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Tuliozi B, Mantovani R, Schoepf I, Tsuruta S, Mancin E, Sartori C. Genetic correlations of direct and indirect genetic components of social dominance with fitness and morphology traits in cattle. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:84. [PMID: 38037008 PMCID: PMC10687847 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00845-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the same species, individuals show marked variation in their social dominance. Studies on a handful of populations have indicated heritable genetic variation for this trait, which is determined by both the genetic background of the individual (direct genetic effect) and of its opponent (indirect genetic effect). However, the evolutionary consequences of selection for this trait are largely speculative, as it is not a usual target of selection in livestock populations. Moreover, studying social dominance presents the challenge of working with a phenotype with a mean value that cannot change in the population, as for every winner of an agonistic interaction there will necessarily be a loser. Thus, to investigate what could be the evolutionary response to selection for social dominance, it is necessary to focus on traits that might be correlated with it. This study investigated the genetic correlations of social dominance, both direct and indirect, with several morphology and fitness traits. We used a dataset of agonistic contests involving cattle (Bos taurus): during these contests, pairs of cows compete in ritualized interactions to assess social dominance. The outcomes of 37,996 dominance interactions performed by 8789 cows over 20 years were combined with individual data for fertility, mammary health, milk yield and morphology and analysed using bivariate animal models including indirect genetic effects. RESULTS We found that winning agonistic interactions has a positive genetic correlation with more developed frontal muscle mass, lower fertility, and poorer udder health. We also discovered that the trends of changes in the estimated breeding values of social dominance, udder health and more developed muscle mass were consistent with selection for social dominance in the population. CONCLUSIONS We present evidence that social dominance is genetically correlated with fitness traits, as well as empirical evidence of the possible evolutionary trade-offs between these traits. We show that it is feasible to estimate genetic correlations involving dyadic social traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beniamino Tuliozi
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.
| | - Roberto Mantovani
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Ivana Schoepf
- Department of Sciences, Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, 4901 46 Ave, Camrose, AB, T4V 2R3, Canada
| | - Shogo Tsuruta
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Enrico Mancin
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Cristina Sartori
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
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Þórarinsdóttir Þ, Eriksson S, Albertsdóttir E. Genetic parameters and genetic trends of female fertility in Icelandic dairy cattle. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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3
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Martinez-Castillero M, Pegolo S, Sartori C, Toledo-Alvarado H, Varona L, Degano L, Vicario D, Finocchiaro R, Bittante G, Cecchinato A. Genetic correlations between fertility traits and milk composition and fatty acids in Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Simmental cattle using recursive models. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:6832-6846. [PMID: 33773778 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the genetic and putative causal relationships between fertility traits [i.e., days open (DO) and calving rate (CR)] and milk quality, composition, and fatty acid contents (milk composition traits) in Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Simmental cattle, using recursive models within a Bayesian framework. Trivariate animal models were run, each including one fertility trait, one milk composition trait, and, in all models, milk yield. The DO and CR data were merged with the test days closest to the insemination date for milk composition traits. After editing, 16,468 to 23,424 records for Holstein-Friesian, 23,424 to 46,660 for Brown Swiss, and 26,105 to 35,574 for Simmental were available for the analyses. Recursive animal models were applied to investigate the possible causal influences of milk composition traits on fertility and the genetic relationships among these traits. The results suggested a potential cause-and-effect relationship between milk composition traits and fertility traits, with the first trait influencing the latter. We also found greater recursive effects of milk composition traits on DO than on CR, the latter with some putative differences among breeds in terms of sensitivity. For instance, the putative causal effects of somatic cell score on CR (on the observed scale, %) varied from -0.96 to -1.39%, depending on the breed. Concerning fatty acids, we found relevant putative effects of C18:0 on CR, with estimates varying from -7.8 to -9.9%. Protein and casein percentages, and short-chain fatty acid showed larger recursive effects on CR, whereas fat, protein, and casein percentages, C16:0, C18:0, and long-chain fatty acid had larger effects on DO. The results obtained suggested that these milk traits could be considered as effective indicators of the effects of animal metabolic and physiological status on fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Martinez-Castillero
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, viale dell' Università 16 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - S Pegolo
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, viale dell' Università 16 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy.
| | - C Sartori
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, viale dell' Università 16 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - H Toledo-Alvarado
- Department of Genetics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - L Varona
- Unidad de Genética Cuantitativa y Mejora Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Calle de Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - L Degano
- Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Razza Pezzata Rossa Italiana (ANAPRI), Udine 33100, Italy
| | - D Vicario
- Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Razza Pezzata Rossa Italiana (ANAPRI), Udine 33100, Italy
| | - R Finocchiaro
- Associazione Nazionale Allevatori bovini della razza Frisona e Jersey Italiana (ANAFIJ), Via Bergamo 292, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - G Bittante
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, viale dell' Università 16 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - A Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, viale dell' Università 16 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
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Kumar A, Mandal A. Evaluation of animal models to explore the influence of maternal genetic and maternal permanent environment effect on reproductive performance of Jersey crossbred cattle. Reprod Domest Anim 2021; 56:511-518. [PMID: 33405243 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted on 1,002 reproductive records of 430 Jersey crossbred cattle, descended from 57 sires and 198 dams, maintained at the Eastern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India to investigate the influence of direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effect on three most important reproductive traits viz., number of service per conception (NSPC), days open (DO) and calving interval (CI) of Jersey crossbred cattle. Six single-trait animal models (including or excluding maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects) were fitted to analyse these traits, and the best model was chosen after testing the significant increase in the log-likelihood values when additional parameters were added in the model. Direct heritability estimates for NSPC, DO and CI from the best model were 0.10, 0.14 and 0.20, respectively. The maternal permanent environmental (c2 ) effects on reproductive traits accounted for almost negligible fraction of the total phenotypic variance in this study. The maternal genetic effects (m2 ) also contributed very little (0%-3%) to the total phenotypic variance except for CI where it was important and accounted for 20% of phenotypic variance. A significantly large negative genetic correlation was observed between direct and maternal genetic effects for all traits, suggesting the presence of antagonistic relationship between dam's direct additive component and daughter's additive genetic component. Results suggest that both direct and maternal effects were important only for CI but not for other traits. Therefore, both direct additive effects and maternal genetic effect need to be considered for improving this trait by selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Kumar
- Eastern Regional Station, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.,Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Ajoy Mandal
- Eastern Regional Station, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, West Bengal, India
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Souames S, Berrama Z. Factors affecting conception rate after the first artificial insemination in a private dairy cattle farm in North Algeria. Vet World 2020; 13:2608-2611. [PMID: 33487977 PMCID: PMC7811532 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2608-2611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim This study analyzed risk factors influencing the conception rate at the first artificial insemination (CR1) in dairy cows reared in the plain of Mitidja, which is considered a major dairy region in North Algeria. Materials and Methods A total of 1054 lactations were used in the relational study of fertility conducted using the multivariable logistic regression model using the odds ratio (OR). Results The breeding season had a specific effect on fertility; the first service was often followed by pregnancy when performed during autumn (AUT) (OR=1.67, p<0.05) and spring (SPR) (OR=1.65, p<0.05). The chances of obtaining conception during the first service increased significantly for a waiting period (WP) (interval between calving and time to first service) of 50-100 days postpartum (DPP) (OR=1.67, p<0.05). Conclusion From this study, it can be concluded that no specific effect was observed relative to the breed and parity. Furthermore, CR1 significantly increased after summer calving when the first services were performed during SPR and AUT and a WP after 50 DPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Souames
- Laboratory of Animal Health and Production, Higher National Veterinary School, Issad Abbes, Oued Smar Algiers, Algeria
| | - Zahra Berrama
- Laboratory of Animal Health and Production, Higher National Veterinary School, Issad Abbes, Oued Smar Algiers, Algeria
