Original scientific paper
Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Milk Urea and Milk Production Traits of Latvian Brown Cows
Daina Jonkus
; Latvia University of Agriculture, Liela 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
Liga Paura
; Latvia University of Agriculture, Liela 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the eff ects of environmental and physiological factors on milk urea content (MU) and milk production traits and to estimate heritability and repeatability for MU and milk production traits. Milk yield and MU, fat, protein, lactose, somatic cell count (SCS) and freezing point (FP) of milk were collected from the herd control data from August 2008 to August 2009 from dairy herd of the Study and research farm “Vecauce” of the Latvia University of Agriculture. Milk content parameters for total 794 milk samples were analyzed in accredited milk quality laboratory. The investigation data was processed using a program SPSS. Genetic parameters of MU and milk production traits were estimated by REML method using WOMBAT soft ware applying a repeatability animal model. The average MU was 16.55 mg dL-1 and milk yield was 20.37 kg per test day. The average fat, protein and lactose contents were 4.60, 3.56 and 4.70%, respectively. The average SCS and FP of milk were 2.40 and minus 0.529oC. Milk productivity traits varied depending on season, lactation number and stage of lactation (p<0.001) expected fat content, which is not affected by lactation number. MU and FP varied depending on season and milking systems (p<0.001). Estimated heritability for MU (0.072) and FP (0.062) were low and moderate for milk production traits.
Keywords
dairy cattle; genetic parameter; milk yield; urea
Hrčak ID:
72041
URI
Publication date:
3.10.2011.
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