Biomedical subjects

M Rath

Publications and source records attributed to M Rath.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Inbreeding trends and pedigree analysis of Irish dairy and beef cattle populations.

The objective of this study was to determine the inbreeding levels and to analyze the pedigree of Irish purebred populations of Charolais, Limousin, Hereford, Angus, and Simmental beef cattle, as well as the Holstein-Friesian dairy breed. Pedigree analyses included quantifying the depth of known pedigree, average generation intervals, effective population size, the effective number of founders, ancestors, and founder genomes, as well as identifying the most influential animals within the current population of each breed. The annual rate of increase in inbreeding over the past decade was 0.13% (P < 0.001) in the Hereford, 0.06% (P < 0.001) in the Simmental, and 0.10% (P < 0.001) in the Holstein-Friesian breeds. Inbreeding in the other breeds remained relatively constant over the past decade. Herefords had the greatest mean inbreeding in 2004, at 2.19%, whereas Charolais had the lowest, at 0.54%. Over half of each purebred population in 2004 was inbred to some degree; the population with the greatest proportion of animals inbred was the Hereford breed (85%). All 6 breeds displayed a generation interval of approximately 6 yr in recent years. In the pure-bred females born in 2004, the 3 most influential animals contributed between 11% (Limousin) and 24% (Hereford) of the genes. Effective population size was estimated for the Hereford, Simmental, and Holstein-Friesian only, and was 64, 127, and 75, respectively. The effective number of founders varied from 55 (Simmental) to 357 (Charolais), whereas the effective number of ancestors varied from 35 (Simmental and Hereford) to 82 (Limousin). Thus, despite the majority of animals being inbred, the inbreeding level across breeds is low but rising at a slow rate in the Hereford, Simmental, and Holstein-Friesian.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Mechanistic aspects of apoptosis induction by l-lysine in both HTLV-1-positive and -negative cell lines.

The retrovirus human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), which remains with no cure. This study evaluates the effects of l-lysine on proliferation and induction of apoptosis using non-cytotoxic concentrations of the test compound against HTLV-1 positive and negative malignant cell lines. The anti-proliferative effect of lysine was established and confirmed by studying the effects of the test compound on the expression of TGF mRNA expression by RT-PCR. To investigate the effect of l-lysine on the induction of apoptosis, DNA flow cytometry analyses was done and the results verified by cell death ELISA. The results indicated that a significant increase in the preG(1) phase and a decrease in the S phase of the cell cycle in all of the ATL cells tested. l-Lysine up-regulated p53, p21, and Bax protein levels and a down-regulation of Bcl-2alpha in all the cell lines tested. l-Lysine was found to exert its effect through the NF-kappaB pathway by inhibiting the p65 subunit specifically. Also l-lysine caused a decrease in the levels MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as their enzymatic activity.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Apoptosis induction by Epican Forte in HTLV-1 positive and negative malignant T-cells.

The effects of a novel nutrient formulation Epican Forte (EF) were evaluated on proliferation and induction of apoptosis using non-cytotoxic concentrations against HTLV-1 positive (HuT-102 & C91-PL) and negative (CEM & Jurkat) cells. EF showed anti-proliferative effect as determined by MTT assay and TGF mRNA protein expression using RT-PCR. EF resulted in the down-regulation of TGF-alpha and an up-regulation in TGF-beta2. EF caused a significant increase in apoptotic cells in the preG1 phase. These results were confirmed using Cell Death ELISA and Annexin V-FITC. Induction of apoptosis was caused by an up-regulation of p53, p21 and Bax protein levels and a down-regulation of Bcl-2alpha protein expression level.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2005

The effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian cow and feeding system on postpartum ovarian function, animal production and conception rate to first service.