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Martinez-Castillero M, Toledo-Alvarado H, Pegolo S, Vazquez AI, de Los Campos G, Varona L, Finocchiaro R, Bittante G, Cecchinato A. Genetic parameters for fertility traits assessed in herds divergent in milk energy output in Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Simmental cattle. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:11545-11558. [PMID: 33222858 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18934] [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: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate differences in the genetics of fertility traits (heritability of traits and correlations between traits in divergent environments) in dairy cows of different production levels defined on the basis of the herd-average daily milk energy output (herd-dMEO). Data were obtained from Holstein-Friesian (n = 37,359 for fertility traits, 381,334 for dMEO), Brown Swiss (n = 79,638 for fertility traits, 665,697 for dMEO), and Simmental cows (n = 63,048 for fertility traits, 448,445 for dMEO) reared in northeastern Italy. Fertility traits under study were interval from calving to first service, interval from first service to conception, days open, calving interval, calving rate, and nonreturn rate at d 56. We classified herds into low and high productivity based on the herd-average dMEO (inferred using mixed effects models). We estimated genetic parameters using Bayesian bivariate animal models, where expressions of a phenotype in the low and high dMEO herds were taken as being different-albeit correlated-traits. Fertility traits were more favorable in Simmental than in Holstein-Friesian cows, whereas for all traits, Holstein-Friesian had the highest estimates of intraherd heritability [ranging from 0.021 (0.006-0.038) to 0.126 (0.10-0.15)] and Simmental the lowest [ranging from 0.008 (0.001-0.017) to 0.101 (0.08-0.12)]. The genetic correlations between fertility traits and dMEO were moderate and unfavorable, ranging, in absolute values, from 0.527 (0.37-0.68) to 0.619 (0.50-0.73) in Holstein-Friesian; from 0.339 (0.20-0.47) to 0.556 (0.45-0.66) in Brown Swiss; and from 0.340 (0.10-0.60) to 0.475 (0.33-0.61) in Simmental cattle. The only exception was the nonreturn rate at d 56, which had weak genetic correlations with dMEO in all 3 breeds. The herd correlations between fertility and dMEO tended to be modest and favorable and the residual correlations modest and variable. The heritability of fertility traits tended to be greater in the low dMEO than in the high dMEO herds in the case of the Holstein-Friesians, but not in the case of the Brown Swiss or Simmentals. The additive genetic correlations between fertility traits in the low and high dMEO herds were always lower than 1 [0.329 (-0.17 to 0.85) to 0.934 (0.86 to 0.99)] for all traits considered in all breeds. The correlation was particularly low for the threshold characters and the interval from first service to conception in Holstein-Friesian, suggesting that the relative performances of genotypes vary significantly between herds of different dMEO levels. Although there was large variability in the estimates, results might support making separate genetic evaluations of fertility in the different herd production groups. Our results also indicate that Simmental, a dual-purpose breed, has higher fertility and lower environmental sensitivity than Holstein-Friesian, with Brown Swiss being intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Martinez-Castillero
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell' Università 16, 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - H Toledo-Alvarado
- Department of Genetics and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, 0451, Mexico City, México
| | - S Pegolo
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell' Università 16, 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy.
| | - A I Vazquez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, 909 Fee Road, East Lansing 48824; Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing 48824
| | - G de Los Campos
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, 909 Fee Road, East Lansing 48824; Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing 48824; Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, 619 Red Cellar Road, East Lansing 48824
| | - L Varona
- Unidad de Genética Cuantitativa y Mejora Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Calle de Miguel Servet, 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - R Finocchiaro
- Associazione Nazionale Allevatori bovini della razza Frisona e Jersey Italiana (ANAFIJ), Via Bergamo 292, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - G Bittante
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell' Università 16, 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
| | - A Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell' Università 16, 35020, Legnaro PD, Italy
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Bittante G, Negrini R, Bergamaschi M, Cecchinato A, Toledo-Alvarado H. Pure-breeding with sexed semen and crossbreeding with semen of double-muscled sires to improve beef production from dairy herds: Factors affecting heifer and cow fertility and the sex ratio. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:5246-5257. [PMID: 32307168 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Using sexed semen to produce purebred replacement heifers makes it possible to mate a large proportion of dairy cows to double-muscled sires and to quantitatively and qualitatively improve beef production and increase the income from dairy herds. Net profit first depends on changes in the farm's overall fertility rate. The objective of this study was to analyze the conception rate in herds using a combination of conventional dairy semen (for pure- and crossbreeding), X-sorted dairy semen (to produce purebred replacement heifers), and conventional beef semen (for terminal crossbreeding). Data were obtained from 50,785 inseminations of 15,580 dairy cows (78% Holstein-Friesian, 15% Brown Swiss, 2% Simmental, and 5% crossbreds) from 106 dairy farms (average milk yield 35.1 ± 9.4 kg/d, with 3.76 ± 0.83% fat and 3.32 ± 0.39% protein contents). To account for the main potential confounders, we used separate generalized linear mixed-effects models for cows and virgin heifers. The results showed that the odds ratio of conception improved (1.00 to 1.34) with an increase in the average milk yield of the herd but worsened (1.12 to 