Evaluations génétiques des verrats Piétrain en Wallonie

Diverse speeche and writing (2009)

Estimates of genetic parameters among body condition score and fertility traits in first-parity Canadian cows

Conference (2009, July)

Potential estimation of major mineral contents in cow milk using mid-infrared spectrometry.

in Journal of Dairy Science (2009), 92(6), 2444-2454

Milk and dairy products are a major source of minerals, particularly calcium, involved in several metabolic functions in humans. Currently, several dairy products are enriched with calcium to prevent ... [more ▼]

Milk and dairy products are a major source of minerals, particularly calcium, involved in several metabolic functions in humans. Currently, several dairy products are enriched with calcium to prevent osteoporosis. The development of an inexpensive and fast quantitative analysis for minerals is required to offer dairy farmers an opportunity to improve the added value of the produced milk. The aim of this study was to develop 5 equations to measure Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P contents directly in bovine milk using mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry. A total of 1,543 milk samples were collected between March 2005 and May 2006 from 478 cows during the Walloon milk recording and analyzed by MIR spectrometry. Using a principal component approach, 62 milk samples were selected by their spectral variability and separated in 2 calibration sets. Five outliers were detected and deleted. The mineral contents of the selected samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Using partial least squares combined with a repeatability file, 5 calibration equations were built to estimate the contents of Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P in milk. To assess the accuracy of the developed equations, a full cross-validation and an external validation were performed. The cross-validation coefficients of determination (R(2)cv) were 0.80, 0.70, and 0.79 for Ca, Na, and P, respectively (n = 57), and 0.23 and 0.50 for K and Mg, respectively (n = 31). Only Ca, Na, and P equations showed sufficient R(2)cv for a potential application. These equations were validated using 30 new milk samples. The validation coefficients of determination were 0.97, 0.14, and 0.88 for Ca, Na, and P, respectively, suggesting the potential to use the Ca and P calibration equations. The last 30 samples were added to the initial milk samples and the calibration equations were rebuilt. The R(2)cv for Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P were 0.87, 0.36, 0.65, 0.65, and 0.85, respectively, confirming the potential utilization of the Ca and P equations. Even if new samples should be added in the calibration set, the first results of this study showed the feasibility to quantify the calcium and phosphorus directly in bovine milk using MIR spectrometry. [less ▲]

Combine pedigree and marker information into a single estimator for the calculation of relationships

Poster (2009, May)

Relationship coefficients are particularly useful to improve genetic management of endangered populations. Estimation of relationships was traditionally based on pedigree data but, today, numerous methods ... [more ▼]

Relationship coefficients are particularly useful to improve genetic management of endangered populations. Estimation of relationships was traditionally based on pedigree data but, today, numerous methods already exist to replace pedigrees by molecular data. However, genotyping a complete population for a sufficient number of markers can be impossible, e.g., in case of local and/or rare breeds. The idea was therefore to develop a new method to estimate relationship by combining molecular with pedigree data into a single estimator. Originally developed for the management of an endangered horse population, it will be useful for specific situations, where neither pedigree nor molecular data are complete. Two questions appeared: What and how to combine? Following the principle that things have to be similar to be combined, we compared two coefficients that have the advantage to be similarly defined: the additive relationship coefficient (axy) calculated from pedigrees and the total allelic relationship (taxy) obtained from markers. Wright relationship coefficient (rped,xy) were also compared to taxy, transformed into rmol,xy, to highlight the influence of inbreeding. The results showed the influence of inbreeding, of marker quality and the tendency of molecular coefficients to overestimate the relationship among individuals. The method to combine the selected coefficients was also determined. Various parameters were taken into account in the model: number of markers and quality (e.g. marker informativeness), mutation rate, pedigree quality (e.g. generation-equivalents), … The combined estimator has several advantages. Especially, negative relationship values obtained in literature with molecular-based estimators in case of small inbred populations can be avoided. [less ▲]

Estimation of test-day model (co)variance components across breeds using New Zealand dairy cattle data

in Journal of Dairy Science (2009), 92(3), 1240-1252

In New Zealand, a large proportion of cows are currently crossbreds, mostly Holstein-Friesians (HF) x Jersey (JE). The genetic evaluation system for milk yields is considering the same additive genetic ... [more ▼]

In New Zealand, a large proportion of cows are currently crossbreds, mostly Holstein-Friesians (HF) x Jersey (JE). The genetic evaluation system for milk yields is considering the same additive genetic effects for all breeds. The objective was to model different additive effects according to parental breeds to obtain first estimates of correlations among breed-specific effects and to study the usefulness of this type of random regression test-day model. Estimates of (co) variance components for purebred HF and JE cattle in purebred herds were computed by using a single-breed model. This analysis showed differences between the 2 breeds, with a greater variability in the HF breed. (Co) variance components for purebred HF and JE and crossbred HF x JE cattle were then estimated by using a complete multibreed model in which computations of complete across-breed (co)variances were simplified by correlating only eigenvectors for HF and JE random regressions of the same order as obtained from the single-breed analysis. Parameter estimates differed more strongly than expected between the single-breed and multibreed analyses, especially for JE. This could be due to differences between animals and management in purebred and nonpurebred herds. In addition, the model used only partially accounted for heterosis. The multibreed analysis showed additive genetic differences between the HF and JE breeds, expressed as genetic correlations of additive effects in both breeds, especially in linear and quadratic Legendre polynomials (respectively, 0.807 and 0.604). The differences were small for overall milk production (0.926). Results showed that permanent environmental lactation curves were highly correlated across breeds; however, intraherd lactation curves were also affected by the breed-environment interaction. This result may indicate the existence of breed-specific competition effects that vary through the different lactation stages. In conclusion, a multibreed model similar to the one presented could optimally use the environmental and genetic parameters and provide breed-dependent additive breeding values. This model could also be a useful tool to evaluate crossbred dairy cattle populations like those in New Zealand. However, a routine evaluation would still require the development of an improved methodology. It would also be computationally very challenging because of the simultaneous presence of a large number of breeds. [less ▲]

