Predicting Energy Balance Status of Holstein cows using Mid-Infrared Spectral data

Conference (2010, August)

Genetic parameters of mastitis-correlated milk components in first parity dairy cows

in Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (2010, August)

Ind. of lactoferrin content, ind. of Na content, and lactose content were the three most correlated milk components with somatic cell score among available milk components predicted by mid-infrared ... [more ▼]

Ind. of lactoferrin content, ind. of Na content, and lactose content were the three most correlated milk components with somatic cell score among available milk components predicted by mid-infrared spectrometry on 590,083 test-day records from Walloon Region of Belgium collected between 2007 and 2009. Mean daily heritabilities and mean genetic correlations of these four traits were estimated using Gibbs sampling methodology applied to a multi-trait random regression test-day model with a subset of these records. Mean daily heritabilities of ind. lactoferrin content (0.34), ind. Na content (0.37) and lactose content (0.42) were higher then SCS (0.16) and mean genetic correlations were moderate (from -0.18 to -0.73), showing that these traits could be used together to describe udder health in genetic evaluations instead of SCS alone when clinical mastitis data are not available. [less ▲]

Heterogeneity of residuals variances of milk fatty acids in dairy cattle

in Journal of Dairy Science (2010, July), 88(E-Suppl. 2), 744

Routine genetic evaluation for milk fatty acids is under development in the Walloon Region of Belgium. The objective of this study was to test the heterogeneity of residual variances and therefore ... [more ▼]

Routine genetic evaluation for milk fatty acids is under development in the Walloon Region of Belgium. The objective of this study was to test the heterogeneity of residual variances and therefore indirectly the potential need to adjust for this heterogeneity if it exists. The residuals were computed as the difference between the observed and the estimated values using a multi-trait random regression test-day model, similar to the Walloon routine model, used for first lactation only milk yield, quantities and percentages of protein (PROT) and fat (FAT), content of saturated fatty acids in milk (g/100g of milk, SAT) and, content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids in milk (g/100g of milk, MONO). Residuals were considered homogeneous inside strata defined, among others, by weeks of lactation, by days in milk and by calendar months of test date. About 6,687,000 records were available for milk yield and for FAT and PROT parameters. For SAT and for MONO, about 184,000 records were available in this database. Means of residuals were stable and close to zero for all traits. Variances were more variable for MONO and SAT than for milk yield, for example. Daily and weekly variances tended to decrease at the end of the lactation (50%). When the variances were computed by month of test date, some variations were observed and some periods of year were more marked. In conclusion, the observed residual variances were less stable for MONO and SAT. We can conclude that introduction for heterogeneous residual variance is more important for the new traits (MONO, SAT) than it was for the old, traditional ones. [less ▲]

Feasibility of a genetic evaluation for milk fatty acids in dairy cattle

Conference (2010, July)

Recent development of equations based on mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry for the prediction of milk fatty acid (FA) contents allows their measurement on a large scale during performance recording. The ... [more ▼]

Recent development of equations based on mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry for the prediction of milk fatty acid (FA) contents allows their measurement on a large scale during performance recording. The objective was to show that a genetic evaluation for milk FA in dairy cattle is feasible in the Walloon region of Belgium and to report first results. Estimated breeding values (EBV) and associated reliabilities (REL) were computed using a multi-trait test-day animal model similar to the one used for the routine genetic evaluation for yield traits. Studied traits were first lactation test-day milk, fat and protein yields, fat (FAT) and protein contents, and content of saturated fatty acids in milk (g/100g of milk, SAT). More than 6,700,000 records were available for common production and content traits and 194,000 records were used for SAT. Used variance components were estimated using REML. The average SAT content was 2.79% with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.50%. A total of 1,707 Holstein bulls used in Walloon Region had REL superior to 0.49 for all studied traits. REL for SAT ranged from 0.53 to 0.99. A total of 1,217 bulls had REL superior to 0.74. SD of EBV for SAT was 0.20%. The maximum and minimum SAT EBV values were 0.89% and -0.69%, respectively. In order to have a direct measure of the part of FAT that is not due to SAT, a new trait (dSAT) was post-evaluated and defined as difference between expected SAT EBV for a given FAT EBV and the estimated EBV for SAT. This new trait can be assumed to be a direct predictor of the content of unsaturated fatty acids in fat. The interest is that this trait cannot be accurately predicted directly by MIR. The maximum and minimum EBV for dSAT for the 1,707 bulls were -0.28% and 0.24%, respectively. Based on these results, a genetic evaluation for milk fatty acids is feasible. In the bull population used recently, a genetic variability for dSAT exists and could be used to improve the milk fat composition. [less ▲]