Three strains of Holstein-Friesian (HF): high production North American (HP), high durability North American (HD) and New Zealand (NZ) cows were assigned, within strain, to one of three pasture-based feeding systems: (1) the Moorepark (control) system (MP), (2) a high concentrate system (HC), (3) a high stocking rate system (HS). Ovarian function was assessed using milk progesterone samples, collected from 117 cows in each of two successive years, with 81 animals being common to both years. Milk samples were collected thrice weekly, beginning day 5 post-calving and continued to day 26 after first AI. Data from animals subsequent to reproductive hormonal treatment were removed from the analysis. Feed system and strain of HF by feeding system interaction had no significant effect on re-establishment of ovarian activity and subsequent conception rate to first AI. Strain of HF had no significant effect on interval to commencement of luteal activity (CLA). The mean interval to CLA was 32.9 days (S.E. 1.18), ranged from 6 to 100 days, with 42 and 85% of cows ovulating by day 26 and 60, respectively. The HD (62%) and NZ (57%) strains had a higher conception rate to first AI than the HP strain (40%), (P < 0.05). Retrospective analysis categorised all cows into four quartiles based on interval to CLA (< 20 days, 20-26 days, 27-44 days and > 44 days). Cows in the first and fourth CLA quartiles had a longer calving to conception interval (P < 0.05). Cows with abnormal progesterone profiles (38.4%) had an earlier mean calving date, with a similar submission rate and conception rate to first service compared to cows with normal hormonal profiles. There was no significant difference in luteal activity or reproduction performance, apart from calving to conception interval, between cows that conceived or did not conceive to first service. These results indicate that while conception rate to first service differed between strains of HF cow, this was not associated with differences in the onset and pattern of luteal activity post partum.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2005

Bioflavonoids effectively inhibit smooth muscle cell-mediated contraction of collagen matrix induced by angiotensin II.

Plant-derived bioflavonoids have been recognized to support arterial wall structural integrity and interfere with a variety of proatherosclerotic stimuli. In this study we tested the effects of bioflavonoids on the contractile activity of cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) embedded in a 3-dimensional type I collagen matrix. Collagen I solution mixed with human aortic SMC in 24-well plates were allowed to form gels. Tested compounds were added to the wells, and the gels were set afloat by gentle tapping. Digital photographs of the gels were taken after 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C. The area of contracted gel was measured and expressed as a percentage of the control gel area from 3 or more replicates. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) in conditioned media was assessed by gel zymography. Different classes of bioflavanoids showed variable efficiency in inhibiting angiotensin II (ATII)-dependent collagen gel contraction by SMCs. An increase in the number of gallate groups per catechin molecule was associated with increased inhibition of angiotensin II-dependent collagen gel contraction by SMC. Antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine and ascorbic acid) did not inhibit collagen gel contraction. Bioflavonoid inhibition of collagen gel contraction by SMC correlated with inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression. Bioflavonoids participate in the regulation of SMC-mediated contraction and have a strong potential in counteracting pathophysiological effects of ATII. Bioflavonoid activity depends on structural characteristics and can be related to extracellular matrix integrity.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed2005

The interaction of strain of Holstein-Friesian cows and pasture-based feed systems on milk yield, body weight, and body condition score.

Interactions between genotype and environment are becoming increasingly important as cattle genotypes are being managed in a diverse range of environments worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate if there is an interaction of strain of Holstein-Friesian cows (HF) by grass-based feed system that affects milk production, body weight, and body condition score. Three strains of HF were compared on 3 pasture-based feed systems over 3 consecutive years. The 3 strains of HF were: high production North American, high durability North American, and New Zealand. The 3 grass-based feeding systems (FS) were: a high grass allowance system (MPFS), a high concentrate system (HCFS), and a high stocking rate system (HSFS). There was a separate farmlet for each FS and a total of 99, 117, and 117 animals were used in yr 1, 2, and 3 respectively, divided equally between strains of HF and FS. The high production cows produced the highest yield of milk, the New Zealand the lowest, and the high durability animals were intermediate. Milk fat and protein content were higher for the New Zealand strain than for the high production and high durability strains. The New Zealand strain had the lowest body weight and the highest condition score, whereas the high durability strain had the highest body weight, and the high production strain had the lowest condition score. There was a strain x FS interaction for yield of milk, fat, and protein. The milk production response to increased concentrate supplementation (MPFS vs. HCFS) was greater with both the high production and high durability strains (1.10 kg of milk/kg of concentrate for high production; 1.00 kg of milk/kg of concentrate for high durability) than the New Zealand strain (0.55 kg of milk/kg of concentrate). The results indicate that the optimum strain of HF will vary with feed system.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2004

