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Genetic relationships between calving interval and body condition score conditional on milk yield.

Body condition score (BCS) is a useful tool in assessing the energy status of dairy cattle. Previous research has shown that it is heritable and genetically correlated to reproductive performance. Currently, interest exists in developing selection indexes for fertility that include BCS information. Before such indexes are developed, it is important to assess the genetic covariance between BCS and fertility after fully accounting for the covariance of both traits with milk yield, as indices to predict selection responses require knowledge of these (co)variances. In the present study, calving interval (CI) was used as a measure of reproductive performance. The genetic correlations between BCS and CI before and after genetically adjusting for milk yield were -0.48 and -0.22, respectively. Thus, cows with low BCS have longer CI, which is exacerbated by high levels of milk production. Using selection index theory, we showed that selecting for milk yield alone will result in an increase of 768 kg of milk, an increase of 4.46 d in CI and a reduction of 0.41 BCS units for every standard deviation change in the index. Restricting BCS to no genetic change, whereas still selecting for milk yield will result in an increase of 653.1 kg of milk per standard deviation of the selection index. However, CI will still continue to increase at a rate of 3.20 d per standard deviation of the selection index. The selection indices used here are not optimum, in that they are not economically driven and do not consider all traits that contribute to profitability. However, they demonstrate that, even though restricting BCS may be seen as an attractive way of limiting reliance of body tissue mobilization to fuel milk production, this is unlikely to result in improvements in CI, although the rate of increase in CI will be reduced.

Analysis of Variance↗

The yield and composition of milk in Sarda, Awassi, and Merino sheep milked unilaterally at different frequencies.

Sarda (n = 8), Awassi (n = 8), and Merino (n = 8) ewes were subjected unilaterally to once-daily milking (ODM) or twice daily milking (TDM) to test the hypothesis that the two breeds highly selected for milk production (Sarda and Awassi) would not respond as much to a change in the frequency of milking as the Merino, a wool sheep that has not been selected for dairy production. Milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC) were also assessed to determine if the changes in milking frequency affected milk quality. Milk yield was 24% and 18% lower in ODM udder halves than TDM udder halves in Sarda and Awassi breeds, respectively. The yield loss due to ODM was similar to that observed in Merino ewes (23%) and did not support our hypothesis. Fat content did not differ significantly in any breeds between ODM and TDM udder halves. Protein content was higher in the milk of ODM than TDM udder halves in Sarda and Merino ewes. The SCC was influenced by milking treatment only in the Sarda ewes, with high values observed in the milk of ODM udder halves. The same trend was observed in the Awassi and Merino breeds, but the differences were not significant. The effects on milk yield, composition, and SCC caused by ODM were completely reversed when TDM was resumed. This suggests that in sheep flocks the milk yield losses due to short-time suppression of one daily milking, for example, on festive days, are low and temporary.

Animals↗

Effect of incomplete pedigrees on estimates of inbreeding and inbreeding depression for days to first service and summit milk yield in Holsteins and Jerseys.

A method to measure completeness of pedigree information is applied to populations of Holstein (registered and grade) and Jersey (largely registered) cows. Inbreeding coefficients where missing ancestors make no contribution were compared to a method using average relationships for missing ancestors. Estimated inbreeding depression was from an animal model that simultaneously adjusted for breeding values. Inbreeding and its standard deviation increased with more information, from 0.04 +/- 0.84 to 1.65 +/- 2.05 and 2.06 +/- 2.22 for grade Holsteins with <31%, 31 to 70%, and 71 to 100% complete five-generation pedigrees. Inbreeding from the method of average relationships for missing ancestors was 2.75 +/- 1.06, 3.10 +/- 2.21, and 2.89 +/- 2.37 for the same groups. Pedigrees of registered Holsteins and Jerseys were over 97% and over 89% complete, respectively. Inbreeding depression in days to first service and summit milk yield was estimated from both methods. Inbreeding depression for days to first service was not consistently significant for grade Holsteins and ranged from -0.37 d/1% increase in inbreeding (grade Holstein pedigrees <31% complete) to 0.15 d for grade Holstein pedigrees >70% complete. Estimates were similar for both methods. Inbreeding depression for registered Holsteins and Jerseys were positive (undesirable) but not significant for days to first service. Inbreeding depressed summit milk yield significantly in all groups by both methods. Summit milk yield declined by -0.12 to -0.06 kg/d per 1% increase in inbreeding in Holsteins and by -0.08 kg/1% increase in inbreeding in Jerseys. Pedigrees of grade animals are frequently incomplete and can yield misleading estimates of inbreeding depression. This problem is not overcome by inserting average relationships for missing ancestors in calculation of inbreeding coefficients.

