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Consequences of Selection for Yield Traits on Calving Ease Performance

E. López de Maturana^*,1, E. Ugarte^*, J. Komen and J. A. M. van Arendonk

^* NEIKER, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, PO Box 46, 01080 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands

¹ Corresponding author: elmaturana{at}neiker.net

The impact of different breeding goals on the genetic response for calving ease (CE) and yield traits was studied in the Basque Holstein cattle population. The economic value for CE was estimated with a bioeconomic model, using Basque production and market circumstances and taking into account the categorical nature of CE. The economic value for CE was –18.03/cow per calving interval per liability unit. This value was relatively insensitive to changes in the market price of animals but was more sensitive to changes in the incidence of dystocia. Records from parities between 1995 and 2002 were used for the estimation of genetic parameters for yield (actual milk, fat, and protein yield) and CE using a multivariate model. Linear sire models for yield traits and a threshold sire-maternal grandsire model for CE were used. A Holstein population was simulated to determine the consequences of including CE in the breeding goal. Three selection strategies were considered: 1) selection only on yield traits, 2) selection on yield and direct CE (DCE), and 3) selection on yield, DCE, and maternal CE (MCE). Selection on yield traits only resulted in a slight reduction of dystocia. Selection strategies in which DCE or DCE and MCE were included in the breeding goal did not improve the genetic response for DCE and MCE obtained with the first selection strategy. Genetic responses were also calculated using the 2.5th, 50th, and 97.5th percentiles of posterior densities of genetic correlations between DCE and MCE and yield traits. Because responses in CE were sensitive to deviations in estimates of genetic parameters, the inclusion of CE in the monitoring scheme is recommended. Genetic evaluation of bulls for CE is of considerable value because it provides farmers with the opportunity to use assortative matings of sires with favorable estimated breeding values for DCE to primiparous cows.

Key Words: dystocia • economic value • breeding goal • selection

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				O. Gonzalez-Recio, E. Lopez de Maturana, and J. P. Gutierrez Inbreeding Depression on Female Fertility and Calving Ease in Spanish Dairy Cattle J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2007; 90(12): 5744 - 5752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]