Description and validation of the Moorepark Dairy System Model.

A stochastic budgetary simulation model of a dairy farm was developed to allow investigation of the effects of varying biological, technical, and physical processes on farm profitability. The model integrates animal inventory and valuation, milk supply, feed requirement, land and labor utilization, and economic analysis. A key model output is the estimated distribution of farm profitability, which is a function of total receipts from milk, calves, and cull cows less all variable and fixed costs (including an imputed cost for labor). An application of the model was demonstrated by modeling 2 calving patterns: a mean calving date of February 24 (S1) and a mean calving date of January 27 (S2). Monte Carlo simulation was used to determine the influence of variation in milk price, concentrate cost, and silage quality on farm profitability under each scenario. Model validation was conducted by comparing the results from the model against data collected from 21 commercial dairy farms. The net farm profit with S1 was 53,547 euros, and that with S2 was 51,687 euros; the annual EU milk quota was 468,000 kg, and farm size was 40 ha. Monte Carlo simulation showed that the S1 scenario was stochastically dominant over the S2 scenario. Sensitivity analyses showed that farm profit was most sensitive to changes in milk price. The partial coefficients of determination were 99.2, 0.7, and 0.1% for milk price, concentrate cost, and silage quality, respectively, in S1; the corresponding values in S2 were 97.6, 2.3, and 0.1%. Validations of the model showed that it could be used with confidence to study systems of milk production under Irish conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Supplementary concentrate type affects nitrogen excretion of grazing dairy cows.

