Metabolic Regulation in Danish Bull Calves and the Relationship to the Fertility of Their Female Offspring

Hayhurst, C.; Sørensen, M.K.; Royal, Melissa; Løvendahl, Peter

doi:10.3168/jds.2006-731

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Such indications were confirmed and quantified in the present study. More comparable to our results were heritability estimates of blood serum glucose and NEFA concentration that were reported by Hayhurst et al (2007) using data on Holstein male calves that were approximately 9 mo old. These estimates were 0.15 for both traits and were close to the lower limit of our results.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

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Genetic Profile of Body Energy and Blood Metabolic Traits Across Lactation in Primiparous Holstein Cows

Oikonomou

Valergakis

Arsenos

et al. 2008

Journal of Dairy Science

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The objectives of this study were to characterize the changes of body condition score (BCS), energy content (EC), cumulative effective energy balance (CEEB), and blood serum concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) across the first lactation of Holstein cows, and to estimate variance components for these traits. Four hundred ninety-seven cows kept on a commercial farm in Greece that had calved during 2005 and 2006 were used. Body condition score, estimated live weight, and blood metabolic traits were recorded weekly for the first 3 mo of lactation and monthly thereafter until the end of lactation. Body condition score and estimated live weight records were used to calculate EC and CEEB throughout the first lactation. Estimates of fixed curves and genetic parameters for each trait, by week of lactation, were obtained with the use of random regression models. The estimated fixed curves were indicative of changes in the metabolic process and energy balance of the cows. Significant genetic variance existed in all studied traits, and was particularly high during the first weeks of lactation (except for the genetic variance of CEEB, which was not significant at the beginning of lactation). Significant heritability estimates for BCS ranged from 0.34 to 0.79, for EC from 0.19 to 0.87, for CEEB from 0.58 to 0.93, for serum glucose from 0.12 to 0.39, for BHBA from 0.08 to 0.40, and for NEFA from 0.08 to 0.35. Genetic correlations between different weeks of lactation were near unity for adjacent weeks and decreased for weeks further apart, becoming practically zero for measurements taken more than 3 to 4 mo apart, especially with regard to blood metabolic traits. Significant heritability estimates were also obtained for BCS recorded before first calving. Results suggest that genetic evaluation and selection of dairy cows for earlylactation body energy and blood metabolic traits is possible.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…From these estimates, only glucose approached significance (P = 0.08) and was slightly greater than the estimate reported for male calves in the study by Hayhurst et al (2007).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Genetic Profile of Body Energy and Blood Metabolic Traits Across Lactation in Primiparous Holstein Cows

Oikonomou

Valergakis

Arsenos

et al. 2008

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…Their insulin concentrations were significantly higher at 1 month of age and their glucose levels at 15 months, possibly suggesting increased insulin resistance. In support of this, Hayhurst et al (2007) found that bull calves with higher glucose and free fatty acid levels as juveniles produced female offspring with reduced fertility, suggesting a genetic component. One possible mechanism for this may be through a reduction in oocyte quality.…”

