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Heritabilities and Genetic Correlations for Serum and Production Traits of Lactating Holsteins¹

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2A2

ABSTRACT

Heritabilities and genetic correlations for 20 serum and 3 production traits were estimated from a single blood sample and 305-day milk, fat, and protein yields from 545 lactating Holstein cows in 35 herds. Heritabilities for alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, and amylase were .52, .44, and .43. Heritabilities were lower for blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, total protein, albumin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and potassium. Genetic correlations between alkaline phosphatase and milk, fat, and protein yields were —.94, —.91, and —.89. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and potassium also had large genetic correlations with production traits. Selection for production traits by serum metabolites in lactating cows would be 80% or more as efficient as direct selection.

¹ Supported in part by the British Columbia Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund and the Canadian Association of Animal Breeders.