Developing a genetic evaluation for fertility using angularity and milk yield as correlated traits
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: Several countries around the world have already implemented a genetic evaluation for female fertility (Interbull, 2005). This is a response to the increasing concern amongst farmers, who are suffering severe reduction in income due to reproductive failure of their cows. Positive experiences from the Nordic countries (AndersenRanberg et al., 2005) demonstrate that genetic improvement of fertility can be attained. However, female fertility is quite a complex trait, not only because it is influenced by and related to several factors (physiological, nutritional or genetic) but even because, as outlined by VanRaden and colleagues (2004), trait definition differs across countries. Genetic evaluation for fertility eventually depends on what is recorded at national level. If the ultimate objective is to obtain an accurate estimation of an animal breeding value, a multiple trait approach, which consider direct fertility traits as well as correlated traits, seems to be the best option. Literature evidence do exist, showing that the use of correlated traits such as body condition score, milk yield or type traits can be beneficial because they can help overcome management biases that may be present in the fertility data (Wall et al., 2004; Biffani et al., 2004) as well as increase the accuracy of genetic evaluation (Kadarmideen et al., 2003; Biffani et al., 2004).
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1715954136