Genetic analysis of calf survivability in crossbred cattle
142 / 146
Authors
-
Kanai Pathak
Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
-
Subrata Koloi
Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
-
Monoj K. Ghosh
Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
-
M Karunakaran
Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
-
Ajoy Mandal
Eastern Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
Keywords:
calf survivability, non-genetic factors, heritability, genetic correlationAbstract
Data on survivability traits of Jersey crossbred calves, maintained at the cattle yard of the Eastern Regional Station of ICAR-NDRI, Kalyani, over last 35 years (1982-2016) were collected to study the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on survivability traits of calf and their genetic control. Least squares analysis of variance with fitting constant was applied to determine the effect of genetic and non-genetic sources of variations on different survivability traits (survivability from birth to -3, -15, -30, -90, -180 and -365 days) of calves. The overall mortality (%) of crossbred calves up to 1 year of age in the herd was 28.90%. In the present study, the least squares means of survivability percent upto -3 days, -15 days, -30 days, -90 days, -180 days and -365 days were 94.80±0.68, 89.40±1.41, 84.88±1.56, 76.60±2.50, 74.66±3.25 and 71.27±3.22, percent respectively. The study showed that random effects of sire had significant effect on calf survivability percent upto day -90, -180 and -365. Genetic groups of calves had non-significant influences on all survivability traits considered for this study. Period of birth had significant effect on all the traits except day 0-3. Season of birth had significant effect on survivability upto -3, -180, -365 & -365 days. Parity of dam had no significant effect on any of the traits. Sex of the calf had significant effect on all the traits except day 0-365. Birth weight of calves had significant effect on all the traits (P < 0.01). The heritabilities of calf survivability at different ages were low in magnitude, ranging from of 0.01 to 0.12.Genetic and phenotypic correlations among all the survivability traits at different ages were moderate to high, ranging from 0.16-1.00 in this study.
References
Berger P, Thompson J, Sattler C (1998) Preliminary investigations on the feasibility of a stillbirth evaluation for the USA. Interbull Bulletin 18:28-30
Bleul U (2011) Risk factors and rates of perinatal and postnatal mortality in cattle in Switzerland. Livest Sci 135: 257-264
Chaudhary JK, Singh B, Prasad S, Verma MR (2013) Analysis of morbidity and mortality rates in bovine in Himachal Pradesh. Vet World 6(9): 614-619
Curtis CR, Erb HN, White ME (1988) Descriptive epidemiology of calf hood morbidity and mortality in New York Holstein herds. Prev Vet Med 5: 293–307
Dhakal K, Maltecca C, Cassady JP, Baloche B, Williams CM, Washburn SP (2013) Calf birth weight, gestation length, calving ease, and neonatal calf mortality in Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred cows in a pasture system. J Dairy Sci 96: 690-698
Erf DF, Hansen L, Neitzel RR (1990) Inheritance of calf mortality for Brown Swiss cattle. J Dairy Sci 73(4): 1130-1134
Fordyce G, Burns B (2007) Calf wastage –how big an issue is it ? In ‘Northern beef research update conference, Townsville, Qld’. (Eds B Pattie, B Restall) pp. 21–27. (North Australia Beef Research Council: Park Ridge, Qld)
Fuerst-Waltl B, Sorensen MK (2010). Genetic analysis of calf and heifer losses in Danish Holstein. J Dairy Sci 93(11): 5436-42
Gulliksen SM, Lie KI, Loken T, Osteras O (2009) Calf mortality in Norwegian dairy herds. J Dairy Sci 92: 2782–2795
