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J. Dairy Sci. 90:1998-2003. doi:10.3168/jds.2006-309
© American Dairy Science Association, 2007.

Parameters for Milk Somatic Cell Score and Relationships with Production Traits in Primiparous Dairy Sheep

V. Riggio*,1, R. Finocchiaro*, J. B. C. H. M. van Kaam{dagger}, B. Portolano* and H. Bovenhuis{ddagger}

* Dipartimento S.En.Fi.Mi.Zo.–Sezione Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze–Parco d’Orleans, 90128 Palermo, Italy
{dagger} Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
{ddagger} Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands

1 Corresponding author: vriggio{at}unipa.it

A total of 13,066 first-lactation test-day records of 2,277 Valle del Belice ewes from 17 flocks were used to estimate genetic parameters for somatic cell scores (SCS) and milk production traits, using a repeatability test-day animal model. Heritability estimates were low and ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 for milk, fat, and protein yields, and contents. For SCS, the heritability of 0.14 was relatively high. The repeatabilities were moderate and ranged from 0.29 to 0.47 for milk production traits. The repeatability for SCS was 0.36. Flock-test-day explained a large proportion of the variation for milk production traits, but it did not have a big effect on SCS. The genetic correlations of fat and protein yields with fat and protein percentages were positive and high, indicating a strong association between these traits. The genetic correlations of milk production traits with SCS were positive and ranged from 0.16 to 0.31. The results showed that SCS is a heritable trait in Valle del Belice sheep and that single-trait selection for increased milk production will also increase SCS.

Key Words: somatic cell count • milk production • genetic parameter • dairy sheep






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