1
|
Huang CH, Furukawa K, Kusaba N, Baba T, Kawakami J, Hagiya K. Genetic parameters for novel mastitis traits defined by combining test-day somatic cell score and differential somatic cell count in the first lactation of Japanese Holsteins. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:3738-3752. [PMID: 38246544 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to improve current udder health genetic evaluations by addressing the limitations of monthly sampled somatic cell score (SCS) for distinguishing cows with robust innate immunity from those susceptible to chronic infections. The objectives were to (1) establish novel somatic cell traits by integrating SCS and the differential somatic cell count (DSCC), which represents the combined proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes in somatic cells and (2) estimate genetic parameters for the new traits, including their daily heritability and genetic correlations with milk production traits and SCS, using a random regression test-day model (RRTDM). We derived 3 traits, termed ML_SCS_DSCC, SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and ML_SCS_DSCC_binary, by using milk loss (ML) estimates at corresponding SCS and DSCC levels, thresholds established in previous studies, and a threshold established from milk loss estimates, respectively. Data consisted of test-day records collected during January 2021 through March 2022 from 265 herds in Hokkaido, Japan. From these records, we extracted records between 7 to 305 d in milk (DIM) in the first lactation to fit the RRTDM. The model included the random effect of herd-test-day, the fixed effect of year-month, fixed lactation curves nested with calving age groups, and random regressions with Legendre polynomials of order 3 for additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. The analysis was performed using Gibbs sampling with Gibbsf90+ software. The averages (ranges) of the daily heritability estimates over lactation were 0.086 (0.075-0.095) for SCS, 0.104 (0.073-0.127) for ML_SCS_DSCC, 0.137 (0.014-0.297) for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and 0.138 (0.115-0.185) for ML_SCS_DSCC_binary; the heritability curve for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary was erratic. Genetic correlations within the trait decreased as the DIM interval widened, especially for those integrating DSCC, indicating that these traits should be analyzed using RRTDM rather than repeatability models. The averages (ranges) of genetic correlations with milk yield over lactation were 0.01 (-0.22 to 0.28) for SCS, -0.05 (-0.40 to 0.13) for ML_SCS_DSCC, -0.08 (-0.17 to 0.09) for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and -0.08 (-0.22 to 0.27) for ML_SCS_DSCC_binary. Compared with SCS, the newly defined traits exhibited slightly stronger negative genetic correlations with milk yield. Especially in late lactation stages, the genetic correlation between ML_SCS_DSCC and milk yield was significantly below zero, with a posterior median of -0.40. Furthermore, the new traits showed positive correlations with SCS, having estimates varying from 0.68 to 0.85 for ML_SCS_DSCC, 0.14 to 0.47 for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and 0.61 to 0.66 for ML_SCS_DSCC_binary, depending on DIM. Considering that ML_SCS_DSCC and ML_SCS_DSCC_binary have relatively high heritability (compared with SCS) and favorable genetic correlations with milk production traits and SCS, their incorporation into breeding programs appears promising. Nevertheless, their genetic relationships with (sub)clinical mastitis require further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Che-Hsuan Huang
- Department of Life and Food Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; Field Center of Animal Science and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Kenji Furukawa
- Tokachi Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, Obihiro 080-0022, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Kusaba
- Field Center of Animal Science and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Toshimi Baba
- Holstein Cattle Association of Japan, Hokkaido Branch, Sapporo 001-8555, Japan
| | - Junpei Kawakami
- Holstein Cattle Association of Japan, Hokkaido Branch, Sapporo 001-8555, Japan
| | - Koichi Hagiya
