reference population of 31,213 Holstein and 6,870 Normande males and females with both genotype and phenotypes. These new indices are part of a Productive Health synthesis in combination with udder health, fertility, and longevity. As part of the same project, genetic and genomic evaluations for claw disorders are in preparation.