Hansen M, Madsen P, Jensen J, Pedersen J, Christensen LG (2003) Genetic parameters of postnatal mortality in Danish Holstein calves. J Dairy Sci 86: 1807–1817
Harvey WR (1990) User’s Guide for LSMLMW PC-2 Version, mixed model least squares and maximum likelihood computer programme, Mimeograph. Ohio State University Press; Columbus, OH, USA
Henderson L, Miglior F, Sewalem A, Wormuth J, Kelton D, Robinson A, Leslie KE (2011) Short communication: genetic parameters for measures of calf health in a population of Holstein calves in New York State. J Dairy Sci 94(12): 6181–6187
Holland MD, Odde KD (1992) Factors affecting calf birth weight: a review. Theriogenology 38: 769-798
Kharkar KP, Raghuwanshi DS, Lende S, Khati BM (2017) Mortality pattern in crossbred calves of dairy cattle. J Krishi Vigyan 5(2): 116-121
Kumar NC, Gaur GK, Sahoo SP, Devi LS, Tripathi AK (2017) Factors affecting growth and mortality pattern of Tharpakar calves at organised dairy farm. JÂ Livest Res 7(5): 87-92
Machado Neto R, Packer IU, Bonilha Neto LM (1997) Concentração de igg séricaembezerros das raçasNelore, Guzerá, Gir e Caracu. 1. EstatÃsticas descritivas e causas de variação. R Bras Zootec 26:914-919
Martinez ML, Freeman AE, Berger PJ (1983) Factors affecting calf livability for Holsteins. J Dairy Sci 66: 2400
Mellado M, Lopez E, Veliz FG, De Santiago MA, Macias-Cruz U, Avendaño-Reyes L, Garcia JE (2013) Factors associated with neonatal dairy calf mortality in a hot arid environment. Livest Sci 159: 149–155
Mishra AK, Rawat NS, Nanawati S, Gaur AK (2015) Studies on the calf mortality pattern in Gir breed. Int J Livest Prod 6(4): 47-51
Nix JM, Spitzer JC, Grimes LW, Burns GL, Plyler BB (1998) A retrospective analysis of factors contributing to calf mortality and dystocia in beef cattle. Theriogenology 49(8):1515-23
Norberg E, Pryce J, Pedersen J (2013) A genetic study of mortality in Danish Jersey heifer calves. J Dairy Sci 96(6): 4026-4030
Osteras O, Gjestvang MS, Vatn S, Solverod L (2007) Perinatal death in production animals in the Nordic countries - Incidence and costs. Acta Vet Scand 49(Suppl.1): 14
Pedersen J, Pösö J, Eriksson J, Nielsen US, Aamand PG (2014). NAV evaluation for Young Stock Survival. http://www.nordicebv.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CalfSurvivalFinalReport.pdf
Pelt M L Van, Eding H, Vessies P, De Jong G (2012) Developing a genetic evaluation for calf survival during rearing in the Netherlands. Interbull Bulletin, Cork, Ireland 46(5): 28-31
Reynolds WL, DeRouen TM, Moin S, Koonce KL (1980) Factors influencing gestation length, birth weight and calf survival of Angus, Zebu and Zebu cross beef cattle. J Anim Sci 51: 860-867
Riley DG, Chase Jr CC, Olson TA, Coleman SW, Hammond AC (2004) Genetic and nongenetic influences on vigor at birth and preweaning mortality of purebred and high percentage Brahman calves. J Anim Sci 82: 1581-1588
Singh MK, Gurnani M (2003) Factors affecting disposal trends in crossbred cattle at closed organized farm. Ind J Anim Sci 73: 296-299
Sivula NJ, Ame, TR, Marsh WE, Werdin RE (1996) Descriptive epidemiology of morbidity and mortality in Minnesota dairy heifer calves. Prev Vet Med 27: 155–171
Staley TE, Bush LJ (1985) Receptor mechanisms of the neonatal intestine and their relationship to immunoglobulin absorption and disease. J Dairy Sci 68: 184-205
Waltner-Toews D (1986) Dairy calf management, morbidity and mortality in Ontario Holstein herds. II. Age and seasonal patterns. Prev Vet Med 4: 125–135
Wells SJ, Dargatz DA, Ott SL (1996) Factors associated with mortality to 21 days of life in dairy heifers in the United States. Prev Vet Med 29: 9-19
