What question did this study set out to answer?

To estimate variance components, genetic parameters, and genetic trends across different ages for eight functional longevity indicators defined by specific culling reasons in dairy cows.

June 1, 2026Journal of Dairy ScienceOpen Access

Genetic parameter estimates and genetic trends for cow longevity indicators in Holstein cattle based on different culling reasons and random regression models

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Authors

TSTaiana Cortez de SouzaUniversidade Federal da Bahia LPLuís Fernando Batista PintoUniversidade Federal da Bahia LBLuiz F. BritoUniversity of Guelph

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Implication

Quantitative genetic analysis reveals reason-specific longevity heritability in Holstein cattle, indicating culling causes represent genetically distinct traits.

Key Points

To estimate variance components, genetic parameters, and genetic trends across different ages for eight functional longevity indicators defined by specific culling reasons in dairy cows.
Evaluated functional longevity across 15 age classes (12 to 180 months) in 7,188,910 Canadian Holstein cows.
Categorized exits into eight culling reason groups: age, workability, economic, conformation, production, health, reproduction, and unknown factors.
Modeled longitudinal survival records using a single-trait random regression model with a fifth-order Legendre orthogonal polynomial.
Heritability estimates ranged from 0.17 to 0.38 for age-related culling, 0.04 to 0.52 for workability, 0.002 to 0.20 for economic reasons, and 0.02 to 0.28 for conformation, production, health, reproduction, and unknown factors.
Genetic correlations were high between adjacent ages (approx. 1.0) but negative between distant ages (approx. -1.0), with average correlations between culling reasons spanning approx. -0.50 to 0.80.
Genetic trends across culling groups showed consistent genetic progress at younger ages accompanied by genetic losses at older ages.

Cite This Study

Souza et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a765643f8a4cd622d088444 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-28060

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Implication

Quantitative genetic analysis reveals reason-specific longevity heritability in Holstein cattle, indicating culling causes represent genetically distinct traits.

Genetic parameter estimates and genetic trends for cow longevity indicators in Holstein cattle based on different culling reasons and random regression models

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Genetic parameter estimates and genetic trends for cow longevity indicators in Holstein cattle based on different culling reasons and random regression models

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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