0.70) with an increase in the milk yield of individual cows within herd. The summer months showed a strong reduction in the odds ratio of conception in cows (0.56 in July and August) but not in virgin heifers. Multiparous cows had a lower odds ratio of conception (0.85) than primiparous cows (1.00). The order of insemination did not affect the fertility of the cows or heifers, whereas the odds ratio of conception improved with advancing lactation (1.00 to 2.12). The Simmental cows were more fertile than Holstein-Friesians (1.37 vs. 1.00), whereas the fertility of the heifers was not affected by breed. Taking all these possible confounders into account simultaneously, in pure-breeding the odds ratio of conception using sexed semen did not differ from that using conventional dairy semen in cows (0.90 vs. 1.00) or in virgin heifers (0.95 vs. 1.00). However, crossbreeding using conventional beef and dairy semen improved the odds ratio of conception (1.10 and 1.17, respectively) in cows (1.37 using beef semen) and heifers (1.25 using dairy semen). The proportion of newborn heifer calves was ≥90% using sexed dairy semen. The combined use of sexed semen, especially on heifers, to produce purebred replacement females and beef semen to produce terminal crossbred calves was shown to have the potential to increase overall herd fertility, which could be further improved using sexed dairy semen to produce dairy crossbreds instead of purebred replacement heifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Bittante
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova (Padua), 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Riccardo Negrini
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Catholic University, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; Italian Association of Breeders (AIA), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Bergamaschi
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695
| | - Alessio Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova (Padua), 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
| | - Hugo Toledo-Alvarado
- Department of Genetics and Biostatistics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
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Muuttoranta K, Tyrisevä AM, Mäntysaari EA, Pösö J, Aamand GP, Lidauer MH. Genetic parameters for female fertility in Nordic Holstein and Red Cattle dairy breeds. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:8184-8196. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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TALOKAR AMOLJ, MANDAL A, SINGH LAISHRAMA, BEHERA R, KARUNAKARAN M, GHOSH MK, BHAKAT C. Genetic analysis of non-return and conception rate of Jersey crossbred cattle. THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.56093/ijans.v88i4.78807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Toledo-Alvarado H, Vazquez AI, de los Campos G, Tempelman RJ, Bittante G, Cecchinato A. Diagnosing pregnancy status using infrared spectra and milk composition in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:2496-2505. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Gibson K, Dechow C. Genetic parameters for yield, fitness, and type traits in US Brown Swiss dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:1251-1257. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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12
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Toledo-Alvarado H, Cecchinato A, Bittante G. Fertility traits of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Simmental, and Alpine Grey cows are differently affected by herd productivity and milk yield of individual cows. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:8220-8231. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-12442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Sartori C, Mazza S, Guzzo N, Mantovani R. Evolution of increased competitiveness in cows trades off with reduced milk yield, fertility and more masculine morphology. Evolution 2015; 69:2235-45. [PMID: 26177581 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In some species females compete for food, foraging territories, mating, and nesting sites. Competing females can exhibit morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations typical of males, which are commonly considered as secondary sexual traits. Competition and the development of traits increasing competitiveness require much energy and may exert adverse effects on fecundity and survival. From an evolutionary perspective, positive selection for increased competitiveness would then result in evolution of reduced values for traits related to fitness such as fecundity and survival. There is recent evidence for such evolutionary trade-offs involving male competition, but no study has considered competing females so far. Using data from competitions for dominance in cows (Bos taurus), we found negative genetic correlations between traits providing success in competition, that is, fighting ability and fitness traits related to milk production and with fertility (the inverse of parity-conception interval). Fighting ability also showed low but positive genetic correlations with "masculine" morphological traits, and negative correlations with "feminine" traits. A genetic change in traits over time has occurred due to selection on competitiveness, corresponding to an evolutionary process of "masculinization" counteracting the official selection for milk yield. Similar evolutionary trade-off between success in competition and fitness components may be present in various species experiencing female competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sartori
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment-DAFNAE, University of Padua, Viale dell'Universita', 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy.
