Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows
ABSTRACT: Residual feed intake (RFI) is commonly used to measure feed efficiency but individual intake recording systems are needed. Feeding behavior may be used as an indicator trait for feed efficiency using less expensive precision livestock farming technologies. Our goal was to estimate genetic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Dairy Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002203022200399X |
| _version_ | 1828255639993843712 |
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| author | Ligia Cavani William E. Brown Kristen L. Parker Gaddis Robert J. Tempelman Michael J. VandeHaar Heather M. White Francisco Peñagaricano Kent A. Weigel |
| author_facet | Ligia Cavani William E. Brown Kristen L. Parker Gaddis Robert J. Tempelman Michael J. VandeHaar Heather M. White Francisco Peñagaricano Kent A. Weigel |
| author_sort | Ligia Cavani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Residual feed intake (RFI) is commonly used to measure feed efficiency but individual intake recording systems are needed. Feeding behavior may be used as an indicator trait for feed efficiency using less expensive precision livestock farming technologies. Our goal was to estimate genetic parameters for feeding behavior and the genetic correlations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows. Data consisted of 75,877 daily feeding behavior records of 1,328 mid-lactation Holstein cows in 31 experiments conducted from 2009 to 2020 with an automated intake recording system. Feeding behavior traits included number of feeder visits per day, number of meals per day, duration of each feeder visit, duration of each meal, total duration of feeder visits, intake per visit, intake per meal [kg of dry matter (DM)], feeding rate per visit, and feeding rate per meal (kg of DM per min). The meal criterion was estimated as 26.4 min, which means that any pair of feeder visits separated by less than 26.4 min were considered part of the same meal. The statistical model included lactation and days in milk as fixed effects, and experiment-treatment, animal, and permanent environment as random effects. Genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits were estimated using daily records and weekly averages. Estimates of heritability for daily feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.09 ± 0.02 (number of meals; mean ± standard error) to 0.23 ± 0.03 (feeding rate per meal), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.23 ± 0.01 (number of meals) to 0.52 ± 0.02 (number of feeder visits). Estimates of heritability for weekly averages of feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.19 ± 0.04 (number of meals) to 0.32 ± 0.04 (feeding rate per visit), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.46 ± 0.02 (duration of each meal) to 0.62 ± 0.02 (feeding rate per visit and per meal). Most of the feeding behavior measures were strongly genetically correlated, showing that with more visits or meals per day, cows spend less time in each feeder visit or meal with lower intake per visit or meal. Weekly averages for feeding behavior traits were analyzed jointly with RFI and its components. Number of meals was genetically correlated with milk energy (0.48), metabolic body weight (−0.27), and RFI (0.19). Duration of each feeder visit and meal were genetically correlated with milk energy (0.43 and 0.44, respectively). Total duration of feeder visits per day was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.29), milk energy (0.62), metabolic body weight (−0.37), and RFI (0.20). Intake per visit and meal were genetically correlated with DM intake (0.63 and 0.87), milk energy (0.47 and 0.69), metabolic body weight (0.47 and 0.68), and RFI (0.31 and 0.65). Feeding rate was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.69), metabolic body weight (0.67), RFI (0.47), and milk energy (0.21). We conclude that measures of feeding behavior could be useful indicators of dairy cow feed efficiency, and individual cows that eat at a slower rate may be more feed efficient. |
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| id | doaj.art-1c16a097f8eb464b97303ee4b268b8da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-0302 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:16:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dairy Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c16a097f8eb464b97303ee4b268b8da2022-12-22T03:07:07ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022022-09-01105975647574Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cowsLigia Cavani0William E. Brown1Kristen L. Parker Gaddis2Robert J. Tempelman3Michael J. VandeHaar4Heather M. White5Francisco Peñagaricano6Kent A. Weigel7Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706; Corresponding authorDepartment of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, Bowie, MD 48824Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706ABSTRACT: Residual feed intake (RFI) is commonly used to measure feed efficiency but individual intake recording systems are needed. Feeding behavior may be used as an indicator trait for feed efficiency using less expensive precision livestock farming technologies. Our goal was to estimate genetic parameters for feeding behavior and the genetic correlations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows. Data consisted of 75,877 daily feeding behavior records of 1,328 mid-lactation Holstein cows in 31 experiments conducted from 2009 to 2020 with an automated intake recording system. Feeding behavior traits included number of feeder visits per day, number of meals per day, duration of each feeder visit, duration of each meal, total duration of feeder visits, intake per visit, intake per meal [kg of dry matter (DM)], feeding rate per visit, and feeding rate per meal (kg of DM per min). The meal criterion was estimated as 26.4 min, which means that any pair of feeder visits separated by less than 26.4 min were considered part of the same meal. The statistical model included lactation and days in milk as fixed effects, and experiment-treatment, animal, and permanent environment as random effects. Genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits were estimated using daily records and weekly averages. Estimates of heritability for daily feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.09 ± 0.02 (number of meals; mean ± standard error) to 0.23 ± 0.03 (feeding rate per meal), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.23 ± 0.01 (number of meals) to 0.52 ± 0.02 (number of feeder visits). Estimates of heritability for weekly averages of feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.19 ± 0.04 (number of meals) to 0.32 ± 0.04 (feeding rate per visit), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.46 ± 0.02 (duration of each meal) to 0.62 ± 0.02 (feeding rate per visit and per meal). Most of the feeding behavior measures were strongly genetically correlated, showing that with more visits or meals per day, cows spend less time in each feeder visit or meal with lower intake per visit or meal. Weekly averages for feeding behavior traits were analyzed jointly with RFI and its components. Number of meals was genetically correlated with milk energy (0.48), metabolic body weight (−0.27), and RFI (0.19). Duration of each feeder visit and meal were genetically correlated with milk energy (0.43 and 0.44, respectively). Total duration of feeder visits per day was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.29), milk energy (0.62), metabolic body weight (−0.37), and RFI (0.20). Intake per visit and meal were genetically correlated with DM intake (0.63 and 0.87), milk energy (0.47 and 0.69), metabolic body weight (0.47 and 0.68), and RFI (0.31 and 0.65). Feeding rate was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.69), metabolic body weight (0.67), RFI (0.47), and milk energy (0.21). We conclude that measures of feeding behavior could be useful indicators of dairy cow feed efficiency, and individual cows that eat at a slower rate may be more feed efficient.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002203022200399Xfeeding rategenetic correlationheritabilitymealresidual feed intake |
| spellingShingle | Ligia Cavani William E. Brown Kristen L. Parker Gaddis Robert J. Tempelman Michael J. VandeHaar Heather M. White Francisco Peñagaricano Kent A. Weigel Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows Journal of Dairy Science feeding rate genetic correlation heritability meal residual feed intake |
| title | Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows |
| title_full | Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows |
| title_fullStr | Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows |
| title_short | Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows |
| title_sort | estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in holstein cows |
| topic | feeding rate genetic correlation heritability meal residual feed intake |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002203022200399X |
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