Random regression animal models for genetic evaluation of test-day milk yield and milking duration in Saudi dairy goats

Author(s):  
A.A. Amin

Random regression animal model was applied for analyzing the relationships between daily milk yield (MK) and milking duration (DR) in dairy goats comparing with reviewed estimates in dairy cows. The current analyzed data involved 17345 sample test-day records from multiparous Saudi dairy goats. A cubic random regression was applied for representing additive genetic variances in all studied traits across all different days in milk (12 groups). Based on multi-lactation random regression data-set analysis, the role of inheritance was greatest during the later stages of lactation. Heritability estimates of daily milk yield (h2MK) ranged from 0.15 to 0.54. While estimates of heritability for milking duration (h2DR) were very low during the first 60 days of lactation, being not more than 0.04. During the 2nd half of lactation the estimates of h2DR ranged from 0.35 to 0.39. Results of genetic variations for lactation records during early production life showed that highest milk harvest with intermediate milking rate could be achieved. Estimates of expected breeding values for milk yield and milking duration increased in different rates with progressing days in milk groups. These results indicated that individual selection results would be favorably achieved during the late part of lactation. Additive genetic correlations between measures of all traits at different lactation months continuously decreased as the interval between test days increased. Additive genetic correlations between milking duration and milk yield were positive and considerably high. Correlations between expected breeding values of both traits ranged from 0.41 to 0.83 (mean = 0.69) across different lactation months. More details on estimates of breeding values, estimates of permanent environmental and additive genetic correlations for all traits were tabulated.

2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 535-548
Author(s):  
A. A. Amin

Abstract. Random regression animal model was applied for analyzing the relationships between test-day milk yields (DY), and milk flow rate (FR). The current study involved 169,491 sample test-day records of Hungarian Holstein- Friesian cows. A quadratic random regression was applied for declaring additive genetic variances in all studied traits during biweekly observations across the first three parities. Estimates of heritability for test-day milk yield and udder milk flow rates ranged from 0.09 to 0.58 and from 0.02 to 0.50, respectively through 42 milk-weeks (Wk). The highest heritability estimates occurred during the end of trajectory for both traits. In general DY tended to be more heritable than FR across lactation except during the first few weeks of lactation. Performance of DY was less affected by environmental variation than FR, while both values were moderate to high (0.63 to 0.75). Correlations among measurements showed that additive correlations (Ra) of 4WkFR with the reminder part of lactation were high during early and late lactation. Also 24WkFR was more genetically correlated with next measures and reached Ra = 0.94. Whereas 42WkFR was high additively correlated with other biweekly measurements and ranged from 0.53 to 0.99. Performance of early and late DY was negative additively correlated and ranged from −0.03 to −0.53. Heritability of DY within levels of FR ranged from 0.09 to 0.33 within very slow and medium milk flow, respectively. Correlations among both traits increased linearly toward lactation end. DY during 24Week and 42Week of lactation accounted the highest additive correlations with FR across lactation. Estimated breeding values for DY and FR increased in different rates with progressing lactation. These results may indicate that individual selection results would be favorably achieved during the late part of lactation. More details about estimates of breeding values, estimates of permanent environmental and additive genetic correlations for all traits were tabulated.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3492
Author(s):  
Yasamin Salimiyekta ◽  
Rasoul Vaez-Torshizi ◽  
Mokhtar Ali Abbasi ◽  
Nasser Emmamjome-Kashan ◽  
Mehdi Amin-Afshar ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to use a model to predict breeding values for sires and cows at an early stage of the first lactation of cows and progeny groups in the Iranian Holstein population to enable the early selection of sires. An additional objective was to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters associated with this model. The accuracy of predicted breeding values was investigated using cross-validation based on sequential genetic evaluations emulating yearly evaluation runs. The data consisted of 2,166,925 test-day records from 456,712 cows calving between 1990 and 2015. (Co)-variance components and breeding values were estimated using a random regression test-day model and the average information (AI) restricted maximum likelihood method (REML). Legendre polynomial functions of order three were chosen to fit the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, and a homogeneous residual variance was assumed throughout lactation. The lowest heritability of daily milk yield was estimated to be just under 0.14 in early lactation, and the highest heritability of daily milk yield was estimated to be 0.18 in mid-lactation. Cross-validation showed a highly positive correlation of predicted breeding values between consecutive yearly evaluations for both cows and sires. Correlation between predicted breeding values based only on records of early lactation (5–90 days) and records including late lactation (181–305 days) were 0.77–0.87 for cows and 0.81–0.94 for sires. These results show that we can select sires according to their daughters’ early lactation information before they finish the first lactation. This can be used to decrease generation interval and to increase genetic gain in the Iranian Holstein population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (11) ◽  
pp. 1741-1754
Author(s):  
Amali Malshani Samaraweera ◽  
Vinzent Boerner ◽  
Hewa Waduge Cyril ◽  
Julius van der Werf ◽  
Susanne Hermesch

