Professional paper

Functional traits in dairy cattle

Ivan Vlahek ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Velimir Sušić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Anamaria Ekert Kabalin ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Sven Menčik ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Maurić Maljković ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Aneta Piplica ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Juraj Šavorić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Siniša Faraguna ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Functional traits are those characteristics of an animal that increase efficiency not by higher output of products but by reduced input costs. These traits are related to the health and fertility of dairy heifers and cows. International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) recognizes several groups of functional traits: health, female fertility, udder health, claw health, and lameness. In recent years, the decline in cow health, along with increased awareness of the costs of production and animal well-being led to the increase in the relative share of functional traits in the selection indexes. Selection based on functional traits is hindered by the low amount of available data, difficult collection of the data (especially the data related to health), low heritability of traits, and low genetic gain after selection.

Keywords

functional traits; dairy cattle; fertility; udder health; claw health; lameness

Hrčak ID:

296670

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/296670

Publication date:

27.3.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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