- Department of Life and Food Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Poppe M, Bonekamp G, van Pelt ML, Mulder HA. Genetic analysis of resilience indicators based on milk yield records in different lactations and at different lactation stages. J Dairy Sci 2020; 104:1967-1981. [PMID: 33309360 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Resilience is the ability of cows to cope with disturbances, such as pathogens or heat waves. To breed for improved resilience, it is important to know whether resilience genetically changes throughout life. Therefore, the aim was to perform a genetic analysis on 2 resilience indicators based on data from 3 periods of the first lactation (d 11-110, 111-210, and 211-340) and the first 3 full lactations, and to estimate genetic correlations with health traits. The resilience indicators were the natural log-transformed variance (LnVar) and lag-1 autocorrelation (rauto) of daily deviations in milk yield from an expected lactation curve. Low LnVar and rauto indicate low variability in daily milk yield and quick recovery, and were expected to indicate good resilience. Data of 200,084 first, 155,784 second, and 89,990 third lactations were used. Heritabilities were similar based on different lactation periods (0.12-0.15 for LnVar, 0.05-0.06 for rauto). However, the heritabilities of the resilience indicators based on full first lactation were higher than those based on lactation periods (0.20 for LnVar, 0.08 for rauto), due to lower residual variances. Heritabilities decreased from 0.20 in full lactation 1 to 0.19 in full lactation 3 for LnVar and from 0.08 to 0.06 for rauto. For LnVar, as well as for rauto, the strongest genetic correlation between lactation periods was between period 2 and 3 (0.97 for LnVar, 0.96 for rauto) and the weakest between period 1 and 3 (0.81 for LnVar, 0.65 for rauto). Similarly, for both traits the genetic correlation between full lactations was strongest between lactations 2 and 3 (0.99 for LnVar, 0.95 for rauto) and weakest between lactations 1 and 3 (0.91 for LnVar, 0.71 for rauto). For LnVar, genetic correlations with resilience-related traits, such as udder health, ketosis, and longevity, adjusted for correlations with milk yield, were almost always favorable (-0.59 to 0.02). In most cases these genetic correlations were stronger based on full lactations than on lactation periods. Genetic correlations were similar across full lactations, but the correlation with udder health increased substantially from -0.31 in lactation 1 to -0.51 in lactation 3. For rauto, genetic correlations with resilience-related traits were always favorable in lactation period 1 and in most full lactations, but not in the other lactation periods. However, correlations were weak (-0.27 to 0.15). Therefore, as a resilience indicator for breeding, LnVar is preferred over rauto. A multitrait index based on estimated breeding values for LnVar in lactations 1, 2, and 3 is recommended to improve resilience throughout the lifetime of a cow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Poppe
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - G Bonekamp
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M L van Pelt
- Cooperation CRV, Animal Evaluation Unit, PO Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, the Netherlands
| | - H A Mulder
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Becker VAE, Stamer E, Thaller G. Liability to diseases and their relation to dry matter intake and energy balance in German Holstein and Fleckvieh dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2020; 104:628-643. [PMID: 33162077 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dairy cow efficiency is increasingly important for future breeding decisions. The efficiency is determined mostly by dry matter intake (DMI). Reducing DMI seems to increase efficiency if milk yield remains the same, but resulting negative energy balance (EB) may cause health problems, especially in early lactation. Objectives of this study were to examine relationships between DMI and liability to diseases. Therefore, cow effects for DMI and EB were correlated with cow effects for 4 disease categories throughout lactation. Disease categories were mastitis, claw and leg diseases, metabolic diseases, and all diseases. In addition, this study presents relative percentages of diseased cows per days in milk (DIM), repeatability, and cow effect correlations for disease categories across DIM. A total of 1,370 German Holstein (GH) and 287 Fleckvieh (FV) primiparous and multiparous dairy cows from 12 dairy research farms in Germany were observed over a period of 2 yr. Farm staff and veterinarians recorded health data. We modeled health and production data with threshold random regression models and linear random regression models. From DIM 2 to 305 average daily DMI was 22.1 kg/d in GH and 20.2 kg/d in FV. Average weekly EB was 2.8 MJ of NEL/d in GH and 0.6 MJ of NEL/d in FV. Most diseases occurred in the first 20 DIM. Multiparous cows were more susceptible to diseases than primiparous cows. Relative percentages of diseased cows were highest for claw and leg diseases, followed by metabolic diseases and mastitis. Repeatability of disease categories and production traits was moderate to high. Cow effect correlations