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Abstract

Association of Thermotolerance with Milk Production, Feed Saver, Fertility and Fat Percentage Breeding Values in Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle †

1
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Melbourne , Australia
2
Department of Animal Science, Box LG 226, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Presented at the third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, Australia, 11–13 November 2019.
Proceedings 2019, 36(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036063
Published: 19 January 2020
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019))

Abstract

:
In Australia, heat waves are becoming hotter and longer, and more frequent, compromising dairy cattle welfare and productivity. Selection for heat tolerance (HT) may help to ensure sustainability of production under hot summer conditions. In a study at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Robotic Dairy Farm, we identified the 20 most heat-sensitive and 20 most heat-tolerant cows in a herd of 150 Holstein Friesian lactating cows based on phenotypic responses (increase in body temperature, panting score, and decline in milk production) of dairy cows grazing pasture and given concentrate at milking during hot summer conditions for 3 months. Hair samples were collected from the tip of the tail according to a standard protocol for genotyping (Zoetis). Results based on 36 successfully genotyped cows indicated a significant variation in feed saved (FS) genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) across age indicating a potential for its selection. The thermotolerant group had relatively higher GEBV for FS and fat% but lower milk production potential. Highly significant (P ≤ 0.05) negative correlations (−0.39 to −0.69) were observed between heat tolerance and current dairy industry economic indices (Balanced Performance Index (BPI), Type Weighted Index (TWI), Australian Selection Index (ASI) and milk production), while positive correlations exist between HT and feed saved (0.44) and fertility (0.27). These findings indicate a positive association between HT and feed saved, fertility, and fat percent breeding values. However, a more extensive study including large number of lactating cows is required to confirm these genomic associations and incorporating in future breeding objectives.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: Richard Osei-Amponsah, Surinder S. Chauhan and Frank Dunshea; Research execution and Methodology: Richard Osei-Amponsah, Surinder S Chauhan, Aleena Joy, Archana Payyanakkal, and Minghao Zhang; Data Analysis: Richard Osei-Amponsah, Surinder S. Chauhan and Frank Dunshea Writing—Original Draft Preparation: Richard Osei-Amponsah and Surinder S. Chauhan; Writing—Review & Editing: Richard Osei-Amponsah, Surinder S. Chauhan, Long Cheng, Brendan Cullen, Brian Leury, and Frank R. Dunshea; Supervision: Surinder S. Chauhan, Brian Leury and Frank R. Dunshea; Project Administration: Surinder S. Chauhan.; Funding Acquisition: Richard Osei-Amponsah and Surinder S. Chauhan.

Funding

This research was funded by Australian Government Department of Foreign Affair and Trade Australia Awards-Africa Grant ID No. GH-2018-005 and Richard Nicolas Trust Fund 2018 administered by Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the assistance provided by the staff for sample collection and dairy cattle management and all the facilities provided by The University of Melbourne and Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences to conduct this research at the Robotic Dairy, University of Melbourne Dookie Campus, Victoria 3647, Australia.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Osei-Amponsah, R.; Dunshea, F.R.; Leury, B.J.; Cheng, L.; Cullen, B.; Joy, A.; Payyanakkal, A.; Zhang, M.H.; Chauhan, S.S. Association of Thermotolerance with Milk Production, Feed Saver, Fertility and Fat Percentage Breeding Values in Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle. Proceedings 2019, 36, 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036063

AMA Style

Osei-Amponsah R, Dunshea FR, Leury BJ, Cheng L, Cullen B, Joy A, Payyanakkal A, Zhang MH, Chauhan SS. Association of Thermotolerance with Milk Production, Feed Saver, Fertility and Fat Percentage Breeding Values in Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle. Proceedings. 2019; 36(1):63. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036063

Chicago/Turabian Style

Osei-Amponsah, Richard, Frank R. Dunshea, Brian J. Leury, Long Cheng, Brendan Cullen, Aleena Joy, Archana Payyanakkal, Michael H Zhang, and Surinder S Chauhan. 2019. "Association of Thermotolerance with Milk Production, Feed Saver, Fertility and Fat Percentage Breeding Values in Holstein Friesian Dairy Cattle" Proceedings 36, no. 1: 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036063

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