| | - Serena Mazza
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment-DAFNAE, University of Padua, Viale dell'Universita', 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Nadia Guzzo
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment-DAFNAE, University of Padua, Viale dell'Universita', 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Roberto Mantovani
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment-DAFNAE, University of Padua, Viale dell'Universita', 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
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Malchiodi F, Cecchinato A, Bittante G. Fertility traits of purebred Holsteins and 2- and 3-breed crossbred heifers and cows obtained from Swedish Red, Montbéliarde, and Brown Swiss sires. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:7916-26. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-8156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Bazzoli I, De Marchi M, Cecchinato A, Berry D, Bittante G. Factors associated with age at slaughter and carcass weight, price, and value of dairy cull cows. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:1082-91. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-6578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Shahinfar S, Page D, Guenther J, Cabrera V, Fricke P, Weigel K. Prediction of insemination outcomes in Holstein dairy cattle using alternative machine learning algorithms. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97:731-42. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-6693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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17
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Cipolat-Gotet C, Cecchinato A, De Marchi M, Bittante G. Factors affecting variation of different measures of cheese yield and milk nutrient recovery from an individual model cheese-manufacturing process. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:7952-65. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2012-6516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Hristov AN, Ott T, Tricarico J, Rotz A, Waghorn G, Adesogan A, Dijkstra J, Montes F, Oh J, Kebreab E, Oosting SJ, Gerber PJ, Henderson B, Makkar HPS, Firkins JL. SPECIAL TOPICS — Mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from animal operations: III. A review of animal management mitigation options1. J Anim Sci 2013; 91:5095-113. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-6585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. N. Hristov
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - T. Ott
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - J. Tricarico
- Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Rosemont, IL 60018
| | - A. Rotz
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA 16802
| | | | | | - J. Dijkstra
- Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - F. Montes
- Plant Science Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - J. Oh
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - E. Kebreab
- University of California–Davis, Davis 95616
| | - S. J. Oosting
- Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - P. J. Gerber
- Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
| | - B. Henderson
- Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
| | - H. P. S. Makkar
- Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
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Tiezzi F, Maltecca C, Cecchinato A, Penasa M, Bittante G. Thin and fat cows, and the nonlinear genetic relationship between body condition score and fertility. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:6730-41. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-6863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Bittante G, Cecchinato A. Genetic analysis of the Fourier-transform infrared spectra of bovine milk with emphasis on individual wavelengths related to specific chemical bonds. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:5991-6006. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-6583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Tiezzi F, Maltecca C, Penasa M, Cecchinato A, Bittante G. Short communication: Genetic analysis of dairy bull fertility from field data of Brown Swiss cattle. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:7325-7328. [PMID: 23992975 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-6885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate heritability and repeatability of dairy bull fertility in Italian Brown Swiss cattle. Bull fertility indicators were calving per service and nonreturn rate at 56 d after service. Data included 124,206 inseminations carried out by 86 technicians on 28,873 heifers and cows in 1,400 herds. Services were recorded from 1999 to 2008 and were performed with semen from 306 AI Brown Swiss bulls. Data were analyzed with a threshold animal model, which included the fixed effects of parity by class of days in milk of the inseminated cow (age at insemination for heifers), year-season of insemination, and status of the service bull at the time of insemination (progeny testing or proven), and the random effects of herd, technician, additive genetic, and permanent environment of inseminated heifer/cow and service bull, and residual. Also, genetic covariance between heifer/cow and service bull effects was considered in the model. Heritability and repeatability were 0.0079 and 0.0100 for nonreturn rate at 56 d after service, and 0.0153 and 0.0202 for calving per service, respectively. The low estimates obtained in the present study indicate that selection for male fertility using field data is hardly pursuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Tiezzi
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695; Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - C Maltecca
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695
| | - M Penasa
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
| | - A Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - G Bittante
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Tiezzi F, Maltecca C, Cecchinato A, Penasa M, Bittante G. Genetic parameters for fertility of dairy heifers and cows at different parities and relationships with production traits in first lactation. J Dairy Sci 2012; 95:7355-62. [PMID: 23063160 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2012-5775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for fertility of Brown Swiss cattle, considering reproductive measures in different parities as different traits, and to estimate relationships between production traits of first lactation and fertility of heifers and first-parity and second-parity cows. Reproductive indicators were interval from parturition to first service, interval from first service to conception, interval from parturition to conception, number of inseminations to conception, conception rate at first service, and nonreturn rate at 56 d after first service. Production traits were peak milk yield (pMY), lactation milk yield, and lactation length (LL). Data included 37,546 records on heifers, and 24,098 and 15,653 records on first- and second-parity cows, respectively. Cows were reared in 2,035 herds, calved from 1999 to 2007, and were progeny of 527 AI bulls. Gibbs sampling was implemented to obtain (co)variance components using both univariate and bivariate threshold and censored linear sire models. Estimates of heritability for reproductive traits in heifers (0.016 to 0.026) were lower than those in first-parity (0.017 to 0.142) and second-parity (0.026 to 0.115) cows. Genetic correlations for fertility in first- and second-parity cows were very high (>0.920), whereas those between heifers and lactating cows were moderate (0.348 to 0.709). The latter result indicates that fertility in heifers is a different trait than fertility in lactating cows, and hence it cannot be used as robust indicator of cow fertility. Heifer fertility was not related to production traits in first lactation (genetic correlations between -0.215 and 0.251). Peak milk yield exerted a moderate and unfavorable effect on the interval from parturition to first service (genetic correlations of 0.414 and 0.353 after first and second calving, respectively), and a low and unfavorable effect on other fertility traits (genetic correlations between -0.281 and 0.295). Infertility after first calving caused a strong elongation of the lactation, and LL was negatively correlated with fertility of cows after second calving, so that LL can itself be regarded as a measure of fertility. Lactation milk yield depends on both pMY and LL, and, as such, is a cause and consequence of (in)fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Tiezzi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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