These experiments were designed to investigate nutritional means of reducing urine N excretion by grazing cows. In experiment 1, 36 Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 92 d in milk were fed either 1 or 6 kg of a high protein concentrate or 6 kg of a low protein concentrate. Pasture dry matter (DM) intake was higher for cows fed 1 kg of high protein concentrate (15.4 +/- 0.62 kg/d) than for cows fed 6 kg of low protein concentrate (13.4 +/- 0.55) but not for cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate (13.9 +/- 0.96). The reduction in pasture intake per kg of concentrate DM ingested amounted to 0.35 and 0.47 kg of pasture DM for cows fed 6 kg of high protein and 6 kg of low protein concentrate, respectively. Milk yield and milk protein yield were higher for cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate than for cows fed 1 kg of high protein concentrate. Cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate had the highest levels of N intake, total N excretion, and urine N excretion. The proportion of N excreted in the urine was lowest for cows fed 6 kg of low protein concentrate. Milk N excretion as a proportion of ingested N was higher for cows fed 6 kg of low protein concentrate than for cows fed 6 kg of high protein concentrate but not for cows fed 1 kg of high protein concentrate. In experiment 2, 24 Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 211 d in milk were supplemented with 4 kg of rolled barley or 4.32 kg of NaOH-treated barley. Milk yield and milk protein yield tended to be higher for cows fed rolled barley than for cows fed NaOH-treated barley. There was no difference in N intake, fecal N excretion, urinary N excretion, or milk N output between diets. Milk urea N concentration was lower for cows fed rolled barley. Significant positive linear relationships were found between N intake and fecal N excretion, urine N excretion, and milk N excretion in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the relationships between N intake and fecal N excretion and urine N excretion were curvilinear, with urine N excretion increasing at a decreasing rate, and fecal N excretion increasing at an increasing rate, as N intake increased. The N excreted by dairy cows may be partitioned to fecal N if supplements based on high concentrations of fermentable organic matter and low concentrations of N are fed. Refinement of this nutritional strategy may allow reduced N excretion without reducing animal performance.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effect of offering rumen-protected fat supplements on fertility and performance in spring-calving Holstein-Friesian cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different rumen-protected fat supplements, on reproductive performance and milk production, in grass-based spring calving cows. Two hundred and one Holstein-Friesian cows with an average lactation number of 3.6 (20% first lactation, 16% second lactation and 64% third lactation or greater) were grouped into blocks of three on the basis of calving date, lactation number and previous lactation milk yield for cows of second lactation or greater and on the basis of calving date for first lactation animals. From within-blocks individual animals were assigned at random, within 10 days post-calving, to one of the following three treatments: (1) Megalac Plus 3% (MP; 0.4kg/day, containing Ca salt of palm fatty acids and Ca salt of methionine hydroxy analogue), (2) Megapro Gold (MPG; 1.5kg/day, containing Ca salt of palm fatty acids, extracted rapeseed meal and whey permeate), and (3) Control (C; unsupplemented). Cows were supplemented for on average 103 days (range 54-134 days). The average milk yield over the first 12 weeks of lactation was higher (P<0.05) for both fat supplements compared to C and was higher for MP compared to C over the full lactation. Both supplements reduced (P<0.05) milk protein concentration over the first 6 weeks of lactation. MPG increased (P<0.05) conception rate to first service compared to C. Conception rate to first service was similar (P=0.14) on MP compared to C. For pregnancy to second service, C had a higher (P<0.05) conception rate than MP. There were no significant differences between treatments in overall pregnancy rate, services per conception, number of cows served in the first 3 weeks of the breeding season or the 6-weeks in-calf rate. Comparing the combined fat treatments to C resulted in a higher (P<0.05) conception rate to first service for the fat treatments but no significant difference in overall pregnancy rate. In conclusion, fat supplements increased conception rate to first service but did not significantly affect the proportion of cows pregnant at the end of the breeding season.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effect of genetic merit and concentrate supplementation on grass intake and milk production with Holstein Friesian dairy cows.

A total of 48 high genetic merit (HM) and 48 medium merit (MM) cows, each given a low (LC), medium (MC), or high (HC) level of concentrate supplementation, were used in a split-plot design experiment, which was run in three consecutive years, to evaluate animal production responses. Individual cow intakes were estimated twice each year while at pasture; measurement period 1 (MP1) was in May/June, and measurement period 2 (MP2) was in early September, corresponding on average to d 110 and 200 of lactation, respectively. In MP1, cows were offered 0 (LC), 3 (MC), and 6 kg (HC), whereas in MP2 the levels were 0 (LC), 0 (MC), and 4 kg (HC) of concentrate daily. Genotype had a significant effect on all milk production parameters in MP1 and MP2. The HM cows had the highest yield of milk, fat, protein, and lactose, whereas the MM cows had the highest milk fat, protein, and lactose concentrations. The HM cows had significantly higher grass dry matter intake (GDMI) estimates. In MP1, the average responses, per kg concentrate dry matter, was +1.10 kg of milk, +0.038 kg of protein, +0.032 kg of fat. The corresponding values in MP2 were +0.94 kg of milk, +0.037 kg of protein, and +0.025 kg of fat. The response to concentrate was linear and independent of preexperimental milk yield. In MP1, the partial regression coefficients relating daily GDMI to an increase in 1 kg of preexperimental milk yield (PMY), preexperimental BW (PBW), and concentrate intake (CI) were 0.123, 0.006, and -0.54, respectively, whereas the corresponding values in MP2 were 0.190,0.007, and-0.444, respectively. This study indicates that with high yielding dairy cows, on gras only GDMI of 17 kg of supporting milk yield of 30-kg/d is achievable. In this scenario, concentrate supplementation will result in lower substitution rates, and higher milk yield response than previously published with lower yielding cows.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed2003

Dietary cation-anion difference and the health and production of pasture-fed dairy cows. 1. Dairy cows in early lactation.