Animals↗

Effect of modified dry period lengths and bovine somatotropin on yield and composition of milk from dairy cows.

Dry periods of 40 to 60 d have been an industry standard because dry periods <40 d have resulted in reduced milk yields in the subsequent lactation by 10 to 30%. However, recent research has demonstrated no production losses for cows given a 30-d dry period. The current study evaluated milk production effects of shortened or omitted dry periods for cows at mature-equivalent production >12,000 kg of milk and treated with bovine somatotropin (bST). The study used 2 commercial dairies and one university dairy and included 4 treatments. Five multiparous and 5 primiparous cows from each farm were assigned to each treatment: 1) 60-d dry period, label use of bST (60DD); 2) 30-d dry period, label use of bST (30DD); 3) continuous milking, label use of bST (CMLST); and 4) continuous milking with continuous use of bST (CMCST). Per label, bST use started at 57 to 70 d in milk and ended 14 d before drying (60DD and 30DD) or expected calving date (CMLST). In primiparous cows, average milk yields during the first 17 wk of lactation were reduced for cows on treatments 30DD, CMLST, and CMCST vs. the 60DD treatment. (38.3, 35.1, and 37.5 vs. 44.1 +/- 1.3 kg/d, respectively). For multiparous cows, respective milk yields did not differ (46.6, 43.4, 46.5, and 47.7 +/- 2.1 kg/d). Shortened or omitted dry periods may impede mammary growth in primiparous cows, resulting in reduced milk yield in the subsequent lactation. In contrast, a shortened or omitted dry period with either bST protocol did not alter production in multiparous cows treated with bST. Quality aspects of prepartum milk and colostrum require additional characterization. For multiparous cows, milk income generated for short dry periods or for continuous milking might increase their profitability. At 17 wk of the subsequent lactation, estimates of the cumulative net margins of multiparous cows on the 30DD treatment and continuous milking treatments exceeded those of cows on the 60DD treatment by 40 dollars to 60 dollars per cow.

Animals↗

Short communication: association between milk yield at dry-off and probability of intramammary infections at calving.

The association between milk yield at dry-off and intramammary infections at calving was evaluated from 116 lactations in one herd. Duplicate quarter samples were collected within 3 d after calving to estimate prevalence of intramammary infection at calving; information on cows' parity, daily milk yields, weekly somatic cell counts, and dry-off and calving dates were available for the data analyses. Generalized linear models with logit link were used to model the probability of a cow or a quarter being infected at calving, accounting for the clustered data. Increasing milk production at dry-off was a significant risk factor for both a cow and a quarter being infected with environmental pathogens at calving, but infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci at calving were not associated with milk yield at dry-off. For every 5-kg increase in milk yield at dry-off above 12.5 kg, the odds of a cow having an environmental intramammary infection at calving increased at least by 77%.

Animals↗

Effects of dietary cation-anion difference on intake, milk yield, and blood components of the early lactation cow.

