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Estrus Traits Derived from Activity Measurements are Heritable and closely related to Conventional Estrus Traits

Thursday, August 21, 2014
Posters (The Westin Bayshore)
Ahmed Ismael , Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
Morten Kargo , Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
Anders Fogh , Knowledge Center for Agriculture, Aarhus, Denmark
Erling Strandberg , Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Peter Lovendahl , Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
Abstract Text:

 This study was aimed at assessing the genetic parameters for fertility-related traits, comparing the interval from calving to first insemination (ICF) to physical activity traits, especially days from calving to first high activity, DFHA. Data from commercial Holstein herds included insemination dates of 11,363 cows for ICF. The activity traits were derived from electronic activity tags for 3533 Holstein cows. Estimates of heritability were 0.05 for ICF and 0.15 for DFHA. The genetic correlation between ICF and DFHA was strong (0.92). The high heritability estimate and the strong genetic correlation between ICF and DFHA suggest that genetic gain in ICF can be improved by including DFHA as a supplementary trait in the genetic evaluation of female fertility

Keywords:

Activity tags

Genetic parameters

Fertility

See more of: Posters: Genetics of Trait Complexes - Reproduction (Group 1)
See more of: Genetics of Trait Complexes: Reproduction
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