Genetic parameters for fertility measurements ind Holstein heifers: The activity tag Heatime makes a difference

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic parameters for fertility measurements ind Holstein heifers

T2 - The activity tag Heatime makes a difference

AU - Sørensen, L. H.

AU - Sørensen, A. C.

AU - Mark, Thomas

AU - Kargo, Morten

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - Our aim was to investigate whether four fertility traits were different in herds using the activity tag Heatime for reproduction management compared within other herds. The genetic parameters were estimated using animal models. The fertility traits were number of inseminations (NINS), interval from first to last insemination (IFL), age at first insemination (AFI), and age at first calving (AFC) in Danish Holstein heifers. The means of the traits were all significantly different between the two groups of herds. Heritabilities for NINS and IFL were lower than 1%, while heritabilities for AFI and AFC were 12-29%. Heritabilities were all lower in Heatime herds than in reference herds. The genetic correlations between traits in different environments were high for NINS, AFI, and AFC (>0.88), while the correlation for IFL was 0.68 but with a higher SE (0.313). Thus, IFL seems not to be the same trait in Heatime and reference herds.

AB - Our aim was to investigate whether four fertility traits were different in herds using the activity tag Heatime for reproduction management compared within other herds. The genetic parameters were estimated using animal models. The fertility traits were number of inseminations (NINS), interval from first to last insemination (IFL), age at first insemination (AFI), and age at first calving (AFC) in Danish Holstein heifers. The means of the traits were all significantly different between the two groups of herds. Heritabilities for NINS and IFL were lower than 1%, while heritabilities for AFI and AFC were 12-29%. Heritabilities were all lower in Heatime herds than in reference herds. The genetic correlations between traits in different environments were high for NINS, AFI, and AFC (>0.88), while the correlation for IFL was 0.68 but with a higher SE (0.313). Thus, IFL seems not to be the same trait in Heatime and reference herds.

U2 - 10.1080/09064702.2014.923035

DO - 10.1080/09064702.2014.923035

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0906-4702

VL - 63

SP - 169

EP - 174

JO - Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section A: Animal Science

JF - Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section A: Animal Science

IS - 4

ER -