Diets offered to lactating dairy cows in the pasture-based dairy systems in southeastern Australia can vary in their dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) from 0 to +76 mEq/100 g. The effects of such a range of DCAD on the health and production of cows, on a predominantly pasture-based diet, were examined in an indoor feeding experiment. Four groups of five cows were offered a diet of 5 kg of barley and ad libitum pasture, which is a diet representative of what is offered to cows in early lactation in the region. The cows were supplemented twice daily, with varying levels of salt combinations to alter the DCAD, which ranged from +21 to +127 mEq/100 g. Although a reduction in DCAD to +21 mEq/100 g caused a nonrespiratory systemic acidosis, there was a threshold value, above which blood and urine pH did not appear affected, although the strong ion difference of blood and urine and the blood bicarbonate concentration increased linearly (P < 0.05, 0.001, and 0.01, respectively). A DCAD above +21 mEq/100 g linearly reduced dry matter intake (P < 0.1), average daily bodyweight gain (P < 0.05), and milk protein yield (P < 0.05) but did not have a significant effect on the concentration of fat, protein, or lactose in milk. Although data were consistent with a tendency for milk yield to decrease as dietary cation-anion differences increased, this trend was not statistically significant. Urine hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio increased (P < 0.001) as dietary cation-anion difference increased, possibly suggesting an increased rate of uterine involution. It is concluded that a range in the dietary cation-anion difference, above +52 mEq/100 g, may have deleterious effects on dry matter intake and milk production.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed2003

Dietary cation-anion difference and the health and production of pasture-fed dairy cows 2. Nonlactating periparturient cows.

Anecdotal observations of reduced hypocalcemia due to small reductions in the precalving dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) are widely reported in Australia and New Zealand. Diets offered to nonlactating, periparturient dairy cows in pasture-based dairy systems in southeastern Australia can vary in their cation-anion difference from 0 to +76 mEq/100 g. The effects of such a range in the DCAD on the health and production of cows, on a pasture-based diet, were examined in an indoor feeding experiment. Four groups of four cows were offered pasture-hay and freshly cut pasture, a periparturient diet typical of that associated with the grazing system in Australia and New Zealand. Varying levels of salt supplementation were used to alter the dietary cation-anion difference, which ranged from -12 to +69 mEq/100 g. Blood and urine pH and mineral concentrations and urine hydroxyproline were measured. The addition of anions to the diet, to produce a negative DCAD, resulted in a nonrespiratory systemic acidosis. With decreasing DCAD, the pH of blood and urine and the strong ion difference of urine decreased curvilinearly, blood bicarbonate decreased linearly and the urinary ratio of Ca to creatinine increased curvilinearly. Although systemic pH was not reduced at a DCAD of +16 mEq/100 g, urine Ca-to-creatinine ratio had begun to rise, probably indicating increased calcium absorption. The absorption and renal excretion of Mg increased with decreasing DCAD. No differences were observed in urine hydroxyproline concentrations and no significant differences in milk production were measured.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2003

Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility in dairy cows.