Genetic evaluation for body condition score in the Walloon Region of Belgium

Conference (2010, June 02)

New Parameters and Analytical Challenges for Milk Recording by Fourier-Transform Mid-Infrared Spectrometry (FTMIR)

Conference (2010, June)

Potential estimation of titratable acidity in cow milk using mid-infrared spectrometry

in ICAR Technical Series (2010), 14

Milk coagulation has a direct effect on cheese yield. Several factors influence the milk coagulation kinetics. In addition to calcium and milk protein concentrations, titratable acidity influences all the ... [more ▼]

Milk coagulation has a direct effect on cheese yield. Several factors influence the milk coagulation kinetics. In addition to calcium and milk protein concentrations, titratable acidity influences all the phases of milk coagulation. The objective of this research was to study the feasibility of prediction of titratable acidity directly in bovine milk using mid-infrared spectrometry. In order to maximize the variability in the measurements of titratable acidity, milk samples were collected on basis of several criteria (e.g. breeds). The titratable acidity was recorded as Dornic degree. All samples were also analyzed by MIR spectrometry. Using partial least squares regressions and first derivative pretreatment of spectral data, a calibration equation was built to predict the Dornic degree in cow milk. First results were promising and showed the potentiality to this calibration. The calibration and cross-validation coefficients of determination were 92.25 and 89.88 %, respectively. Moreover, the ratio of standard error of prediction to standard deviation was 3.13 and permits us to consider the calibration equation as usable in most application such as scientific researches and the screening of the Walloon dairy herd particularly in order to improve the milk coagulation properties. [less ▲]

Genetic evaluation for milk fat composition in the Walloon Region of Belgium

in Interbull Bulletin (2010)

Feasibility of a genetic evaluation for milk fatty acids in dairy cattle

in Journal of Dairy Science (2010), 93(E-Suppl 1), 744

Recent development of equations based on mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry for the prediction of milk fatty acid (FA) contents allows their measurement on a large scale during performance recording. The ... [more ▼]

Recent development of equations based on mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry for the prediction of milk fatty acid (FA) contents allows their measurement on a large scale during performance recording. The objective was to show that a genetic evaluation for milk FA in dairy cattle is feasible in the Walloon region of Belgium and to report first results. Estimated breeding values (EBV) and associated reliabilities (REL) were computed using a multi-trait test-day animal model similar to the one used for the routine genetic evaluation for yield traits. Studied traits were first lactation test-day milk, fat and protein yields, fat (FAT) and protein contents, and content of saturated fatty acids in milk (g/100g of milk, SAT). More than 6,700,000 records were available for common production and content traits and 194,000 records were used for SAT. Used variance components were estimated using REML. The average SAT content was 2.79% with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.50%. A total of 1,707 Holstein bulls used in Walloon Region had REL superior to 0.49 for all studied traits. REL for SAT ranged from 0.53 to 0.99. A total of 1,217 bulls had REL superior to 0.74. SD of EBV for SAT was 0.20%. The maximum and minimum SAT EBV values were 0.89% and -0.69%, respectively. In order to have a direct measure of the part of FAT that is not due to SAT, a new trait (dSAT) was post-evaluated and defined as difference between expected SAT EBV for a given FAT EBV and the estimated EBV for SAT. This new trait can be assumed to be a direct predictor of the content of unsaturated fatty acids in fat. The interest is that this trait cannot be accurately predicted directly by MIR. The maximum and minimum EBV for dSAT for the 1,707 bulls were -0.28% and 0.24%, respectively. Based on these results, a genetic evaluation for milk fatty acids is feasible. In the bull population used recently, a genetic variability for dSAT exists and could be used to improve the milk fat composition. [less ▲]

New Parameters and Analytical Challenges for Milk Recording by Fourier-Transform Mid-Infrared Spectrometry (FTMIR)

in Proceedings of the ICAR 37th Annual Meeting (2010)