Early lactation Holsteins cows (15 primiparous and 18 multiparous) were offered rations with dietary cation-anion difference, calculated as mEq (Na + K - Cl - S)/100 g of feed dry matter (DCAD:S), of 20, 35, or 50 mEq from d 0 (calving) to 42 d postpartum (August 20, 2000 to January 9, 2001) to determine the effects of increasing DCAD:S on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, and blood metabolites. For DCAD:S of 20, 35, and 50, DMI was 3.30, 3.38, 2.96 kg/100 kg of body weight (BW); milk yield was 25.5, 24.2, and 22.4 kg/d, respectively. No differences were observed for concentration or yield of milk fat or milk protein. Serum Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl, cation-anion difference, insulin, and glucose did not differ with DCAD. Serum HCO3- was 26.07, 25.88, and 27.64 mEq/L for 20, 35, and 50 DCAD:S. Serum Ca, Mg, Na, and K concentrations were greater for primiparous cows (9.52 mg/dL, 2.35 mg/dL, 140.03 mEq/L, 4.66 mEq/L, respectively) than for multiparous cows (9.27 mg/dL, 2.12 mg/dL, 137.63 mEq/L, 4.46 mEq/ L, respectively). A DCAD:S between 23 and 33 mEq/100 g of dry matter (DM) appears to be adequate during cool weather for the milk yield that occurred in the present study based on DMI (kg/100 kg of BW), whereas DCAD:S of 50 mEq/100 g of DM may be excessive and could be too alkaline or unpalatable, resulting in decreased DMI (kg/100 kg of BW).

Animals↗

Effect of milk protein standardization using different methods on the composition and yields of Cheddar cheese.

Two sets of Cheddar cheese were made in which the milk protein level (%, wt/wt) was increased from 3.3 (Control A, CA) to 3.6 (set A) or from 3.3 (control B, CB) to 4.0 (set B) by the addition of phosphocasein (PC), milk protein concentrate (MPC), or freshly prepared ultrafiltered milk retentate (UFR). The cheeses were denoted CA, PCA, MPCA, and UFRA from set A, and CB, PCB, MPCB, and UFRB, from set B, respectively. The level of cheese moisture decreased significantly on increasing milk protein level from 3.3 to 3.6 or 4.0% (wt/wt), but was not affected significantly by the method of protein standardization. The percentage milk fat recovered to cheese increased significantly on increasing the level of milk protein from 3.3 to 3.6% (wt/wt) with PC, and from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC, MPC, and UFR. Increasing milk protein level from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC significantly increased the percentage of milk protein recovered to cheese. Actual cheese yield increased significantly with milk protein level. The yield of cheese per 100 kg of milk normalized to reference levels of fat (3.4%, wt/wt) and casein (2.53%, wt/wt) indicated no significant effects of protein content or standardization treatment on yield. However, the moisture-adjusted yield per 100 kg of milk with reference levels of fat and casein increased significantly on increasing the protein content from 3.3 to 3.6% (wt/wt) with MPC and from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC, MPC, and UFR.

Animals↗

Factors influencing rumen microbial growth rates and yields: effect of amino acid additions to a purified diet with nitrogen from urea.

Effects of isonitrogenous urea and amino acid additions upon microbial growth in rumen contents from a cow fed a purified diet in which urea was the sole nitrogen source were studied. Incorporation of amino acids into microbial cells, volatile fatty acids, and carbon dioxide was estimated. Rates of microbial growth, volatile fatty acid production, and effects of amino acids upon microbial nitrogen yields were highest right after feeding and decreased with time after feeding. Microbial growth and amounts of amino acids incorporated into microbial cells, volatile fatty acids and carbon dioxide were related closely to quantity of starch remaining in the rumen. High amounts of starch increased microbial protein synthesis from carbon-14 labeled amino acids and reduced amounts of amino acid fermentation. Estimated microbial protein yields per day were 326.0, 444.4, 497.3, and 527.3 g when 0, 15, 30, and 45 mg amino acid nitrogen replaced urea nitrogen during incubation. Respective values for microbial cells per mole estimated adenosine triphosphate were 15.2, 19.2, 21.0, and 24.5. Microbial cell yields per kg carbohydrate digested were 139.0, 189.5, 212.0, and 224.8 g for 0, 15, 30, and 45 mg amino acid nitrogen. Addition of small amounts of amino acids to a diet containing urea as the sole nitrogen source improved considerably rumen microbial protein yields.

