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Genetic analysis of first lactation and lifetime performance traits in composite Vrindavani cattle: important considerations for higher milk production

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Abstract

The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of non-genetic factors on several first lactation and lifetime performance traits and elucidate their genetic parameters in an organized Vrindavani cattle population. Data on eight first-lactation and thirteen lifetime traits were collected on 2400 cows with pedigree records that were reared during 33-year period (1989–2021). The first-lactation traits included age at first calving (AFC), total milk yield (FTMY), standard milk yield (FSMY305), peak yield (FPY), lactation length (FLL), dry period (FDP), service period (FSP) and calving interval (FCI). Whereas, the lifetime traits mainly included total lifetime milk yield (TLMY), total standard milk yield (TSMY), number of lactations completed (NL), total lactation length (TLL), herd life (HL), productive life (PL), average milk yield per day of herd life (TLMY/HL), average milk yield per day of productive life (TLMY/PL), average milk yield per day of productive life (TLMY/TLL). Other lifetime production traits included average service period (ASP), average dry period (ADP), average calving interval (ACI) and unproductive days (UD). The heritability estimates of first-lactation traits ranged between 0.026 and 0.228 and were found to be low for AFC (0.180 ± 0.042), FCI (0.191 ± 0.125), FSMY305 (0.145 ± 0.061), FTMY (0.165 ± 0.048), FDP (0.052 ± 0.049) and FSP (0.026 ± 0.033); however, FLL (0.229 ± 0.044) and FPY (0.202 ± 0.046) showed moderate heritability. Positive phenotypic correlation (p < 0.001) was revealed among FTMY, TLMY, TLL, HL and PL. The AFC produced a significant effect (p < 0.05) on several traits i,e, TLL, TLMY/HL, FSMY305, FPY, TLMY, HL and TLMY/PL. Lower AFC was associated with higher TLMY, TLL and TLMY/HL; while FSMY305, FPY, HL and TLMY/PL were higher in heifers that calved late in their life. The results revealed that AFC may be optimized with first lactation and lifetime traits for this population.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the help and support rendered by Director, and Joint Directors of ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Livestock Production and Management Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

    K. Tamilarasan, Ayon Tarafdar, Hari Om Pandey & Gyanendra Kumar Gaur

  2. Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sheikh Firdous Ahmad, Snehasmita Panda, A. Latha Preethi & Gyanendra Kumar Gaur

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  1. K. Tamilarasan
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Contributions

Tamilarasan K: Performed research, collected and analyzed the data, wrote the paper; Sheikh Firdous Ahmad: Contributed new methods or models, Analyzed the data, wrote the paper; Snehasmita Panda: Analyzed the data, wrote the paper; Latha Preethi A: wrote the paper; Ayon Tarafdar: Contributed new methods or models, wrote the paper; Hari Om Pandey: Wrote the paper; and Gyanendra Kumar Gaur: Conceived the study idea and research design.

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Correspondence to Gyanendra Kumar Gaur.

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Tamilarasan, K., Ahmad, S.F., Panda, S. et al. Genetic analysis of first lactation and lifetime performance traits in composite Vrindavani cattle: important considerations for higher milk production. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 31 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03871-2

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