ANIMAL BREEDING IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN AGRICULTURE FROM

SCIENCE TO PRACTICE 21-22 May 2009

PERINATAL MORTALITY IN DAIRY CATTLE

Szűcs, E., Gulyás, L., Cziszter, L. T. Demirkan, I.

STATE OF THE ARTSTATE OF THE ART

Consumer concern towards ethics and animal Consumer concern towards ethics and animal welfare have been increasingwelfare have been increasing

Socio-economic issues have to be taken into Socio-economic issues have to be taken into account in animal productionaccount in animal production

High perinatal mortality is unacceptable in High perinatal mortality is unacceptable in animalanimal productionproduction includingincluding bovine speciesbovine species

Finding the way for reducing prevalenceFinding the way for reducing prevalence Develop instruments to attain the targeted goalDevelop instruments to attain the targeted goal

STATE OF THE ARTSTATE OF THE ART

Calving is the most stressful part of life cycleCalving is the most stressful part of life cycle in in cowscows

Stillbirth and calving difficulty may result in direct Stillbirth and calving difficulty may result in direct and indirect losses and indirect losses

Direct losses such asDirect losses such as calf and dam mortalitycalf and dam mortality Premature cullingPremature culling Additional veterinary serviceAdditional veterinary service Extra Extra labour and treatment labour and treatment

FACTORS / RISKSFACTORS / RISKS GeneticsGenetics InbreedingInbreeding Breed differencesBreed differences Gender and multipleGender and multiple

birthsbirths Calving numberCalving number Age at first calvingAge at first calving Gestation daysGestation days

GeneticsGenetics

GeneticsGenetics

Several QTL affecting direct and maternal Several QTL affecting direct and maternal traits identified in Denmarktraits identified in Denmark

Multitrait and multiple variance Multitrait and multiple variance components detected pleiotropic QTLs forcomponents detected pleiotropic QTLs for

1) direct and maternal stillbirths 1) direct and maternal stillbirths

2) direct calving size and difficulties2) direct calving size and difficulties Opportunity genetic progress for calving Opportunity genetic progress for calving

traits traits

InbreedingInbreeding

1

1,05

1,1

1,15

1,2

1,25

1,3

1,35

1,4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Degree of inbreeding of calf %

Rel

ativ

e ris

k fo

r stil

lbirt

h

Breed differencesBreed differences

BreedsBreeds OverallOverall HeifersHeifers CowsCows

AyrshireAyrshire SFSF 3.73.7 4.74.7 2.82.8

HolsteinHolstein SFSF 3.93.9 6.66.6 11..88

FleckviehFleckvieh AA 3.23.2 5.05.0 2.62.6

BraunviehBraunvieh AA 3.63.6 4,94,9 3.13.1

FleckviehFleckvieh CZCZ 4.54.5 7.07.0 3.63.6

FleckviehFleckvieh CZCZ -- 5.55.5 2.62.6

FleckviehFleckvieh DD -- 5.85.8 3.73.7

Gender and multiple birthsGender and multiple births

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Stillb

irth

rate

Calving numberCalving number

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Calving number

Hst

illbi

rth ra

te %

Age at first calvingAge at first calving

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34

Age at first calving, months

Stllb

irth

rate

%

Gestation daysGestation days

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Complications atcalving

Stillbirths

265 280 295 days

%

Gestation daysGestation days

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Cow Heifer

265 280 295 days

%

IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

Due to variation among sire families Due to variation among sire families recording scheme should cover direct (sire recording scheme should cover direct (sire of calf) and maternal (sire of cow) aspects of calf) and maternal (sire of cow) aspects for perinatal traitsfor perinatal traits

Info gained has to be used in selection Info gained has to be used in selection programsprograms

Direct and long term costs have to be Direct and long term costs have to be evaluatedevaluated

IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

Direct costs: loss of calf, death of dam, Direct costs: loss of calf, death of dam, labour, veterinary assistancelabour, veterinary assistance

Cost of longer term: culling rate, milk yield, Cost of longer term: culling rate, milk yield, fertilityfertility

Non genetic factors: parity, sex of calf, age Non genetic factors: parity, sex of calf, age at first calving, season, level of nutrition at first calving, season, level of nutrition during gestation during gestation

IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

Effects of non-genetic factors mentioned Effects of non-genetic factors mentioned aboveabove have to be consideredhave to be considered

In genetic model for calving trait estimates In genetic model for calving trait estimates direct, maternal, and direct maternal direct, maternal, and direct maternal interaction should be included into the interaction should be included into the model to understand the contribution of model to understand the contribution of sire traits in terms as birth weight, sire traits in terms as birth weight, gestation period, body dimensions gestation period, body dimensions

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTIONTHANK YOU FOR ATTENTION