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Ellen, Rinell, 2013. A genetic analysis of traits recorded by automatic milking systems - the possibility for a new method to evaluate temperament of dairy cows. Second cycle, A2E. Uppsala: SLU, Dept. of Animal Breeding and Genetics (until 231231)

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Abstract

The increasing popularity of automatic milking systems beginning in Northern Europe and spreading to other parts of the world requires a re-evaluation of breeding goals for dairy cattle. Workability traits, including temperament, become more important because cows must make their own way to the milking unit and stand quietly while being milked. Fetching of cows, which increases labour requirement, should be minimalized. Besides the apparent benefits of a decrease in labour and an increase in flexibility for farmers, AMS also can record substantial amounts of data on cows. This data, when handled correctly, has the potential to be used in genetic evaluations to obtain estimates of breeding values and heritability. Records from 1674 Swedish Holstein cows from 17 commercial AMS herds were used to estimate heritabilities and variance components for 2 different teat cup kick-offs traits and milking interval. Because these traits are hypothesised to be related to temperament, genetic correlations with temperament scores were estimated. Heritability for the kick-off traits were 0.06 to 0.31 and milking interval was estimated at 0.17. Heritability for temperament score was estimated at 0.14 using scores on 1833 cows from 15 of the 17 herds. Genetic correlations between AMS data and temperament scores were moderate and significant for the two kick-off traits, r= -0.38 and -0.50 indicating that a higher temperament score (a more calm cow) could indicate less kick-offs. Results suggest that data from AMS could provide an objective method to measure temperament in dairy cows.

Main title:A genetic analysis of traits recorded by automatic milking systems - the possibility for a new method to evaluate temperament of dairy cows
Authors:Ellen, Rinell
Supervisor:Strandberg, Erling and Petersson, Karl-Johan and Heringstad, Bjørg and Carlström, Caroline
Examiner:Rydhmer, Lotta
Series:Examensarbete / SLU, Institutionen för husdjursgenetik
Volume/Sequential designation:420
Year of Publication:2013
Level and depth descriptor:Second cycle, A2E
Student's programme affiliation:Other
Supervising department:(VH) > Dept. of Animal Breeding and Genetics (until 231231)
Keywords:Temperament, automatic milking system, habitability, behaviour, genetic correlations, dairy cow, milking interval, teat cup kick-offs
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-2650
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-2650
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Animal genetics and breeding
Language:English
Deposited On:21 Aug 2013 13:37
Metadata Last Modified:21 Aug 2013 13:37

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