Economic Importance of the Traits for Slovak Pinzgau Breed Reared in Dairy and Cow-calf System

The bio-economic approach was used to calculate economic weights for twelve production (dairy and growth), functional and carcass traits of Slovak Pinzgau cattle raised in dairy (A) and cow-calf (B) system. The breeding heifers for own herd replacement with ten reproduction cycles at maximum was produced. The sale of surplus male and female calves was assumed after finishing of weaning period in both systems. Milk production is with quota limited in Slovakia, but the quotas limits aren’t filling up if the whole dairy population is taken into account. In the system A, the base price per milk value was corrected according to the fat and protein content and somatic cells count. The marginal economic weights were calculated as the numeric derivation of the profit function. Marginal values were standardized (multiplied by the genetic standard deviation of the appropriate trait) and expressed as relative values (percentage proportion). The marginal economic weight for milk yield (+0.20 €) and for dressing percentage (+0.39 €) were the lowest in both systems. The highest marginal importance was found for production lifetime of cows in system A (+69.26 € per year and cow), and in system B (+52.55 € per year and cow), respectively. Functional traits achieved the highest marginal values in both systems. But the relative economic values for the functional traits complex represent only 37.04% in system A, and 73.52% in system B, respectively. The proportion of functional, production and carcass traits complexes was 37.04: 62.73: 0.23 in system A, and 73.52: 26.07: 0.41 in system B. The highest relative economic importance was observed for the 305 d milk production (37.70%) in system A and yearling weight (25.35%) in system B, respectively. Subsidies in the calculations were of positive effect on the profitability in the system B but it was not sufficient for positive profitability in the system A. The system A achieves negative profitability irrespective on assigned subsidies. The system B has positive profitability after accounting subsidies

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF THE LOCAL DUAL-PURPOSE CATTLE

Base economic characteristics (total revenues, total costs, profit and profitability ratio) of the Slovak Pinzgau breed were calculated in this study. Under the actual production and economic conditions of the breed, production system is operated with loss (-457 € per cow and per year) and with negative profitability ratio (-20%). Optimisation of the production parameters on the level defined in the breed standard (5,200 kg milk per cow and year, 92% for conception rate of cows, 404 days of calving interval and 550 g in daily gain of reared heifers) and improved udder health traits (clinical mastitis incidence and somatic cells score) was of positive impact on the total revenues (+34%), on the effective utilisation of costs (+105%) and balanced profit of dairy systems. Next to the positive profitability of the system, higher quality and security of dairy milk products should be mentioned there. Moreover, direct subsidies as an important factor of positive economic result of dairy cattle systems has to be pointed as well. Subsidies should be provided to compensate the real biological limitation of the local breed farmed in marginal areas. However, improvement of the production parameters of the Slovak Pinzgau breed is recommended with the same attention to reach the economic sustainability of dairy production system. To reach economic sustainability of the breed from practical point of view, the farmer activity should be aimed especially to the enhanced herd management

A main factors affecting average number of teats in pigs

The influence of factors (breed, year and season of farrowing, herd, parity order, sire of litter, total number of born piglets - TNB, number of piglets born alive - NBA, number of weaned piglets - NW, and linear and quadratic regression) on the number of teats, found for all piglets in the litter till ten days after born, expressed as arithmetic mean for each litter as sum of all teats number of each piglet in appropriate litter divided by number of piglets in this litter at first litter (ANT1) and second and subsequent litters (ANT2+) were analysed. The coefficient of determination was 0.46 and 0.33 for ANT1 and ANT2+, respectively. The statistically high influence (P<0.001) on ANT1 and ANT2+ was determined for year and season of farrowing, herd, parity order (only for ANT2+) and sire of litter effects. Impact of breed was found only on ANT2+ (P<0.001). The rest of factors have negligible of no impact on traits.  Based on the data available for analyses, obtained results will serve as a relevant set-up in developing the model for genetic evaluation for these traits

Impact of udder health on economics of dairy goat

The impact of udder health on the economics of dairy farms of White Shorthaired goat was investigated using the program ECOWEIGHT. Impact on the farm economics (profit in €/goat/year and profitability in %) was analysed indirectly thought variation in the level of production traits (-10%) along with the variation in the labour and veterinary costs of a goat (+10%). Variation in production level (given in brackets) resulted to decreasing of annual revenues of a goat e.g. by 90 € (milk yield), 30 € (fat content), 16 € (conception rate), 20 € (litter size). The appropriate change in the costs ranged from -17 € to 17 € when milk yield and conception rate was evaluated. The profitability of the system was deteriorated by 4 p.p. to 19 p.p. when litter size and cumulated change of all inputs was applied. In the last mentioned variant the production was declined (-58 kg of milk sold, -0.21 kids born), unfavourable change in the flock structure (+4 females/100 goats for replacement) and in the lifetime of goats (-0.5 year) was found. Indirect economic consequences of udder health problems are high and can be defined more properly when a comprehensive data for the breed will be available

Methods for calculating economic weights of traits in pigs

Selection of animals is performed on the basis of a complex of traits, which are characterised by breeding values and economic weights. Various methodologies are used to choose the most important traits in pig breeding programs. Using the subjective approach, economic importance of pig traits were based on the required genetic gain and on subjective decision of the breeders. These methods could be ambiguous, however the insufficient information about the trait importance can be complemented in some cases (e.g. for organic pig farms). In objective methods, the performance of a pig production system (measured as profit or costs) in relation to improving the genetic level of a pig trait is considered. Compared to other livestock species, pigs breeding structure play some role when defining the trait economic weights. The general, flexible and fee available computer program would be useful tool for calculating economic weights of pig traits

Claw Disease Incidence as a New Trait in the Breeding Goal for the Czech Holstein Population

The aim of the present study was to calculate an economic value for claw disease (CLD) incidence, and to estimate its correlated genetic and economic responses to selection, using an index with diverse selection criteria, within the Czech Holstein cattle population. Information sources in the index were either leg type traits or CLD incidence, or both. The estimated economic value for CLD was 100.08 € per case per cow per year. According to the current Czech Holstein sire index, the leg index with the weight traits reduced the CLD incidence indirectly by -0.02 cases per generation (economic response of 2.01 €). The highest reduction in the CLD incidence (-0.04 cases) was obtained using the combined index, which included both CLD incidence and type traits (economic response of 4.1 €). The reliability of the investigated indices ranged between 17% and 56%. Among the traits in the combined index, the highest contribution to the response in CLD incidence was observed for CLD incidence, followed by the type traits, locomotion and legs. The inclusion of claw health as a new breeding objective trait, and the implementation of CLD incidence in the routine breeding value estimations and the sire index would be beneficial for the Czech Holstein population

Bio-economic Models for Efficient Dairy Cattle Breeding

The objective of this study was to define the main principles when the economic weights of traits are defined to be applicate in dairy cattle breeding. The competitive farming is a function of additive genetic values of traits weighted with economic values. For the calculation of economic values, the bio-economic models are mostly used. These models should reflect the production circumstances of evaluated production systems and be flexible to fit other production situations. Except of the production traits, the functional traits and traits for feed intake utilization are very important for the sustainable production. The environmental benefits (e. g. reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, welfare) should be mentioned as well. Results based on the bio-economic models provide the first information whether the breeding goal for cattle would be redefined. Moreover, flexibility of the bio-economic models enables to evaluate the breeding goals for different customer groups and for different cattle breeds. They are beneficial tools for comprehensive evaluation of the economic values for the most important traits in cattle and in sheep

Breeding Objectives of Dam Pig Breeds of the Czech National Breeding Program Based on Reproduction Traits

Reproduction traits as total number of piglets born (TNB), piglets alive born (PBA), piglets weaned (NW) and farrowing interval (FI) play important role in dam pig breeds. Main aim of the study was to calculate economic weights and consequently to estimate the genetic and economic selection response on PBA and FI within the Czech dam population of pigs. PBA and FI were defined in the aggregate genotype and the estimated breeding values (EBV) of four traits (TNB, PBA, NW and FI) were assumed as the candidate traits for construction of the index. Four variants of reproduction selection index A) based on PBA and FI, index B - based on PBA, NW, FI and the indices C) and D) based on four reproduction traits with different proportion of traits were taken into account. Economic weight of traits calculated by the bio-economic model were 23.57 € and -3.52 € for PBA and FI, respectively. The highest genetic (0.180 piglet born alive and 0.00 days of FI per year, respectively) and economic (10.05 € and 0.00 € per year for PBA and FI, respectively) response on selection was calculated in index C. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between indices A to D and for top 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% of animals were close to one (0.978 – 0.994) and significant

Analysis of foot and claw diseases/disorders in Czech Holstein cows

Received: 2018-05-07 | Accepted: 2018-05-14 | Available online: 2018-11-26https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2018.21.04.194-196Foot and claw diseases/disorders from 24 545 lactations of 10 340 Holstein cows were recorded on 7 farms in the Czech Republic from 1999 to 2018. There were defined a three groups of foot and claw disorders/diseases: diseases of skin (SD), which cover digital, interdigital dermatitis and interdigital phlegmon; then disorders of the claw horn (CH) including ulcers, white line disease, horn fissures, together with double sole and  overall claw diseases (OCD) ingluding all the recorded disorders. The OCD ratio observed during 1th and 305th days of lactation was  52.56% of all evaluated lactations. The observed ratio of SD and CH  were 28.61% and 27.15%, respectively. A foot and claw disorders were defined as 0/1 occurrence per lactation, for the purposes of analyses,. Genetic parameters were estimated using by linear animal models for evaluated traits. Models  included the random additive genetic effect of animal (A), the permanent environmental effect of cow (PE), fixed effects of parity, farm, year and season of calving, and age at calving as discreet variables in classes. The estimated heritability were 13.84%, 12.64% and 9.83%, 8.73% and 9.97%, for OCD, CH, SD, ulcers (U) and for dermatitis digitalis and interdigitalis (DD), respectively. Genetic correlation was 17.66% between SD and CH, whereas traits SD and DD equal high genetic similarity (98.4%). Also correlation between CH and U traits was high (92.62%). The presented results indicate to possibility of selection against foot and claw disorders/diseases for Czech Holstein population. The work was supported by the project QJ1510144 and the institutional support MZE-RO0718 of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.Keywords: cattle, foot and claw disorders, genetic parameters, health traits, uddeReferencesBuch, L. H., A. C. Sørensen, J. Lassen, P. Berg, J. A. Eriksson, J. H. Jakobsen,  M. K. Sørensen (2011) Hygiene-related and feed-related hoof diseases show different patterns of genetic correlations to clinical mastitis and female fertility. J. Dairy Sci., 94, 1540-1551.Chapinal, N., A. Koeck, A. Sewalem, D. F. Kelton, S. Mason, G. Cramer,F. Miglior (2013) Genetic parameters for hoof lesions and their relationship with feet and leg traits in Canadian Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci., 96, 2596-2604.Egger-Danner, C., O.K. Hansen, K. Stock, J.E. Pryce, J. Cole, N. Gengler, B. Heringstad (2013) Challenges and benefits of health data recording in the context of food chain quality, management and breeding. ICAR Technical Series.Groeneveld, E., M. Kovač, and N. Mielenz (2008) VCE User’s Guide and Reference Manual, Version 6.0. Krpálková, L., M. Štípková & M. Krejčová, 2016. Vliv zdraví paznehtů a úrovně reprodukce na výkonnost a zisk stáda dojnic. Náš chov, 76 (9), 58-63.Krupová, Z., Krupa, E., Michaličková, M., Wolfová, M., Kasarda, R. (2016) Economic values for health and feed efficiency traits of dual-purpose cattle in marginal areas. Journal of Dairy Science, ,. 99,  s. 644-656.Madsen, P. , J. Jensen. 2010. DMU – a package for analysing multivariate mixed models. Version 6, release 5.0., Aarhus University, Foulum, Denmark.Pérez-Cabal, M. A. ,N. Charfeddine, N. (2015) Models for genetic evaluations of claw health traits in Spanish dairy cattle.   J. Dairy Sci., 98 (11), 8186-8194.Sogstad, A. M., T. Fjeldaas, O. Østerås,  K. P. Forshell. (2005) Prevalence of claw lesions in Norwegian dairy cattle housed in tie stalls and free stalls. Prev. Vet. Med., 70, 191-209.van der Spek, D., J.A. van Arendonk, A.A. Vallée, H. Bovenhuis (2013) Genetic parameters for claw disorders and the effect of preselecting cows for trimming. J Dairy Sci., 96 (9), 6070-6078.van der Waaij, E. H., M. Holzhauer, E. Ellen, C. Kamphuis, G.de Jong. (2005) Genetic parameters for claw disorders in Dutch dairy cattle and correlations with conformation traits. J. Dairy Sci., 88, 3672-3678

POPULATION ANALYSIS OF THE LOCAL ENDANGERED PŘEŠTICE BLACK-PIED PIG BREED

The pedigree analysis of the local endangered Přeštice Black-Pied pig breed (n=19 289) was performed. Animals born within the period 2012-2014 were assumed as the reference population (n=1 374). The pedigree completeness index reached 100% for four generations back. The 100 % of the genetic pool was explained by 66 ancestors. Although all animals of the reference population were inbred, 57% of them had inbreeding less than five percent. Average inbreeding, co-ancestry coefficient and rate of inbreeding reached 4.93%, 13.48% and 1.29% in reference population, respectively. The effective population size calculated by four different methods varied from 32 to 91 animals in 2014. Average generation interval, average family size for sire and dam parents was 2.5, 17.46 and 6.5 animals, respectively. Total number of founders, effective number of founders, effective number of founders’ genomes and effective number of non-founders genomes reached values 299, 98.05, 21.92 and 28.23 founders, respectively. The average genetic diversity (GD) loss was 13.71% in reference population. The GD loss has increased within the last three year period mainly due to the random genetic drift (77.6%) and by unequal contribution of founders (22.4%). The Preštice Black-Pied breed is highly endangered with GD loss. Mating of closely related animals has to be prevented in breeding and mating program of this breed