Section: Nutrition and Growth Ratementioning

confidence: 55%

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Wathes

Pollott

Johnson

et al. 2014

Animal

144

116

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The rearing period has a key influence on the later performance of cattle, affecting future fertility and longevity. Producers usually aim to breed replacement heifers by 15 months to calve at 24 months. An age at first calving (AFC) close to 2 years (23 to 25 months) is optimum for economic performance as it minimises the non-productive period and maintains a seasonal calving pattern. This is rarely achieved in either dairy or beef herds, with average AFC for dairy herds usually between 26 and 30 months. Maintaining a low AFC requires good heifer management with adequate growth to ensure an appropriate BW and frame size at calving. Puberty should occur at least 6 weeks before the target breeding age to enable animals to undergo oestrous cycles before mating. Cattle reach puberty at a fairly consistent, but breed-dependent, proportion of mature BW. Heifer fertility is a critical component of AFC. In US Holsteins the conception rate peaked at 57% at 15 to 16 months, declining in older heifers. Wide variations in growth rates on the same farm often lead to some animals having delayed first breeding and/or conception. Oestrous synchronisation regimes and sexed semen can both be used but unless heifers have been previously well-managed the success rates may be unacceptably low. Altering the nutritional input above or below those needed for maintenance at any stage from birth to first calving clearly alters the average daily gain (ADG) in weight. In general an ADG of around 0.75 kg/day seems optimal for dairy heifers, with lower rates delaying puberty and AFC. There is some scope to vary ADG at different ages providing animals reach an adequate size by calving. Major periods of nutritional deficiency and/or severe calfhood disease will, however, compromise development with long-term adverse consequences. Infectious disease can also cause pregnancy loss/abortion. First lactation milk yield may be slightly lower in younger calving cows but lifetime production is higher as such animals usually have good fertility and survive longer. There is now extensive evidence that as long as the AFC is > 23 months then future performance is not adversely influenced. On the other hand, delayed first calving > 30 months is associated with poor survival. Underfeeding of young heifers reduces their milk production potential and is a greater problem than overfeeding. Farmers are more likely to meet the optimum AFC target of 23 to 25 months if they monitor growth rates and adjust feed accordingly.

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“…Hayhurst et al (2007) estimated a negative genetic correlation (−0.44) between NEFA blood concentrations in Holstein male calves and their estimated breeding value for female fertility traits. This finding, though not directly comparable with ours, suggests that genetic predisposition for high NEFA concentrations may be associated with compromised reproductive performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Relationship of Body Energy and Blood Metabolites with Reproduction in Holstein Cows

Oikonomou

Arsenos

Valergakis

et al. 2008

Journal of Dairy Science

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Body condition score (BCS), energy content (EC), cumulative effective energy balance (CEEB), and blood serum concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were measured throughout first lactation in 497 Holstein cows raised on a large commercial farm in northern Greece. All these traits are considered to be indicators of a cow's energy balance. An additional measure of BCS, EC, and blood serum glucose, BHBA, and NEFA concentrations were taken approximately 2 mo (61 ± 23 d) before first calving. During first lactation, first service conception rate, conception rate in the first 305 d of lactation, interval from calving to conception, number of inseminations per conception, incidence of metritis, and incidence of reproductive problems of these cows were recorded; interval between first and second calving, and second lactation first service conception rate were also recorded. Random regression models were used to calculate weekly animal breeding values for first lactation BCS, EC, CEEB, glucose, BHBA, and NEFA. Single trait animal models were used to calculate breeding values for these traits measured on pregnant heifers before calving. Reproductive records were then regressed on animal breeding values for these energy balance-related traits to derive estimates of their genetic correlations. Several significant estimates were obtained. In general, traits that are known to be positively correlated with energy balance (BCS, EC, CEEB, and glucose) were found to have a favorable genetic relationship with reproduction, meaning that increased levels of the former will lead to an enhancement of the latter. On the other hand, traits known to be negatively correlated with energy balance (BHBA and NEFA) were found to have an unfavorable genetic association with reproductive traits. Body condition score, BHBA, and NEFA recorded early in lactation, and glucose concentrations measured in pregnant heifers had the highest genetic correlation with future reproductive performance. Results suggest that genetic selection for body energy and blood metabolites could facilitate the genetic improvement of fertility and overall reproductive efficiency of dairy cows.

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Metabolic Regulation in Danish Bull Calves and the Relationship to the Fertility of Their Female Offspring

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

Genetic Profile of Body Energy and Blood Metabolic Traits Across Lactation in Primiparous Holstein Cows

Genetic Profile of Body Energy and Blood Metabolic Traits Across Lactation in Primiparous Holstein Cows

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Genetic Relationship of Body Energy and Blood Metabolites with Reproduction in Holstein Cows

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