Estrus traits derived from activity measurements are heritable and closely related to the time from calving to first insemination

TY - JOUR

T1 - Estrus traits derived from activity measurements are heritable and closely related to the time from calving to first insemination

AU - Ismael, Ahmed

AU - Strandberg, Erling

AU - Kargo, Morten

AU - Fogh, Anders

AU - Løvendahl, Peter

N1 - Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/3/5

Y1 - 2015/3/5

N2 - The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for estrus-related traits that could improve selection for increased fertility due to improved ability of the cow to return to cycling and go into heat after calving. We compared the time from calving to first insemination (CFI) to 3 physical activity traits: the interval from calving to first high activity (CFHA), estrus duration (ED), and estrus strength (ES). We calculated CFI based on data from commercial Holstein herds that included the insemination dates for 11,363 cows. The CFHA, ED, and ES traits were derived from electronic activity tags for 3,533 Holstein cows. Estimates of heritability were 0.07 for CFI, 0.16 for CFHA, 0.02 for ED, and 0.05 for ES. We found a strong genetic correlation between CFI and CFHA (0.96). Genetic correlations between ED and CFI and CFHA were -0.37 and -0.68, respectively. Genetic correlations between ES and CFI and CFHA were -0.50 and -0.58, respectively. The heritability of CFHA and its strong genetic correlation with CFI suggest that including CFHA in the genetic evaluation of female cow fertility could improve the effectiveness of selection, because CFHA reflects the ability to return to cyclicity and go into heat after calving.

AB - The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for estrus-related traits that could improve selection for increased fertility due to improved ability of the cow to return to cycling and go into heat after calving. We compared the time from calving to first insemination (CFI) to 3 physical activity traits: the interval from calving to first high activity (CFHA), estrus duration (ED), and estrus strength (ES). We calculated CFI based on data from commercial Holstein herds that included the insemination dates for 11,363 cows. The CFHA, ED, and ES traits were derived from electronic activity tags for 3,533 Holstein cows. Estimates of heritability were 0.07 for CFI, 0.16 for CFHA, 0.02 for ED, and 0.05 for ES. We found a strong genetic correlation between CFI and CFHA (0.96). Genetic correlations between ED and CFI and CFHA were -0.37 and -0.68, respectively. Genetic correlations between ES and CFI and CFHA were -0.50 and -0.58, respectively. The heritability of CFHA and its strong genetic correlation with CFI suggest that including CFHA in the genetic evaluation of female cow fertility could improve the effectiveness of selection, because CFHA reflects the ability to return to cyclicity and go into heat after calving.

KW - activity tag

KW - heritability

KW - estrus

KW - fertility

U2 - 10.3168/jds.2014-8940

DO - 10.3168/jds.2014-8940

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25747826

SN - 0022-0302

VL - 98

SP - 3470

EP - 3477

JO - Journal of Dairy Science

JF - Journal of Dairy Science

ER -