Genetic parameters for health traits and their association with fertility and milk production in Chinese Holsteins

Abstract

Herd health is one of the key problems influencing the efficiency of the dairy industry. Genetic selection, with a focus on animal health, is important for herd improvement. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for health traits and their correlations with fertility and milk production traits in dairy cattle. Based on records from 58,549 lactating cows calved between 2015 and 2021, a total of 24 health traits (six composite health traits and 18 independent health traits), four fertility traits and five milk production traits were analysed. First, linear and threshold animal models were used to estimate the variance components and heritabilities of the health traits. Second, a bivariate linear animal model was used to estimate genetic correlations among all 24 health traits. Finally, a bivariate linear animal model based on records from the first lactation was used to estimate the correlations between health traits and fertility or milk production traits. The results showed that all health traits had low heritabilities, ranging from 0.002 (0.001) to 0.048 (0.004) in the linear model and from <0.001 (0.021) to 0.226 (0.035) in the threshold model. Genetic correlations between health traits across categories were generally low, whereas the relatively high genetic correlations were found between health traits within the same category. In this study, only a few significant and moderate genetic correlations were observed between health traits and fertility or milk production traits. Clinical mastitis showed relatively moderate correlations with fertility traits, ranging from 0.277 (0.113) (interval from first to last insemination) to 0.401 (0.104) (calving interval). Moreover, there were moderate genetic correlations between hoof health and milk production traits. The results from the current study will support balanced dairy breeding to genetically improve disease resistance in dairy cows.

Keywords: dairy cow; fertility; genetic correlation; health traits; heritability; milk production.