HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Coffey, M. P. Articles by Brotherstone, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Coffey, M. P. Articles by Brotherstone, S.

Genetic Aspects of Growth of Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cows from Birth to Maturity

M. P. Coffey^*,1, J. Hickey and S. Brotherstone

^* Sustainable Livestock Systems, Scottish Agricultural College, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
Institute of Cell, Animal, and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK

¹ Corresponding author: m.coffey{at}ed.sac.ac.uk

In general, genetic selection is applied after first calving to traits that manifest themselves during the animal’s productive life, mostly during the early part of productive life. This selection policy has had undesirable correlated responses in other economically important traits, such as health and fertility, and may also have had an effect on the growth of animals both during productive life and before first calving. In this study, we analyzed the growth trajectory of dairy heifers that had been selected for maximum production of combined fat and protein (measured in kg; select line) or for average production (control line) in the United Kingdom. Before first calving, these divergent lines were managed as a single group. Select line heifers grew faster than did control line heifers. They were also heavier at first calving, but by the end of 3 lactations, the lines were not significantly different in live weight. Selection primarily for yield and for other traits has led to heifers that grow faster and reach higher growth rates earlier in life. A genetic analysis of birth, weaning, and calving weights yielded heritability estimates of 0.53 (birth weight), 0.45 (weaning weight), and 0.75 (calving weight). Confidence intervals for the genetic correlations between the traits indicated that these BW traits are not under the same genetic control.

Key Words: growth • dairy heifer • genetic selection

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Banos, S. Brotherstone, and M. P. Coffey Prenatal Maternal Effects on Body Condition Score, Female Fertility, and Milk Yield of Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2007; 90(7): 3490 - 3499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Wathes, N. Bourne, Z. Cheng, G. E. Mann, V. J. Taylor, and M. P. Coffey Multiple Correlation Analyses of Metabolic and Endocrine Profiles with Fertility in Primiparous and Multiparous Cows J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2007; 90(3): 1310 - 1325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Wall, M. P. Coffey, and S. Brotherstone The Relationship Between Body Energy Traits and Production and Fitness Traits in First-Lactation Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2007; 90(3): 1527 - 1537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Brotherstone, M. P. Coffey, and G. Banos Genetic Parameters of Growth in Dairy Cattle and Associations Between Growth and Health Traits J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2007; 90(1): 444 - 450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]