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield traits using daily milk yield records from parlour data generated in an intensively managed commercial dairy farm with Jersey and Jersey-Friesian cows in Sri Lanka.Methods: Genetic parameters were estimated for first and second lactation predicted and realized 305-day milk yield using univariate animal models. Genetic parameters were also estimated for total milk yield for each 30-day intervals of the first lactation using univariate animal models and for daily milk yield using random regression models fitting second-order Legendre polynomials and assuming heterogeneous residual variances. Breeding values for predicted 305-day milk yield were estimated using an animal model.Results: For the first lactation, the heritability of predicted 305-day milk yield in Jersey cows (0.08±0.03) was higher than that of Jersey-Friesian cows (0.02±0.01). The second lactation heritability estimates were similar to that of first lactation. The repeatability of the daily milk records was 0.28±0.01 and the heritability ranged from 0.002±0.05 to 0.19±0.02 depending on day of milk. Pearson product-moment correlations between the bull estimated breeding values (EBVs) in Australia and bull EBVs in Sri Lanka for 305-day milk yield were 0.39 in Jersey cows and –0.35 in Jersey-Friesian cows.Conclusion: The heritabilities estimated for milk yield in Jersey and Jersey-Friesian cows in Sri Lanka were low, and were associated with low additive genetic variances for the traits. Sire differences in Australia were not expressed in the tropical low-country of Sri Lanka. Therefore, genetic progress achieved by importing genetic material from Australia can be expected to be slow. This emphasizes the need for a within-country evaluation of bulls to produce locally adapted dairy cows.


2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Brotherstone ◽  
I. M. S. White ◽  
K. Meyer

AbstractRandom regression models have been advocated for the analysis of test day records in dairy cattle. The effectiveness of a random regression analysis depends on the function used to model the data. To investigate functions suitable for the analysis of daily milk yield, test day milk yields of 7860 first lactation Holstein Friesian cows were analysed using random regression models involving three types of curves. Each analysis fitted the same curve to model overall trends through a fixed regression and random deviations due to animals. Curves included orthogonal polynomials, fitted to order 3 (quadratic), 4 (cubic) and 5 (quartic), respectively, a three-parameter parametric curve and a five-parameter parametric curve. Sets of random regression coefficients were fitted to model both animals’ genetic effects and permanent environmental effects. Temporary measurement errors were assumed independently but heterogeneously distributed, and assigned to one of 12 classes. Results showed that the measurement error variances were generally lowest around peak lactation, and higher at the beginning and end of lactation. Parametric curves yielded the highest likelihoods, but produced negative genetic associations between yield in early lactation and later lactation yields, while positive genetic correlations across the entire lactation were estimated with all models involving orthogonal polynomials. The fit of models using orthogonal polynomials to model test day yield was improved by including higher order fixed regressions.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 426-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Komprej ◽  
G. Gorjanc ◽  
D. Kon ◽  
M. Kovač

The estimation of covariance components for daily milk yield, fat and protein content was performed in three Slovenian dairy sheep breeds (Bovec, Improved Bovec, and Istrian Pramenka). In the period 1994–2002, 38 983 test-day records of 3 068 ewes were collected according to ICAR regulations (method A4). All the available relationships between animals were considered. For that reason, information on 3 534 animals was included. Test-day records were analysed by a multiple-trait repeatability animal model. In its fixed part, the model contained breed and season of lambing as classes. Days after lambing, parity, and litter size were treated as covariates. Days after lambing were modelled with modified Ali-Schaeffer’s lactation curve, parity with quadratic, and litter size with linear regression. The random part of the model consisted of flock-test month effect, additive genetic effect, permanent environment effect over lactations, and permanent environment effect within lactation. Covariance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML). The estimated heritabilities were 0.11 for daily milk yield, 0.08 for fat content, and 0.10 for protein content. A relatively high variance ratio for all milk traits was explained by the flock-test month effect (from 0.27 for daily milk yield to 0.57 for protein content), while ratios explained by both permanent environment effects were lower (up to 0.13). Additive genetic correlations between daily milk yield and fat content, and daily milk yield and protein content were negative and similar (–0.36 and –0.37). A high and positive (0.67) additive genetic correlation between fat and protein content was found. Correlations for environmental effects showed a pattern similar to additive genetic correlations. Genetic parameters estimated in Slovenian dairy sheep showed that genetic progress in milk traits could be achieved using test-day milk records.


