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Genetic Parameters for Level and Change of Body Condition Score and Body Weight in Dairy Cows

D. P. Berry^*,, F. Buckley^*, P. Dillon^*, R. D. Evans^*, M. Rath and R. F. Veerkamp

^* Dairy Production Department, Teagasc, Moorepark Production Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-Lelystad), P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands

Corresponding author:
D. P. Berry; e-mail:
dberry{at}moorepark.teagasc.ie.

(Co)variance components for body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), BCS change, BW change, and milk yield traits were estimated. The data analyzed included 6646 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with records for BCS, BW, and(or) milk yield at different stages of lactation from 74 dairy herds throughout Southern Ireland. Heritability estimates for BCS ranged from 0.27 to 0.37, while those for BCS change ranged from 0.02 to 0.10. Heritability estimates for BW records varied from 0.39 to 0.50, while heritabilities for BW change were similar to those observed for BCS change (0.03 to 0.09). The genetic correlations between BCS and BW at the same days in milk deviated little from 0.50, and the genetic correlations between BCS change and BW change over the same period ranged from 0.42 to 0.55. BCS and BW directly postpartum were both phenotypically and genetically negatively correlated with both BW change and BCS change in early lactation. The genetic correlations between BCS and milk yield were negative. The results of the present study show that animals that lose most BCS in early lactation tend to gain most BCS in late lactation, a trend also exhibited by BW.

Abbreviation key: BW5, BW60, BW120, BW180 = BW on d 5, 60, 120, and 180 of lactation, respectively, BW60-5, BW120-60, BW180-120, BW180-5 = change in BW between the respective days, CS5, CS60, CS120, CS180, CS240 = BCS on d 5, 60, 120, 180, and 240 of lactation, respectively, CS60-5, CS120-60, CS180-120, CS240-180, CS240-5 = change in BCS between the respective days, Cum120, Cum180, Cum240 = cumulative milk yields at d 120, 180, and 240 of lactation, respectively, HUKI = Holstein UK and Ireland, Milk60, Milk120, Milk180, Milk240 = milk test-day yields on d 60, 120, 180 and 240 of lactation, respectively, NAHF = North American Holstein-Friesian genetics

Key Words: genetics • body weight • body condition score • dairy cow

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