Genetic (co)variances between body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), milk production, and fertility-related traits were estimated. The data analyzed included 8591 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with records for BCS, BW, milk production, and/or fertility from 78 seasonal calving grass-based farms throughout southern Ireland. Of the cows included in the analysis, 4402 had repeated records across the 2 yr of the study. Genetic correlations between level of BCS at different stages of lactation and total lactation milk production were negative (-0.51 to -0.14). Genetic correlations between BW at different stages of lactation and total lactation milk production were all close to zero but became positive (0.01 to 0.39) after adjusting BW for differences in BCS. Body condition score at different stages of lactation correlated favorably with improved fertility; genetic correlations between BCS and pregnant 63 d after the start of breeding season ranged from 0.29 to 0.42. Both BW at different stages of lactation and milk production tended to exhibit negative genetic correlations with pregnant to first service and pregnant 63 d after the start of the breeding season and positive genetic correlations with number of services and the interval from first service to conception. Selection indexes investigated illustrate the possibility of continued selection for increased milk production without any deleterious effects on fertility or average BCS, albeit, genetic merit for milk production would increase at a slower rate.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effects of different transition diets on dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition in dairy cows.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk composition, body weight (BW), and body condition score (BCS) change of cows offered diets differing in energy density in the last 4 wk of gestation and in the first 8 wk of lactation. Three diets (grass silage:straw, 75:25 on a dry matter basis (SS), grass silage (S), and grass silage + 3 kg concentrate daily (C)) precalving, and two diets (4 kg [LC] or 8 kg [HC] concentrate daily + grass silage ad libitum) postcalving were combined in a 3 x 2 factorial design. Sixty Holstein-Friesian cows entering their second lactation were blocked according to expected calving date and BCS into groups of six and were then allocated at random to the treatments. Individual feeding started 4 wk prior to the expected calving date and measurements were made until the end of the 8th wk of lactation. Mean DMI differed between each of the precalving treatments (7.4, 8.1, and 9.9 kg/d for SS, S, and C, respectively) in the precalving period. The DMI also differed between SS and C for wk 1 to 8 (13.5 and 14.2 kg/d) postcalving. Postcalving, milk (24.2, 26.2, and 28.2 kg/d), fat (933, 1063, and 1171 g/d), and protein (736, 797, and 874 g/d) yields differed between SS, S, and C, respectively. The BCS changes differed between SS and C (-0.09 and 0.12 of a BCS) in the precalving period and between SS and S compared with C (0.02, 0.06, and -0.26 of a BCS) for wk 1 to 8 postcalving. The BW change differed between SS and S compared with C in both wk 1 to 4 (-0.23, -0.37, and -1.25 kg/d) and wk 1 to 8 (0.18, 0.10, and -0.58 kg/ d) postcalving. The BW and BCS were lower at calving for cows on SS compared with C. The greater amount of concentrate supplement postcalving increased DMI, yields of milk, fat, and protein and decreased BW loss in the first 8 wk of lactation. In conclusion, these results indicate that a greater energy density diet in the final 4 wk of the dry period improves cow production in early lactation.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed2003

A low dietary cation-anion difference precalving and calcium supplementation postcalving increase plasma calcium but not milk production in a pasture-based system.

It was hypothesized that a reduction in the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) before calving, combined with an increase in Ca intake after calving, would reduce the incidence of periparturient hypocalcaemia and increase milk production in pasture-based dairy cows. Cows (n = 40) were assigned to one of two DCAD levels before calving (i.e., +7 and +50 mEq/100 g). Each group was then assigned to one of two dietary Ca concentrations after calving (i.e., 1.0 and 0.7%) in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The lower DCAD resulted in a nonrespiratory reduction in systemic pH as indicated by a lower urine pH. This acidosis resulted in an increased concentration of Ca in urine before calving. The lower precalving DCAD helped prevent the decline in blood Ca caused by the onset of lactation, even though blood Ca concentration was lower before calving compared with cows receiving a high DCAD. Supplementation of cows with Ca after calving increased plasma Ca concentration on the day of calving and during the subsequent 14 d. Milk production was not affected by pre- or postcalving treatments.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2003

Genetic parameters for body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility estimated using random regression models.

