Genetic aspects of feed intake and efficiency in lactating dairy heifers

Arendonk, J.A.M. van; Nieuwhof, G.J.; Vos, H.; Korver, S.

doi:10.1016/0301-6226(91)90103-w

Cited by 166 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Lactation dry matter intake and ABW were phenotypically (0.51) and genetically (0.46) correlated (P < 0.05), and the correlation estimates were similar to those reported in other studies (Van Arendonk et al, 1991;Vallimont et al, 2010), indicating that animals with greater BW consume more feed. In the present study, LFCM had a positive phenotypic correlation (0.17) with ABW.…”

Section: Heritabilitiessupporting

confidence: 85%

“…There were strong (P < 0.05) positive phenotypic (0.54) and genetic (0.69) correlations between LDMI and LFCM, and they were comparable to estimates reported by Van Arendonk et al (1991) and Vallimont et al (2010), implying that strong additive genetic correlation exits between dry matter intake and milk yield (Hüttmann et al, 2008;Spurlock et al, 2012). Lactation dry matter intake and ABW were phenotypically (0.51) and genetically (0.46) correlated (P < 0.05), and the correlation estimates were similar to those reported in other studies (Van Arendonk et al, 1991;Vallimont et al, 2010), indicating that animals with greater BW consume more feed.…”

Section: Heritabilitiessupporting

confidence: 84%

“…This difference could be due to the length of the study period (105 v. 301 days), since a range of 0.12 to 0.63 was reported in the literature for feed efficiency traits (FCR and GEE) depending on the stage of lactation (Parke et al, 1999). Estimated heritability for RFI over 301 days (0.20 ± 0.03) was similar (0.21) to that reported by Van Arendonk et al (1991) for the first 105 days of lactation, but it was different from the result of Connor et al (2013) at 0.36 during 90 days of early lactation, Vallimont et al (2011) at 0.07 over 305 days of lactation, and pooled estimates of 0.04 reported by Berry and Crowley (2013). The discrepancies between our results with those of Vallimont et al (2011) may be due to frequency of feed intake data where our study measured daily feed intake data on each animal over 301 days and LDMI = lactation dry matter intake over 301 days (kg); LAEI = lactation actual energy intake over 301 days (Mcal /kg); ABW = average BW over 301 days (kg); ABCS = average body condition score over 301 days; LFCM = lactation fat corrected milk over 301 days (kg); LECM = lactation energy corrected milk over 301 days (kg): LFCR = lactation feed conversion ratio over 301 days: LDMI/LFCM; LGEE = lactation gross energy efficiency over 301 days: LECM/LAEI; RFI = average residual feed intake over 301 days (Mcal/day); SD = standard deviation.…”

Section: Heritabilitiessupporting

confidence: 83%

“…However, the estimate of LGEE was lower (0.29 v. 0.38) than that reported by Van Arendonk et al (1991), whose study was restricted to the first 15 weeks of lactation rather than over 301 days. This difference could be due to the length of the study period (105 v. 301 days), since a range of 0.12 to 0.63 was reported in the literature for feed efficiency traits (FCR and GEE) depending on the stage of lactation (Parke et al, 1999).…”

Section: Heritabilitiescontrasting

confidence: 72%

“…Researchers (Parke et al, 1999;Vallimont et al, 2010;Berry and Crowley, 2013) are interested in using conformation traits as indicators, especially if these traits are correlated to feed intake and BW, and can therefore be used to improve feed efficiency. For example, genetic and phenotypic parameters among conformation traits with production and common measures of feed efficiency, including feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross energy efficiency (GEE) in dairy cattle, have been estimated by Van Arendonk et al (1991), Parke et al (1999) and Vallimont et al (2010). These studies showed that combinations of several conformation traits, such as chest width and pin width, may be useful indicators of GEE, FCR and production traits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic and phenotypic correlations among feed efficiency, production and selected conformation traits in dairy cows

Manafiazar

Goonewardene

Miglior

et al. 2016

Animal

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The difficulties and costs of measuring individual feed intake in dairy cattle are the primary factors limiting the genetic study of feed intake and utilisation, and hence the potential of their subsequent industry-wide applications. However, indirect selection based on heritable, easily measurable, and genetically correlated traits, such as conformation traits, may be an alternative approach to improve feed efficiency. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations among feed intake, production, and feed efficiency traits (particularly residual feed intake; RFI) with routinely recorded conformation traits. A total of 496 repeated records from 260 Holstein dairy cows in different lactations (260, 159 and 77 from first, second and third lactation, respectively) were considered in this study. Individual daily feed intake and monthly BW and body condition scores of these animals were recorded from 5 to 305 days in milk within each lactation from June 2007 to July 2013. Milk yield and composition data of all animals within each lactation were retrieved, and the first lactation conformation traits for primiparous animals were extracted from databases. Individual RFI over 301 days was estimated using linear regression of total 301 days actual energy intake on a total of 301 days estimated traits of metabolic BW, milk production energy requirement, and empty BW change. Pair-wise bivariate animal models were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters among the studied traits. Estimated heritabilities of total intake and production traits ranged from 0.27 ± 0.07 for lactation actual energy intake to 0.45 ± 0.08 for average body condition score over 301 days of the lactation period. RFI showed a moderate heritability estimate (0.20 ± 0.03) and non-significant phenotypic and genetic correlations with lactation 3.5 % fat-corrected milk and average BW over lactation. Among the conformation traits, dairy strength, stature, rear attachment width, chest width and pin width had significant (P < 0.05) moderate to strong genetic correlations with RFI. Combinations of these conformation traits could be used as RFI indicators in the dairy genetic improvement programmes to increase the accuracy of the genetic evaluation of feed intake and utilisation included in the index.

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Section: Heritabilitiessupporting

confidence: 85%