In dairy cattle, treatment with exogenous growth hormone (GH) affects growth and function of mammary gland. The actions of GH are mediated via interaction with GH receptors (GHR). The first step in signal transduction is homodimerization of two GHR molecules by GH. This step is critical since mutation in either GH or GHR can block dimerization and thus target cell activation. However, association between milk related traits and combination of GH and GHR variations are not known. Accordingly, DNA genotypes in the GH and GHR genes were investigated for association with milk, fat and protein lactation yields in Holsteins. The marker data were obtained on 873 progeny tested bulls by using PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSCP analysis. There were five markers in GH and three in GHR. Estimated breeding values (EBVs) were obtained from Canadian Dairy Network for milk, fat, and protein lactation yields for the 873 genotyped bulls. / There was significant difference among GH6.1 alleles (C-to-G transversion at position 2141) for the milk yield (P < 0.05) and protein yield (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in GHR AluI (A-to-T transversion at -1182) for milk (p < 0.05) and fat (p < 0.05), and GHR StuI (C-to-T transversion at -232) for fat (p < 0.0001) and protein (p < 0.05). Allele frequencies for GH6.1 (C), GHR AluI (A) and GHR StuI (C) alleles in bulls genotyped were 0.95, 0.63 and 0.95, respectively. Bulls with GH6.1 (C/G) genotype had higher milk EBV (p < 0.05) compared to C/C bulls. Bulls with GHR AluI (A/A) genotype had higher milk EBV (p < 0.01) and fat EBVs (p < 0.05). Bulls with StuI (C/C) genotype had higher fat EBV (p < 0.0001) and protein EBV (p < 0.05) compared to StuI (C/T). This study indicates that the combination of GH and GHR markers could serve as a tool to aid in selection for improving milk, fat, and protein production.

Increase in profits corresponding to a one unit increase in Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for 3 production traits and for 21 type traits were estimated from 31,123 merged "Official" first lactation records, type records and Estimated Breeding Value (EBVs) records of Canadian Holstein cows using multivariate REML and a mixed model accounting for herd and year of calving effects. The same regression model was used to estimate the same profit increases corresponding to a one unit change in EBVs from 336 merged "Non-Official" first lactation records, type records and EBV records of Canadian Holstein Cows to investigate whether purebred breeders are selecting their animals according to type and production performances while commercial producers are selecting animals that maximize their milk profits. Finally, the usefulness of DHAS cow records for increasing milk profits was investigated by comparing the average profit level of cows with "Official" milk records and their time of registration under the DHAS scheme. / Size had the largest negative impact on profits, with estimates ranging from $-$41.70 $ pm$ 6.60 to $-$26.62 $ pm$ 5.91. Chest width and fore attachment had the largest positive impact on profits, with estimates ranging from 4.30 $ pm$ 5.94 to 16.82 $ pm$ 6.00 and from 4.71 $ pm$ 3.52 to 14.57 $ pm$ 3.97 respectively. Grade cows were found to have on average lower EBVs for most type and production traits than purebred cows. However, grade and purebred cows generated similar milk profits. Finally, the efficiency of using information provided by DHAS to increase profits did not increase with the number of years of participation with DHAS.

This trial was carried out in order to elucidate factors affecting milk urea nitrogen (MUN). Twenty-five herds were selected for MUN testing. Three sampling periods were chosen. The first occurred during the months of March and April, the second during July and August, and the third during November and December 1997. A total of 2,686 samples were collected and analyzed. Two different methods were employed for MUN analysis and were referred to as the Macdonald Campus method (MUN-MAC) and the Programme d'Analyse des Troupeaux Laitiers du Quebec method (MUN-P.A.T.L.Q.). The MUN-MAC consists of an enzymatic method while the P.A.T.L.Q. method is an infra-red method. Prior to initiation of the trial, the MUN-MAC method was validated and found suitable for use in this experiment. The results demonstrated that the factors which significantly contributed to the models were the ration's net energy of lactation, season, region, somatic cell count, total dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, non-structural carbohydrates, total fat, crude protein, protein to energy ratio, starch to protein ratio, parity and days in milk. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The Holstein beef sector is a fascinating and integral part of the United States beefsystem; however, it has been largely overlooked in academic research. Holstein beef has longsuffered from perceptions that it is of poor quality. Recent changes in slaughter industrystructure, marketing systems, and production models have made the Holstein systemunbelievably complex. Coupled with econometric modeling, this sector analysis uses a semistructuredinterview approach to evaluate the reality of these perceptions, the impact of thesechanges, and to determine what truly drives the Holstein beef market. Results suggest that manyof the perceptions of Holstein beef are inaccurate; the market for Holstein steers was found to bequite similar to the market for native steers. Recent changes in production systems appear tohave been driven by changes in market preferences. Finally, the driving forces behind theHolstein market are not that different from the driving factors in the native cattle market,although some of the impacts were found to be different.