Genetic (co)variances between body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), milk yield, and fertility were estimated using a random regression animal model extended to multivariate analysis. The data analyzed included 81,313 BCS observations, 91,937 BW observations, and 100,458 milk test-day yields from 8725 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows. A cubic random regression was sufficient to model the changing genetic variances for BCS, BW, and milk across different days in milk. The genetic correlations between BCS and fertility changed little over the lactation; genetic correlations between BCS and interval to first service and between BCS and pregnancy rate to first service varied from -0.47 to -0.31, and from 0.15 to 0.38, respectively. This suggests that maximum genetic gain in fertility from indirect selection on BCS should be based on measurements taken in midlactation when the genetic variance for BCS is largest. Selection for increased BW resulted in shorter intervals to first service, but more services and poorer pregnancy rates; genetic correlations between BW and pregnancy rate to first service varied from -0.52 to -0.45. Genetic selection for higher lactation milk yield alone through selection on increased milk yield in early lactation is likely to have a more deleterious effect on genetic merit for fertility than selection on higher milk yield in late lactation.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Genetic parameters for level and change of body condition score and body weight in dairy cows.

(Co)variance components for body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), BCS change, BW change, and milk yield traits were estimated. The data analyzed included 6646 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with records for BCS, BW, and(or) milk yield at different stages of lactation from 74 dairy herds throughout Southern Ireland. Heritability estimates for BCS ranged from 0.27 to 0.37, while those for BCS change ranged from 0.02 to 0.10. Heritability estimates for BW records varied from 0.39 to 0.50, while heritabilities for BW change were similar to those observed for BCS change (0.03 to 0.09). The genetic correlations between BCS and BW at the same days in milk deviated little from 0.50, and the genetic correlations between BCS change and BW change over the same period ranged from 0.42 to 0.55. BCS and BW directly postpartum were both phenotypically and genetically negatively correlated with both BW change and BCS change in early lactation. The genetic correlations between BCS and milk yield were negative. The results of the present study show that animals that lose most BCS in early lactation tend to gain most BCS in late lactation, a trend also exhibited by BW.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Genetic merit for milk production and reproductive success in dairy cows.

The effect of genetic merit for milk production traits - fat, protein and milk yield - in dairy cows on milk production, body condition, blood metabolites, reproductive hormones, feed intake and reproductive performance was studied over a period of 2 years. Cows were grouped into two categories, based on calculated pedigree indices using multiple-trait across country evaluation (MACE). Cows of high genetic merit (HGM, n = 48 in year 1 and n = 46 in year 2) had a mean predicted difference +/- standard deviation for milk production of 475 +/- 76kg. The cows of medium genetic merit (MGM, n = 48 in both years) had a mean predicted difference for milk production of 140 +/- 68kg. The cows calved between January and April, and were offered grass silage ad libitum plus 9kg concentrates per cow per day, irrespective genetic merit, from calving to turnout in March, when they were subjected to one of three grazing systems. Cows were available for rebreeding from late April until late July of each year.High genetic merit cows had higher milk production, incurred greater body condition loss between calving and first service and had lower plasma glucose and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations than medium genetic merit cows. Furthermore, HGM cows had lower first and second service and overall conception rates, and required more services per conception than the MGM cows. Cows that did not conceive to first service were retrospectively compared to those that conceived to first service within each genetic merit group. There were no significant differences between the HGM cows that did not conceive to first service and those that conceived to this service in terms of milk production, body condition score change between calving and first service, feed intake at first service, or in plasma concentrations of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) or IGF-1. Medium genetic merit cows that did not conceive to first service lost more body condition between calving and first service than did those that conceived to this service. In the present study, HGM cows had higher milk production and reduced reproductive performance in comparison with MGM cows. However, reproductive performance was not associated with milk production, feed intake or plasma concentrations of glucose, NEFA or IGF-1 between calving and first service, since there were no significant differences in these variates between high or medium genetic merit cows that did not conceive to first service and those that conceived to this service. Therefore, these variates are unlikely to be useful predictors of reproductive performance, under the conditions of the present study.

Animals↗