for disease categories were higher for adjacent lactation stages than for more distant lactation stages. Pearson correlation coefficients between cow effects for DMI, as well as EB, and disease categories were estimated from DIM 2 to 305. Almost all correlations were negative in GH, especially in early lactation. In FV, the course of correlations was similar to GH, but correlations were mostly more negative in early lactation. For the first 20 DIM, correlations ranged from -0.31 to 0.00 in GH and from -0.42 to -0.01 in FV. The results illustrate that future breeding for dairy cow efficiency should focus on DMI and EB in early lactation to avoid health problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V A E Becker
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
| | - E Stamer
- TiDa Tier und Daten GmbH, 24259 Westensee/Brux, Germany
| | - G Thaller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
van Pelt M, Meuwissen T, de Jong G, Veerkamp R. Genetic analysis of longevity in Dutch dairy cattle using random regression. J Dairy Sci 2015; 98:4117-30. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-9090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
5
|
Koeck A, Loker S, Miglior F, Kelton D, Jamrozik J, Schenkel F. Genetic relationships of clinical mastitis, cystic ovaries, and lameness with milk yield and somatic cell score in first-lactation Canadian Holsteins. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:5806-13. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-7785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
6
|
Gernand E, König S. Random regression test-day model for clinical mastitis: Genetic parameters, model comparison, and correlations with indicator traits. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:3953-63. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-7830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
7
|
Yin T, Bapst B, von Borstel U, Simianer H, König S. Genetic analyses of binary longitudinal health data in small low input dairy cattle herds using generalized linear mixed models. Livest Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
8
|
Application of random regression models to infer the genetic background and phenotypic trajectory of binary conception rate by alterations of temperature × humidity indices. Livest Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
9
|
Gernand E, Döhne D, König S. Genetic background of claw disorders in the course of lactation and their relationships with type traits. J Anim Breed Genet 2013; 130:435-44. [DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Gernand
- Thuringian State Institute of Agriculture; Bad Salzungen Germany
| | - D.A. Döhne
- Department of Animal Breeding; University of Kassel; Witzenhausen Germany
| | - S. König
- Department of Animal Breeding; University of Kassel; Witzenhausen Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Windig JJ, Urioste JI, Strandberg E. Integration of epidemiology into the genetic analysis of mastitis in Swedish Holstein. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:2617-2626. [PMID: 23375969 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2012-6076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Heritability of mastitis (and diseases in general) tends to be low. One possible cause is that no clear distinction can be made between resistant and nonresistant animals, because healthy animals include animals that have not been exposed to pathogens and resistant animals. To account for this, we quantified the prevalence of clinical mastitis (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SCM) in 2,069 Swedish Holstein herds as a measure of exposure. Herd prevalence averaged 26.5% for SCM and 6.4% for CM; 61% of the first lactations of 177,309 cows were classified as having at least one case of SCM and 10% as having CM. In a reaction norm approach, heritability of (S)CM was quantified as a function of herd prevalence of (S)CM. The best-fitting model was a second-order polynomial of first-lactation cow SCM as a function of herd prevalence SCM, and a first-order (linear) polynomial of first-lactation cow CM as a function of CM herd prevalence. Heritability for SCM ranged from 0.069 to 0.105 and for CM from 0.016 to 0.032. For both, we found no clear effect of herd prevalence on their heritability. Genetic correlations within traits across herd prevalences were all greater than 0.92. Whether relationships among prevalence, exposure, disease, and genetics were as expected is a matter of discussion, but reaction norm analyses may be a valuable tool for epidemiological genetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack J Windig
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, 8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands.
