ANIMAL BREEDING IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN AGRICULTURE FROM SCIENCE TO PRACTICE May 2009 PERINATAL MORTALITY IN DAIRY CATTLE Szűcs, E., Gulyás, L., Cziszter, L. T. Demirkan, I.

STATE OF THE ART Consumer concern towards ethics and animal welfare have been increasing Consumer concern towards ethics and animal welfare have been increasing Socio-economic issues have to be taken into account in animal production Socio-economic issues have to be taken into account in animal production High perinatal mortality is unacceptable in animal production including bovine species High perinatal mortality is unacceptable in animal production including bovine species Finding the way for reducing prevalence Finding the way for reducing prevalence Develop instruments to attain the targeted goal Develop instruments to attain the targeted goal

STATE OF THE ART Calving is the most stressful part of life cycle in cows Calving is the most stressful part of life cycle in cows Stillbirth and calving difficulty may result in direct and indirect losses Stillbirth and calving difficulty may result in direct and indirect losses Direct losses such as calf and dam mortality Direct losses such as calf and dam mortality Premature culling Premature culling Additional veterinary service Additional veterinary service Extra labour and treatment Extra labour and treatment

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and multiple Gender and multiple births births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and multiple Gender and multiple births births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Genetics

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and Gender and multiple births multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Genetics Several QTL affecting direct and maternal traits identified in Denmark Several QTL affecting direct and maternal traits identified in Denmark Multitrait and multiple variance components detected pleiotropic QTLs for Multitrait and multiple variance components detected pleiotropic QTLs for 1) direct and maternal stillbirths 1) direct and maternal stillbirths 2) direct calving size and difficulties 2) direct calving size and difficulties Opportunity genetic progress for calving traits Opportunity genetic progress for calving traits

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender andű Gender andű multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Inbreeding

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and Gender and multiple births multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Breed differences BreedsOverallHeifersCows AyrshireSF HolsteinSF FleckviehA BraunviehA3.64,93.1 FleckviehCZ FleckviehCZ FleckviehD

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and Gender and multiple births multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Gender and multiple births

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and Gender and multiple births multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Calving number

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and Gender and multiple births multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Age at first calving

FACTORS / RISKS Genetics Genetics QTLs QTLs Inbreeding Inbreeding Breed differences Breed differences Gender and Gender and multiple births multiple births Calving number Calving number Age at first calving Age at first calving Gestation days Gestation days

Gestation days

IMPLICATIONS

IMPLICATIONS Due to variation among sire families recording scheme should cover direct (sire of calf) and maternal (sire of cow) aspects for perinatal traits Due to variation among sire families recording scheme should cover direct (sire of calf) and maternal (sire of cow) aspects for perinatal traits Info gained has to be used in selection programs Info gained has to be used in selection programs Direct and long term costs have to be evaluated Direct and long term costs have to be evaluated

IMPLICATIONS Direct costs: loss of calf, death of dam, labour, veterinary assistance Direct costs: loss of calf, death of dam, labour, veterinary assistance Cost of longer term: culling rate, milk yield, fertility Cost of longer term: culling rate, milk yield, fertility Non genetic factors: parity, sex of calf, age at first calving, season, level of nutrition during gestation Non genetic factors: parity, sex of calf, age at first calving, season, level of nutrition during gestation

IMPLICATIONS Effects of non-genetic factors mentioned above have to be considered Effects of non-genetic factors mentioned above have to be considered In genetic model for calving trait estimates direct, maternal, and direct maternal interaction should be included into the model to understand the contribution of sire traits in terms as birth weight, gestation period, body dimensions In genetic model for calving trait estimates direct, maternal, and direct maternal interaction should be included into the model to understand the contribution of sire traits in terms as birth weight, gestation period, body dimensions

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION