Genetic Parameters for Cystic Ovarian Disease in Dutch Black and White Dairy Cattle

¹ Veterinary Practice Mid-Fryslân, Lange Miente 5, 8491 BG Akkrum, The Netherlands
² Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands and CR-Delta, PO Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands
³ Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
⁴ CR-Delta, PO Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed gynecological findings in dairy cattle. It causes temporary infertility and is likely to affect reproduction as well as production parameters in cows. The objectives of this study were to investigate the heritability of COD in a Dutch Black and White population and to estimate the genetic and phenotypic relationships with milk production traits. In the data set used, the overall incidence of COD was 7.7% (1204 COD diagnoses in 15,562 lactations). The farm incidence varied between 1.9 and 11.3%. The estimated heritabilities on the underlying and observable scales were 0.102 and 0.087, respectively. The genetic correlations between COD and 305-d milk, fat, and protein yields were 0.345, 0.379, and 0.441, respectively. We concluded that a genetic predisposition for COD exists in Dutch Black and White dairy cattle. The genetic correlations between COD and yield traits indicate that ongoing selection for production will increase the incidence of COD.

Key Words: cystic ovarian disease • dairy cattle • genetic parameters

Submitted on April 20, 2000
Accepted on September 6, 2000