Evaluation génétique du porc en Wallonie

Diverse speeche and writing (2009)

Multi-trait animal model estimation of genetic parameters for linear type and gait traits in the Belgian warmblood horse

in Journal of Animal Breeding & Genetics (2009), 126(5), 378--386

Summary Genetic parameters for the height at withers, 27 linear type and six linear gait traits were estimated for the Belgian warmblood horse. Observations on 987 mares, mostly 3 years old, were analysed ... [more ▼]

Summary Genetic parameters for the height at withers, 27 linear type and six linear gait traits were estimated for the Belgian warmblood horse. Observations on 987 mares, mostly 3 years old, were analysed using a multi-trait animal model. The statistical model included appraiser, age and location (date × place of appraisal) as fixed effects. Genetic parameters were estimated using a canonical transformation and an expectation-maximization restricted maximum likelihood algorithm with an additional deceleration step. Estimates of heritability for the 33 linear traits were between 0.15 and 0.55. Heritability of the height at withers was 0.34 ± 0.06. Estimated genetic correlations ranged from −0.60 to 0.98 with an average SE of 0.10. The highest positive correlations were found among traits of walk and among traits of trot. Volume and the quality of legs were the most negatively correlated. Estimated genetic parameters indicated that the linear scoring system is a valuable tool to assess conformation. The full (co)variance matrix is now available for breeding value estimation to support selection for conformation and gaits. [less ▲]

Detection and Correction of Outliers for Fatty Acids Contents Measured by Mid-Infrared Spectrometry Using Random Regression Test-Day Models

in Book of Abstracts of the 60th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (2009)

Genetic variability of test-day stearoyl coenzyme-A desaturase 9 activity

in Journal of Dairy Science (2009), 92(E-suppl.1), 353-354

Milk fatty acid (FA) profile is far from the optimal fat composition in regards to human health. Different natural sources of variation such as feeding or genetics could be used to modify the contents of ... [more ▼]

Milk fatty acid (FA) profile is far from the optimal fat composition in regards to human health. Different natural sources of variation such as feeding or genetics could be used to modify the contents of unsaturated fatty acids. The impact of feeding is well described; however, genetics effects on the milk FA composition are not well studied. Increasing the unsaturated fatty acids contents of bovine milk could have the potential to raise the nutritive and therapeutic values of dairy products. The stearoyl Coenzyme-A desaturase 9 (delta-9) gene was identified as a potential functional candidate gene affecting milk fat composition in dairy cattle. The objective of this research was to study the genetic variability on this enzyme activity across lactations. A total of 199,977 test-day records were obtained from 29,603 Holstein cows in first lactation, 154,267 records from 23,453 Holstein cows in second lactation, and 173,244 records from 75,887 Holstein cows in third and later lactations. The used model was a multiple-trait random regressions test-day model. Fixed effects were: herd × date of test, and class of age. Random effects were: herd × year of calving, permanent environmental, additive genetic, and residual effects. The studied traits were milk yield, protein content, percentage of fat, monounsaturated fatty acids estimated by mid-infrared spectrometry, and the ratios reflecting the delta-9 activity. Obtained heritability estimates of delta-9 as well as the genetic and phenotypic correlations varied across lactations. These results suggest potential improvements of milk fat composition based on delta-9 activity using animal selection and appropriate management practices. [less ▲]

Modeling milk urea of Walloon dairy cows in management perspectives.

in Journal of Dairy Science (2009), 92(7), 3529-40

The aim of this study was to develop an adapted random regression test-day model for milk urea (MU) and to study the possibility of using predictions and solutions given by the model for management ... [more ▼]

The aim of this study was to develop an adapted random regression test-day model for milk urea (MU) and to study the possibility of using predictions and solutions given by the model for management purposes. Data included 607,416 MU test-day records of first-lactation cows from 632 dairy herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium. Several advanced features were used. First, to detect the herd influence, the classical herd x test-day effect was split into 3 new effects: a fixed herd x year effect, a fixed herd x month-period effect, and a random herd test-day effect. A fixed time period regression was added in the model to take into account the yearly oscillations of MU on a population scale. Moreover, first autoregressive processes were introduced and allowed us to consider the link between successive test-day records. The variance component estimation indicated that large variance was associated with the random herd x test-day effect (48% of the total variance), suggesting the strong influence of herd management on the MU level. The heritability estimate was 0.13. By comparing observed and predicted MU levels at both the individual and herd levels, target ranges for MU concentrations were defined to take into account features of each cow and each herd. At the cow level, an MU record was considered as deviant if it was <200 or >400 mg/L (target range used in the field) and if the prediction error was >50 mg/L (indicating a significant deviation from the expected level). Approximately 7.5% of the MU records collected between June 2007 and May 2008 were beyond these thresholds. This combination allowed for the detection of potentially suspicious cows. At the herd level, the expected MU level was considered as the sum of the solutions for specific herd effects. A herd was considered as deviant from its target range when the prediction error was greater than the standard deviation of MU averaged by herd test day. Results showed that 6.7% of the herd test-day MU levels between June 2007 and May 2008 were considered deviant. These deviations seemed to occur more often during the grazing period. Although theoretical considerations developed in this study should be validated in the field, this research showed the potential use of a test-day model for analyzing functional traits to advise dairy farmers. [less ▲]