2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 91-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yazgan ◽  
J. Makulska ◽  
A. Węglarz ◽  
E. Ptak ◽  
M. Gierdziewicz

The objective of this research was to examine heritabilities and genetic, phenotypic and permanent environmental relationships between milk dry matter (DM) and milk traits such as milk, fat, protein and lactose yields, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and somatic cell score (SCS) in extended (to 395 days) lactations of Holstein cows from a big farm in Poland. The data set consisted of 78 059 test day records from the first, second and third lactations of 3 792 cows, daughters of 210 sires and 1 677 dams. Single- or two-trait random regression models were used with fixed effects of calving year, calving month, dry period and calving interval and random additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. The last two fixed effects were not included in the analysis of first lactation data. The highest values of heritabilities for all traits, except DM, were observed in the second lactation. First lactation heritabilities for all traits – except milk yield and SCS – were smaller than those in the third lactation. Lactose yield was highly heritable, with average h<SUP>2</SUP> equal to 0.25, 0.29 and 0.28 in lactations 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Heritability for DM was slightly lower than that for lactose (0.22, 0.26 and 0.28 for lactations 1, 2 and 3, respectively). In all lactations heritabilities for SCS were below 0.1. Genetic correlations between DM and milk yield (0.64–0.74) were lower than those between MUN and milk yield (0.67–0.79) as well as between lactose and milk yield (0.72–0.82). In general, DM was much more closely correlated with fat or protein yield (0.55–0.79) than with MUN or lactose (0.38–0.76). Only in the third lactation the correlation between DM and protein (0.72) was lower than between lactose and protein (0.76). For all lactations there were very high genetic correlations between DM and lactose (0.96–0.98) and high correlations between DM and MUN (0.63–0.83) and between lactose and MUN (0.70–0.85). The results suggest that further research is needed, focused on DM and its relationship with other traits in larger populations. &nbsp;


Author(s):  
L. Gautam H.A. Waiz ◽  
R. K. Nagda

Data on 3244 Sirohi kidding during 2004 to 2016 in farmer’s flocks under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement (AICRP) project, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur were utilized to estimate the average daily milk (ADM) at different lactation months and subjected to least square analysis to study the effect of various non-genetic factors like cluster, periods of kidding, season of kidding, parity, type of birth and regression of dam’s weight. The overall least-squares means for ADM1, ADM2, ADM3, ADM4, ADM5 and overall ADM were 564.07±18.34, 671.92±15.17, 633.41±10.75, 508.93±8.01, 329.72±7.93 and 540.79±10.78 ml, respectively. Cluster and period wise variation were highly significant on all stages of average daily milk yields. The parity had statistically highly significant effect on average daily milk yields, in which seemed that milk yields increase as parity increase, thereafter declined slowly. The effect of type of kidding was non-significant on all stages of average daily milk yield under this study. The regression of dam’s weight at kidding was positive and highly significant (P£ 0.01) on all average daily milk yield. The heritability estimates for these traits ranged from 0.03 ± 0.01 (ADM4) to 0.19 ± 0.02 0.06 ± 002 (ADM1). The high estimates of genetic correlations of average milk yield of different periods with overall average daily milk yield. The phenotypic correlations were positive and low between ADM1 and ADM4­, ADM5 and medium between ADM1 and ADM4, ADM5. In order to augment goat milk production, goat keepers need to be focused on nutritional and others environmental conditions as it affect their flock.


2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Afolayan ◽  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
J. E. Morgan ◽  
G. M. Gaunt ◽  
L. J. Cummins ◽  
...  

Milk production and milk composition were measured in 1056 crossbred ewes managed under pasture grazing in a lamb production system. Most ewes were milked on three occasions at ~3, 4 and 12 weeks of lactation. The ewes were the progeny of mainly Merino dams and 91 sires from several maternal crossing breeds including Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep and Coopworth. The ewes were born over 3 years and run at three sites where they were joined naturally to meat rams. Most of the ewes were first parity (autumn-joined at 7 months of age and spring-joined at 14–17 months of age), with the remainder second or third parity. The cohorts of ewes and sites were linked genetically by three common maternal sires. The 4-h oxytocin-induced milking procedure was used to estimate daily milk production and milk samples were analysed for composition (fat%, protein% and lactose%). Daily milk yield and milk composition traits were analysed using restricted maximum likelihood mixed models procedures. The sire breed of crossbred ewes was significant for milk yield (P < 0.01), fat% (P < 0.01) and lactose% (P < 0.05). There was a significant (P < 0.01) interaction of sire breed × days of lactation, mainly due to the relatively higher milk yield of the East Friesian and White Suffolk cross ewes compared with the other crosses, at the end of the lactation. The East Friesian cross ewes had lower milk fat% than the other cross ewes. Ewes suckling multiple lambs had 29% higher peak milk yield than those bearing and suckling single lambs (P < 0.001). There was an increase in peak milk yield of the ewes from first to second parity, and third parity ewes had a greater decline to the end of lactation causing a significant interaction (P < 0.001). The overall decline in milk yield from peak to late lactation was –21.2 ± 0.7 g/day. Separate analysis showed a significant increase in milk yield with ewe pre-joining weight (regression 6.1 ± 1.8 g/day.kg). The estimate of heritability for daily milk yield was 0.24 ± 0.04 at 90 days of lactation and 0.10 ± 0.02 at 21 days of lactation. The estimates of heritability for the milk composition traits were generally moderate. Estimates of genetic correlations between measurements early and late in the lactation for milk yield and most composition traits were high. The within ewe by stage variance component estimates of repeatability were moderate to high for milk yield, fat% and protein%, with lactose% being low.


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