ORIGINAL PAPER
Analysis of fertility in Simmental cattle – genetic and environmental effects on female fertility
1
University of Agriculture in Krakow, Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
2
National Research Institute of Animal Production, ul. Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland
Publication date: 2024-01-31
Corresponding author
A. Otwinowska-Mindur
University of Agriculture in Krakow, Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
University of Agriculture in Krakow, Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2024;33(2):235-242
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The objectives of the study were to estimate genetic parameters
for some fertility traits and to evaluate the effects of month of calving, first
calving year, and age at first calving on four fertility traits of Polish Simmental
cows. Lactation records from the first two lactations of 2 413 Simmental cows
were analysed. The data came from the Polish National Recording System
(SYMLEK), made available by the Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and
Dairy Farmers. The cows, born between 1995 and 2016, were daughters of 335
sires. The analysed parameters were interval from first service to conception
for heifers (IFSh) and for cows in second parity (IFS2), interval from first calving
to first insemination (CTFI) and days open (DO). The BLUPf90 package and
a Bayesian method via Gibbs sampling were used to estimate (co)variance
components. Mean IFSh was approx. 14 days and mean IFS2 was more than 26
days. Average length of CTFI was approx. 80 days, and of DO approx. 106 days.
All heritabilities were low and ranged from 0.041 (CTFI) to 0.104 (IFS2). Genetic
correlations were moderate to high, with two exceptions: the correlation of IFS2
with CTFI (0.186) and with IFSh (−0.284). IFSh was highly genetically correlated
with CTFI, IFS2 and DO. It is recommended to supplement the selection index
with interval from first service to conception for both heifers and cows in second
parity, to enable effective improvement of female fertility scores in the Simmental
population in Poland.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research was financed by the Ministry of
Science and Higher Education of the Republic of
Poland (funds for statutory activity, SUB.020012-D015).
We would like to thank prof. Wojciech Jagusiak
for his valuable comments and suggestions.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that there is no conflict of
interest.
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