Amino Acids↗

Effect of a synthetic corticoid on milk yield and composition and on blood metabolites and hormones in dairy cows.

Twenty-five dairy cows were assigned randomly by breed to flumethasone treatment (10 mug/day, 13 cows) or placebo control (12 cows) from 4 to 44 wk of lactation. Lactation means and trends with stage of lactation were treatment responses. Mean milk yields of cows supplemented with flumethasone were not significantly different from controls. Mean metabolite (glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, and total esterified fatty acids) and hormone concentrations (corticoids, insulin, and prolactin) of blood plasma and their trends throughout lactation were unaffected by supplementation. Data were pooled to determine effects of stage of lactation, temperature, pregnancy, and month on these variables. Changes during lactation were systematic for feed intake, body weight, milk yield, milk components except somatic cells, blood metabolites, and prolactin. At environmental temperatures above 18 C, effects were consistently negative for milk yield and composition, but only above 26 C for feed intake. Prolactin of plasma increased with increasing temperature to 18.2 C and then decreased. No other plasma metabolite or hormone was affected by days pregnant, age, or temperature. Months affected feed intake, milk yield, milk fat percentages, all blood metabolites, and prolactin. Prolactin concentrations increased as daylight hours increased. Our inability to augment established lactation by feeding a supplement of synthetic glucocorticoid to lactating cows is consistent with the view that a lack of avialable corticoids does not limit persistency of lactation in the cow.

Animals↗

Season and treatment effects on serum prolactin and milk yield during induced lactation.

Nineteen nonpregnant, nonlactating dairy cows were allotted to three treatments to induce lactation during winter, 1976, or spring, 1977. All groups received 17 beta-estradiol (.1 mg/kg) days 1 to 7. Groups 2 and 3 also received progesterone (.25 mg/kg) days 1 to 7. Groups 1 and 2 were given reserpine (5 mg intramuscular) on days 8, 10, 12, and 14. Group 3 received reserpine (5 mg intramuscular) on days 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14. Blood samples were collected for prolactin analysis just prior to and 3 h after reserpine injection. Mean daily temperatures were 11.9 C for spring group and -6.5 C for winter group. Comparisons of spring with winter for basal prolactin concentrations, reserpine-stimulated prolactin concentrations, and 100-day milk yields were 44 with 10 ng/ml, 482 with 199 ng/ml, and 1991 with 862 kg. Differences in prolactin concentrations and milk yields among hormone and reserpine treatments could not be detected, but cows on treatment 3 in the spring gave the largest yield of milk. Prolactin concentrations were correlated with milk yields among cows and among cows within seasons. Seasonal differences demonstrate the critical role of prolactin in the treatment to induce lactation.

Animals↗

Influence of dietary energy and protein on yield and composition of milk from cows fed methionine hydroxy analog.

In three trials in consecutive years, 45, 59, and 63 lactating Holstein cows were fed grain mixtures containing either 0 or .25% methionine hydroxy analog with or without protein supplement. In Trial 1, diets were approximately 40% concentrate, and dietary protein averaged 13.2 and 15.8% (dry). Ration dry matter consisted of either 40 or 60% concentrate, and dietary protein averaged 13.5 or 17.3% in Trial 2 whereas concentrate was maintained at 60% of dry matter in Trial 3 with dietary protein at either 13.0, 15.0, or 17.5%. In Trial 1, milk yield or composition did not differ with methionine analog or protein supplementation. Protein supplementation increased milk yield on the 60% concentrate diets in Trial 2, and methionine analog increased milk fat percentage on the 60% concentrate diets. Cows fed 17.5% crude protein in Trial 3 produced more milk than those fed the two lower protein diets. Methionine analog increased milk fat percentage, and this increase was consistent at each percentage of dietary protein. Data from 179 lactations were combined and analyzed for response milk yield and composition to methionine analog included at either 0 or .25 to .30% of grain mixtures in 60% concentrate diets. Cows fed methionine analog produced milk higher in fat content and yielded more total fat and fat-corrected milk than controls.

