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2003
Paul VanRadenPaul VanRaden
Animal Improvement Programs LaboratoryAgricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, [email protected]
Genetic Evaluation of Cow Genetic Evaluation of Cow Fertility Using DHIA RecordsFertility Using DHIA Records
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NDHIA Annual Meeting 2003 (2) P.M. VanRaden200
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History of DHIA DataHistory of DHIA Data
TraitCollected since
Evaluated since
Milk and fat yield 1908 1935
Protein yield 1975 1977
Calving ease 1980 (DHIA) 1978 (NAAB)
Somatic cell score 1987 1994
Calving interval 1908 2003
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Factors Affecting FertilityFactors Affecting Fertility
Environment and management• Season, region, herd, age• Milk yield, voluntary waiting period
Fertility of service sire (ERCR) Genes of cow (DPR) Interaction of bull and cow
• Inbreeding, recessives (CVM)
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IntroductionIntroduction
Cow fertility has declined over time.
Higher yields cause more days open
Genetic evaluations expressed as daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) instead of days open.
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Pregnancy RatePregnancy Rate
The percentage of non-pregnant cows that become pregnant during each 21-day period
Pregnancy rate < conception rate• Non-cycling cows• Estrus not expressed or detected
Typical pregnancy rates• 20% if herd averages 154 days open• 25% if herd averages 133 days open
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Pregnancy Rate and Days OpenPregnancy Rate and Days Open
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
60 81 102 123 144 165 186 207 228 249
Number of Chances
Pre
gn
ancy
Rat
e
987654321
Days Open
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Pregnancy Rate FormulasPregnancy Rate Formulas
Can be derived from days open• Non-linear: 21 / (DO – VWP + 11)• Linear approx: (233 – DO) / 4
Advantages over days open• Positive numbers are desirable• Earlier measure of herd fertility
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Phenotypic Trend – Holstein DOPhenotypic Trend – Holstein DO
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000Year
Day
s O
pen
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
Lactation
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Days Open TrendsDays Open Trends
Phenotypic trend 1960 - 1998 Holstein: +37 days
Jersey: +20 days
Genetic trend 1960 - 1998 Holstein: +17 days
Jersey: +9 days
Expected correlated responseMilk trend x .38 correlation = +17 days
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0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
51 -
70
71 -
90
91 -
110
111
- 130
131
- 150
151
- 170
171
- 190
191
- 210
211
- 230
231
- 249
Days Open
Lac
tati
on
s (t
ho
usa
nd
s)
≤
50≥ 250
Distribution of Days OpenDistribution of Days OpenHolstein Calvings 1990 - 2001Holstein Calvings 1990 - 2001
Cows culled for reproductive reasons
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Evaluation MethodsEvaluation Methods
Same programs used for yield, PL, SCS
Convert to preg rate = (233 – DO) / 4
Parameter estimates used:• Heritability = 4%• Repeatability = 11%• Sire-by-herd interaction = 1%
Adjust for regional, seasonal, herd, and age differences
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Seasonal Effects on Days OpenSeasonal Effects on Days OpenHolsteins calving since 1997 in each US regionHolsteins calving since 1997 in each US region
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
Day
s O
pen
Midwest
Northeast
Northwest
Southeast
Southwest
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Pregnancy Rate EvaluationPregnancy Rate Evaluation
Lactations 1-5 beginning with 1960 Data sources
• Reported DO confirmed with next calving
• Reported DO if no next calving• Calving interval – 280 days if no
reported DO• Assigned DO = 250 if sold for infertility
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AY BS GU HO JE MSBreeding date verified by calving date 55 54 48 57 64 53
Breeding date disagrees with calving date 6 8 8 5 5 8
Breeding date but no next calf 16 15 20 19 17 16
No breeding reported, only next calf 7 9 8 6 6 11
Cows sold for reproductive problems 6 5 5 5 3 4
No information for fertility 10 9 11 8 5 8
Sources of Fertility Data 1998-1999Sources of Fertility Data 1998-1999
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Genetic EvaluationGenetic Evaluation
Holstein data from February 2003 evaluation• 40 million lactations• 16 million cows
Statistics for recent AI bulls • Born 1994 – 1998• Reliability averages
– DPR 59%DPR 59%– PL 61%PL 61%– SCS 69%SCS 69%– Milk 85%Milk 85%
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Older Bull EvaluationsOlder Bull Evaluations
REL DO DPR PL NM$
Duster 99 - 10 +2.4 +4.3 +453
Bellwood 99 - 1 +0.2 -0.5 +356
Mandel 99 + 7 - 1.8 -0.7 +244
Luke 99 + 10 - 2.4 -1.8 +132
Mountain 99 - 4 +1.0 +1.1 +283
Mascot 99 + 3 - 0.8 -2.9 +29
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Pregnancy Rate Genetic Trend Pregnancy Rate Genetic Trend 1957-19991957-1999
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
Birth Year
Pre
gn
ancy
Rat
e
AyrshireB.SwissGuernseyHolsteinJerseyM. Short
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Bulls ranked by Net MeritBulls ranked by Net MeritFebruary 2003February 2003
DPR PL Net Merit $ Vision-Gen Ozzie 0.1 0.9 680Win.-Manor Machoman 0.9 2.8 647Ricecrest Marshall -1.6 0.1 644Carol Prelude Mtoto -1.6 2.6 627Welcome Garter -1.4 0.8 620Shipsholm Glenwood 0.7 2.1 600McCloe-Pond Trent 0.4 0.7 597Pagen-Ernwood Dane -1.3 1.1 595
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Bulls with High Daughter Fertility Bulls with High Daughter Fertility
DPR
PL
REL DPR
REL PL
Dixellen Design 2.6 0.3 93 94
KRansom D Event 2.6 4.9 65 67
HA Sky. George 2.4 2.8 56 60
Pen Col Duster 2.4 4.4 99 99
M. Infinity Aruba 2.3 0.1 69 72
Start. Rudolph 2.2 2.8 99 99
Boulet Charles 2.2 2.6 99 99
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Bulls with Low Daughter Fertility Bulls with Low Daughter Fertility
DPR
PL
REL DPR
REL PL
Kemview Beauty - 4.1 2.4 65 70
W. Boy Wonder - 3.2 - 1.4 75 79
D. Luke Champ - 3.2 - 2.1 78 68
Ricecrest Lance - 3.1 - 2.3 91 82
S. Star Hi Metro - 3.1 0.8 69 72
W. Del Convincer - 3.1 1.1 93 80
Kemview Curtis - 3.0 - 0.1 48 50
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SummarySummary
Daughter Pregnancy Rate has low heritability (~4%) but high genetic correlation with Productive Life (>.5)
Official evaluations of DPR began February 2003.
Selection on PL has helped to reduce the decline in cow fertility.
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Future DirectionsFuture Directions
Daughter Pregnancy Rate will be included in Net Merit.
New “Format 5” fertility data• Store all breedings, not just last• Store service sire identification• Pregnancy checks (began 2002)
New “Format 6” health trait data
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Thank You!Thank You!
DHIA was my first employer (Ogle county, IL, 1976-1978).
AIPL staff contributed greatly. We now use more data provided by YOU through DHIA.
Most producers report accurate breeding dates.
More complete information is always welcome.
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