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* 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:
Donagh P. Berry; e-mail:
dberry{at}moorepark.teagasc.ie.
Genetic (co)variances between body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), milk production, and fertility-related traits were estimated. The data analyzed included 8591 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with records for BCS, BW, milk production, and/or fertility from 78 seasonal calving grass-based farms throughout southern Ireland. Of the cows included in the analysis, 4402 had repeated records across the 2 yr of the study. Genetic correlations between level of BCS at different stages of lactation and total lactation milk production were negative (-0.51 to -0.14). Genetic correlations between BW at different stages of lactation and total lactation milk production were all close to zero but became positive (0.01 to 0.39) after adjusting BW for differences in BCS. Body condition score at different stages of lactation correlated favorably with improved fertility; genetic correlations between BCS and pregnant 63 d after the start of breeding season ranged from 0.29 to 0.42. Both BW at different stages of lactation and milk production tended to exhibit negative genetic correlations with pregnant to first service and pregnant 63 d after the start of the breeding season and positive genetic correlations with number of services and the interval from first service to conception. Selection indexes investigated illustrate the possibility of continued selection for increased milk production without any deleterious effects on fertility or average BCS, albeit, genetic merit for milk production would increase at a slower rate.
Key Words: body weight • body condition score • fertility • selection index
Abbreviation key: AVGBCS = average body condition score, AVGBW = average body weight, Cumfat240 = cumulative fat yield to d 240 of lactation, Cummilk120, Cummilk180, Cummilk240 = cumulative milk yield to d 120, 180, and 240 of lactation, respectively, Cumprot240 = cumulative protein yield to d 240 of lactation, CVg = coefficient of genetic variation, DairyMIS = Dairy Management Information System, FSCO = first service to conception interval, HUK = Holstein United Kingdom, IFS = interval to first service, NS = number of services per cow, PR63 = pregnant 63 d after the start of the breeding season, PRFS = pregnant to first service
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