| | - Jorge I Urioste
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7023, S-75007 Uppsala, Sweden; Depto. Prod. Animal y Pasturas, Fac. de Agronomía, UDELAR, Garzón 780, 12900 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Erling Strandberg
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7023, S-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
|
12
|
Mrode R, Pritchard T, Coffey M, Wall E. Joint estimation of genetic parameters for test-day somatic cell count and mastitis in the United Kingdom. J Dairy Sci 2012; 95:4618-28. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2011-4971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
13
|
Franzén J, Thorburn D, Urioste JI, Strandberg E. Genetic evaluation of mastitis liability and recovery through longitudinal analysis of transition probabilities. Genet Sel Evol 2012; 44:10. [PMID: 22475575 PMCID: PMC3384242 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9686-44-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many methods for the genetic analysis of mastitis use a cross-sectional approach, which omits information on, e.g., repeated mastitis cases during lactation, somatic cell count fluctuations, and recovery process. Acknowledging the dynamic behavior of mastitis during lactation and taking into account that there is more than one binary response variable to consider, can enhance the genetic evaluation of mastitis. Methods Genetic evaluation of mastitis was carried out by modeling the dynamic nature of somatic cell count (SCC) within the lactation. The SCC patterns were captured by modeling transition probabilities between assumed states of mastitis and non-mastitis. A widely dispersed SCC pattern generates high transition probabilities between states and vice versa. This method can model transitions to and from states of infection simultaneously, i.e. both the mastitis liability and the recovery process are considered. A multilevel discrete time survival model was applied to estimate breeding values on simulated data with different dataset sizes, mastitis frequencies, and genetic correlations. Results Correlations between estimated and simulated breeding values showed that the estimated accuracies for mastitis liability were similar to those from previously tested methods that used data of confirmed mastitis cases, while our results were based on SCC as an indicator of mastitis. In addition, unlike the other methods, our method also generates breeding values for the recovery process. Conclusions The developed method provides an effective tool for the genetic evaluation of mastitis when considering the whole disease course and will contribute to improving the genetic evaluation of udder health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Franzén
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Buttchereit N, Stamer E, Junge W, Thaller G. Genetic parameters for energy balance, fat /protein ratio, body condition score and disease traits in German Holstein cows. J Anim Breed Genet 2011; 129:280-8. [PMID: 22775260 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2011.00976.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Various health problems in dairy cows have been related to the magnitude and duration of the energy deficit post partum. Energy balance indicator traits like fat/protein ratio in milk and body condition score could be used in selection programmes to help predicting breeding values for health traits, but currently there is a lack of appropriate genetic parameters. Therefore, genetic correlations among energy balance, fat/protein ratio, and body condition score, and mastitis, claw and leg diseases, and metabolic disorders were estimated using linear and threshold models on data from 1693 primiparous cows recorded within the first 180 days in milk. Average daily energy balance, milk fat/protein ratio and body condition score were 8 MJ NEL, 1.13 and 2.94, respectively. Disease frequencies (% cows with at least one case) were 24.6% for mastitis, 9.7% for metabolic disorders and 28.2% for claw and leg diseases. Heritability estimates were 0.06, 0.30 and 0.34 for energy balance, fat/protein ratio and body condition score, respectively. For the disease traits, heritabilities ranged between 0.04 and 0.15. The genetic correlations were, in general, associated with large standard errors, but, although not significant, the results suggest that an improvement of overall health can be expected if energy balance traits are included into future breeding programmes. A low fat/protein ratio might serve as an indicator for metabolic stability and health of claw and legs. Between body condition and mastitis, a significant negative correlation of -0.40 was estimated. The study provides a new insight into the role energy balance traits can play as auxiliary traits for robustness of dairy cows. It was concluded that both, fat/protein ratio and body condition score, are potential variables to describe how well cows can adapt to the challenge of early lactation. However, the genetic parameters should be re-estimated on a more comprehensive data set.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Buttchereit
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Random regression analysis of seasonal effects on reproductive genetics in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Livest Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
16
|
Koeck A, Heringstad B, Egger-Danner C, Fuerst C, Fuerst-Waltl B. Comparison of different models for genetic analysis of clinical mastitis in Austrian Fleckvieh dual-purpose cows. J Dairy Sci 2010; 93:4351-8. [PMID: 20723708 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2009-2955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2009] [Accepted: 05/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The performance of different models for genetic analyses of clinical mastitis in Austrian Fleckvieh dual-purpose cows was evaluated. The main objective was to compare threshold sire models (probit and logit) with linear sire and linear animal models using REML algorithm. For comparison, data were also analyzed using a Bayesian threshold sire model. The models were evaluated with respect to ranking of sires and their predictive ability in cross-validation. Only minor differences were observed in estimated variance components and heritability from Bayesian and REML probit models. Heritabilities for probit and logit models were 0.06 and 0.08, respectively, whereas heritabilities for linear sire and linear animal models were lower (0.02). Correlations among ranking of sires from threshold and linear sire models were high (>0.99), whereas correlations between any sire model (threshold or linear) and the linear animal model were slightly lower (0.96). The worst sires were ranked very similar across all models, whereas for the best sires some reranking occurred. Further, models were evaluated based on their ability to predict future data, which is one of the main concerns of animal breeders. The predictive ability of each model was determined by using 2 criteria: mean squared error and Pearson correlation between predicted and observed value. Overall, the 5 models did not differ in predictive ability. In contrast to expectations, sire models had the same predictive ability as animal models. Linear models were found to be robust toward departures from normality and performed equally well as threshold models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Koeck
- Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|