Darbo tikslas yra įvertinti holšteinų veislės įtaką karvių pieno sudėčiai ir kokybei. Visi tyrimų duomenys įvertinti naudojant „R“ statistinį paketą Gyvūnų veislinės vertės tyrimų ir selekcijos laboratorijoje. Pagal gautus tyrimų rezultatus ir juos apibendrinusi, galiu teigti, kad tiriamoje karvių bandoje didėjant holšteinų veislės genų daliai, mažėja karvių pieno primilžis, nes nustatytas neigiamas ryšys ir korealiacija statistiškai patikima. Pieno riebumas taip pat mažės, nes ryšys tarp jų nustatytas neigiamas. O pieno baltymingumas didės. Tačiau pieno kokybė, pagal somatines ląsteles, prastėja, nes nustatytas ryšys buvo teigiamas ir koreliacija statistiškai patikima. / The aim of Master work is to valuate Lithuanian cows productivity and milk composition considering the blood dimensions of holstein breed. All data had been made through statistical analysis by EXCEL computation as well as by statistical package „R“ in the LVA Laboratory of Animals Research of Breeding Worth and Selection. In accordance with the results of the studies and received responses to them, I can say that part of the decline as the holšteinų blood of cows ' milk, because of the negative linkage Estimator and korealiacija statistically reliable. The content will also decline, because of the negative linkage between them. While the increase in the milk baltymingumas. However, the quality of the milk, the somatic cells, degraded, because the connection was positive and statistically reliable correlation between the.

No description available.

Crossbreeding parameters (additive (a), dominance (d) and additive x additive (aa) epistatic effects for individual $ sp{ rm (I)}$ and for maternal $ sp{ rm (M)}$ performance) on body weight growth and first lactation performance traits of females from a crossbreeding experiment between Holstein (H) and Ayrshire (A) based lines were estimated by individual animal models, incorporating all known additive genetic relationships amongst animals, through restricted maximum likelihood and mixed-model methodologies. / The growth traits (asymptotic weight (A), rate parameter (k), inflection parameter (m), average lifetime absolute growth rate (AGR), average lifetime absolute maturing rate (AMR) and average lifetime relative growth rate (RGR)) were estimated by fitting the nonlinear equation, W$ sb1$ = A(1 $ pm$ be$ sp{ rm -kt}) sp{ rm M}$, to the observed weight-age data of 3076 individual females. / Results from the analyses of growth traits indicated that the H line exceeded the A line in addition genetic effects for individual performance (a$ sp{ rm I}$) for both A and AGR. The H line also exceeded the A line in additive effects for maternal performance (a$ sp{ rm M}$) in trait A. Both dominance (d) and additive x additive (aa) epistatic effects were statistically important in most cases. Individual heterosis (h$ sp{ rm I}$ = d$ sp{ rm I}$ $-$ 0.5aa$ sp{ rm I}$) was positive for traits A and AGR, whereas maternal heterosis (h$ sp{ rm M}$ = d$ sp{ rm M}$ $-$ 0.5aa$ sp{ rm M}$) was negative for A and positive for AMR. Total heterosis (TH = h$ sp{ rm I}$ + h$ sp{ rm M}$) had positive effects on AGR and AMR. For all growth traits, heterosis retained in advanced crossbred generations was statistically irrelevant. The overall conclusion was that crossbreeding systems designed to capitalize on TH would produce faster growing and earlier maturing animals. / The analyses of production traits found the additive effect of the H line for individual performance to be a major factor to increase yields of milk, protein and fat. On the other hand, line maternal and cytoplasmic source tended to favour the A line, but none reached statistical significance in any of the traits. Results indicate that two-line specific crosses or synthetic development would be sound breeding strategies for taking advantage of first cross heterosis or of line additive differences, respectively. / Estimates of crossbreeding parameters from mixed-model analyses, were found to be more reliable than those from ordinary least squares analyses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Zugl.: Kiel, Universiẗat, Diss., 2006.

Inaug.-diss.--Leipzig. / Lebenslauf. "Quellen": p. 82-84.

Inaug.-diss.--Tübingen. / Lebenslauf. "Übersicht über die benutzte Literatur": p. vii-xi.