Animals↗

Correlated response of udder dimensions to selection for milk yield in Holsteins.

Response to selection for milk yield in Holsteins was examined by a controlled selection experiment initiated in 1964. Foundation cows were paired by sire and divided randomly into two breeding groups, selection and control. Selection group was mated to four sires each year highest for Predicted Difference milk. Twenty bulls selected in 1964 as near breed average for milk sired all control cows. Milk yield was recorded for each lactation, and height of udder from ground, distances between teats, and perimeter and area bound by the four teats were measured at 30 to 75 days postpartum on 153 selection and 202 control cows over 14 yr. Most estimates of repeatability and heritability of udder dimensions before and after milking were .45 or larger. Correlations with milk yield were negative for udder height and positive for other udder measurements. Selection cows exceeded controls for lactational milk yield. Daughters of high milk bulls had greater distances between teats, greater perimeters, and larger areas of udder floor. Selection cows did not differ from controls in udder height for first parity but were below controls in udder height and had udders that collapsed more for all parities.

Animals↗

Effects of relative humidity, maximum and minimum temperature, pregnancy, and stage of lactation on milk composition and yield.

Composite monthly single-day milk samples from the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station dairy herd 1959 to 1974 were analyzed for composition. Data were 22, 972 observations on five dairy breeds, but major statistical analyses were limited to Jerseys and Holsteins. Minimum relative humidity and maximum and minimum temperatures on day of evening sample were associated with 1.6 to 5.6% of variability within lactation (range for two breeds) of milk and milk constituent yields and 1.1 to 16.5% of constituent percentages. Yields of milk and constituents of the Holsteins seemed more sensitive to climatic variation than did Jersey, but Jersey constituent percentages were more sensitive. Yields were affected only slightly by increasing maximum daily temperatures from 8 to 29 degrees C but declined rapidly at greater than 29 degrees C; fat and protein percentages declined from 8 to 37 degrees C, whereas chloride content increased above 21 degrees C. Stage of lactation and pregnancy effects accounted for about 50% of the variability of yields and 3 to 23% of percentages. Effects were detected also for chloride and acidity percentages, specific gravity, and ratios solids-not-fat to fat and protein to fat.

Animals↗

Genetic and phenotypic relationships between lactation cell counts and milk yield and composition of Holstein cows.

Monthly somatic cell count data were collected between February 1977 and February 1982 for Holstein cows in 928 herds enrolled on the Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service. The geometric mean of the log monthly cell counts was calculated for each lactation. Official lactation records for 305-day milk, fat, and protein yields, and fat and protein percents were obtained for same cows. There were 18,189 cows in first lactation representing 257 sires, 13,225 in second lactation representing 206 sires, and 8,683 in third lactation representing 151 sires. Heritabilities of yield traits and protein percent increased across three lactations. Heritability of fat percent was similar in first and third lactations but decreased slightly in second lactations. Heritability of lactation cell count was small, being least in second lactations. Genetic correlations between lactation cell count and yield traits were positive in first lactations, small and negative in second lactations, and small and positive in third lactations. Genetic correlations between lactation cell count and fat and protein contents were small in the three lactations. Phenotypic correlations between lactation cell count and production traits were small in each of the three lactations. Genetic correlations between yield traits in early lactation and lactation cell count in a subsequent lactation were positive. The genetic correlation between protein percent in an early lactation and cell count in a later lactation was large between first and second lactations, decreased between second and third lactation, and small between first and third lactations. Genetic correlations were small and negative for fat percent.

Animals↗

Upper critical temperatures and forced ventilation effects for high-yielding dairy cows in a subtropical climate.

Upper limit of thermal stability and subsequent rise of thermoregulatory functions as affected by forced ventilation were examined. Rectal temperature, respiratory frequency, ear skin temperature, body weight, and milk yield were recorded biweekly July to March over 2 yr for 170 Israeli-Holstein cows (305-day milk yield 9000 kg/cow) at air temperatures 10 to 36 degrees C. Cows were in an open shelter. One side was force ventilated over 2.5 m along the stanchions (air velocity 1.5 to 3 m/s) from 0500 to 2200 h. Control side mean air velocity was .5 m/s. Within the 10 to 24 degrees C range, rectal temperature was not affected by air temperature or forced ventilation but increased by .02 degrees C/kg fat-corrected milk in animals producing above 24 kg/day. Between 26 and 36 degrees C rectal temperature increased with air temperature in both groups; rate of rise was halved by forced ventilation. In this range of air temperature, rectal temperature increased with rising milk yield, as in the lower air temperature range, in both high-producing and lower-producing cows in forced ventilation. Body weight or parity did not have significant effects. Mean ear skin temperature was higher for control animals, but its rate of increase with air temperature was similar in both groups. Forced ventilation reduced mean respiratory rate. An upper critical temperature is 25 to 26 degrees C and is independent of milk yield or acclimatizational state of cows exposed to the natural sequence of climate.

Animals↗

Relation of registration with yield and termination of first lactation in dairy goats.

First lactation records of 9941 Alpine, 2383 LaMancha, 11,203 Nubian, 3714 Saanen, and 4649 Toggenburg dairy goat does were obtained from the USDA to evaluate relation of registration (purebred, American, or grade) with lactation yield traits (mature equivalent milk and fat yields) and with reason for termination of lactation (normal, sold for dairy, or culled). Does were grouped by age at first kidding (11 through 16 mo or 21 through 26 mo) and by calendar year (1976 through 1978, 1979 through 1981, or 1982 through 1984). Data were analyzed within breed and year group for yield traits and within breed for reason of termination. Registration and age at first kidding accounted for little variation in mature equivalent milk and fat yields or in reason for termination.

Animals↗

Estimates of genetic and environmental (co)variances for first lactation on milk yield, survival, and calving interval.

Variance and covariance components for milk yield, survival to second freshening, calving interval in first lactation were estimated by REML with the expectation and maximization algorithm for an animal model which included herd-year-season effects. Cows without calving interval but with milk yield were included. Each of the four data sets of 15 herds included about 3000 Holstein cows. Relationships across herds were ignored to enable inversion of the coefficient matrix of mixed model equations. Quadratics and their expectations were accumulated herd by herd. Heritability of milk yield (.32) agrees with reports by same methods. Heritabilities of survival (.11) and calving interval(.15) are slightly larger and genetic correlations smaller than results from different methods of estimation. Genetic correlation between milk yield and calving interval (.09) indicates genetic ability to produce more milk is lightly associated with decreased fertility.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effects of bovine somatotropin on milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and some physiological functions of Holstein cows during heat stress.

Thirteen Holstein cows (46 to 106 d postpartum) were assigned to a partially balanced incomplete block experiment to evaluate effects of bovine somatotropin (20.6 mg monomer/d) and environment (shade and no shade) on milk yield and composition, feed intake, rectal temperature, respiration rate, and concentrations of hormones in plasma. Two treatment periods were 29 d each, preceded by 10-d preliminary periods. Water and cotton-seed hull-based diet were available ad libitum. Mathematical model for statistical analyses included cow, period, treatment, environment, day, and estimable interactions. Black globe temperature and respiration rate and rectal temperature of cows were higher in no shade. Milk and 3.5% FCM yields and feed intake of cows in no shade were approximately 9.5 and 16% less than for cows in shade. Much of the effect of heat stress was associated with reduced DM intake. The 3.5% FCM, but not milk yield, was increased by injections of bovine somatotropin. Dry matter intake was unaffected, but milk, 3.5% FCM, and component yields were increased by bovine somatotropin when adjusted for DM intake. Response of cows to bovine somatotropin was not different in the two environments, except cows injected with bovine somatotropin had slightly higher body temperature and respiration rate. Increased production responses of heat-stressed cows due to bovine somatotropin were less than in cows injected under more temperate conditions.

Animal Feed↗